Season 4, Episode 3 of True Detective rewinds seven years to a pivotal moment: Navarro arrives on the scene to apprehend Annie Kowtok for trespassing on Silversky Mining's sacred land. However, as the gravity of the situation unfolds, Annie reveals she's in the midst of giving birth. Navarro's stern demeanor softens, and he waits patiently for the newborn's arrival. Annie offers herself up for arrest afterward, and it's strongly implied that Navarro lets her off with a warning, a gesture of compassion in the midst of harsh justice.
In the present, Navarro's annoyance is palpable as he watches Hank lead a motley crew of hillbillies and Alaska police officers into the snowy desert in search of Raymond Clark. Danvers, her brow furrowed in concern, voices her worries about Hank's decision to enlist civilians in the hunt. Pete informs her that a forensic technician is on their way to assist with the investigation. He also reveals that Anders Lund, though conscious, is in dire straits and facing amputation of his limbs.
Danvers and Pete make a beeline to the evidence room, where Raymond's belongings are being held. They hurriedly shift the items to the armoury for closer inspection. Danvers orders Pete to contact Navarro and reinstate her on the team, adding a hushed directive to hack into Annie's phone. Pete's curiosity gets the better of him, and he inquiries about the rift that tore apart Danvers and Navarro's once-solid partnership.
Danvers' voice turns grim as she recounts the tragic tale of William Wheeler, a convicted felon who was released from prison and assaulted a 19-year-old girl, ultimately killing her. She recalls the haunting scene at the crime scene, where Wheeler sat in a chair, a gun in his hand, and ended his life in front of them.
A flashback transports us to the police station, where Navarro joins Danvers to sift through Raymond's belongings. They discuss the mysterious trailer and its implications - a secret affair between Raymond and Annie, and the ominous suggestion that someone knew about it. Their investigation leads them to a series of photos of the couple, snapped by an unknown hand. The telltale clue - the dye in Annie's hair - leads them to a woman named Suzanne, a hair colorist in Ennis. They learn about Oliver Tagaq, a former equipment engineer at Tsalal, and how Suzanne contacted the police after learning about Annie's connection to the case.
Hank, the responding officer at the time, failed to document these crucial details. Navarro's fury is palpable as she accuses Hank of withholding information, suggesting he's protecting the miners - his white, privileged friends - and hinting at their involvement in Annie's murder, a retribution for her protest against the mining operations. Navarro and Danvers storm into the ice skating rink, confronting Hank with their accusations. The tense confrontation erupts into chaos when Hank is splashed with coffee, his face twisted in anger as he accuses Danvers of seducing Pete.
Pete urgently informed Danvers that the forensic expert would be unable to arrive in a timely manner. As a contingency plan, Pete proposed bringing in his cousin, a veterinarian, to offer his professional opinion on the case, hoping to avert Anchorage from seizing control. Navarro embarked on a mission to seek out a man named Qavvik in order to inquire about Oliver, and he directed her to his whereabouts.
Meanwhile, Leah Danvers attended an anti-mining rally, where protesters demanded justice for Annie's untimely death. They observed a moment of silence in honor of a baby who allegedly perished due to water poisoning caused by the mining activities. Leah returned home, enraged, and engaged in a heated argument with Danvers, accusing him of being indifferent to the deaths of Alaska's indigenous people. Deeply troubled, Danvers visited the home of the woman who had miscarried to offer his condolences and witness the devastating consequences of the mining.
Pete's cousin, Vince, proffered a theory that the Tsalal scientists might have succumbed to cardiac arrest prior to freezing. Navarro arrived with crucial information, revealing that she had discovered Oliver's address. Danvers and Navarro promptly set out to confront him. Oliver reacted with hostility, brandishing a weapon and threatening to shoot them upon their entry. However, when they mentioned the deaths of the men, it became evident that Oliver was unaware and flew into a rage.
The episode culminated in a startling phone call from the Ennis hospital, informing Danvers and Navarro that Anders Lund had regained consciousness. He screamed in agony due to the intense pain, but managed to utter a chilling revelation to Danvers - that "someone" was trapped in the icy wastes, and this "someone" was a woman. Their conversation was abruptly interrupted by a violent altercation in the hospital lobby, as a clash erupted between the locals and the hospital staff. This left Navarro alone with Anders for a fleeting moment, as Danvers intervened to quell the disturbance.
Amidst the chaos, Anders struggled to rise from his bed and whispered to Navarro that her mother was waiting for her. Tragically, he succumbed to his injuries shortly after. Pete arrived on the scene with Annie's phone, revealing a harrowing video that showed her being chased and screaming in terror inside a cave. The revelation sent shockwaves through the group, heightening the suspense and uncertainty surrounding the mysterious case.
