‘Mare of Easttown’ recap: Episode 3 – “Enter Number Two”

In the act of being completely transparent, Sunday’s episode of Mare of Easttown stopped me completely in my tracks. In a genre where even the best-written series relies on at least some tropes, HBO’s newest sensation is blazing its own trail. At this point, anyone who thinks that they know who is committing these horrible acts is just fooling themselves. Writer and showrunner Brad Ingelsby has us right where he wants us. Should I be excited? Should I be infuriated? About the only thing that’s obvious is that we need Sunday to get here quick! With that in mind, here are 5 takeaways from this past Sunday’s episode.

5. Could it be ?

One of the best scenes of the season came as Mare confronted Frank about the rumors about his involvement with Erin. Could he be the father of the baby? If he is, would it be that huge of a surprise? Through the first three episodes, they’ve dropped a few hints about how he’s changed over time. Who was he before? It doesn’t seem that this image of a “family man” has been around for that long at all. This whole sequence also is a perfect example of how Mare views the world through the lens of a detective. Rather than wait for a better time to bring up the rumor concerning Erin, she marches over and interrupts a gathering that includes her daughter Siobhan. Everything is black and white to Mare. Could this have been a contributing factor to their divorce?

4. Bad Parenting 101

For someone who has a horrible time relating to pretty much everyone, it seems that Mare is even worse at relating to her own daughter. Based on some of the flashbacks involving what lead to her son’s death, I’m not sure that it’s always been this way. When she talks to Siobhan, it’s as if she’s questioning and not talking to a family member. That switch never gets flipped. It’s never-ending for the truth. To her, there has to be a logical reason why Erin was killed. To her, there has to be a logical reason why her son committed suicide. To her, there has to be a logical reason why her daughter is a Lesbian. What she doesn’t realize is that most things defy reason. It’s as if this constant questioning of everything has become a defensive mechanism to avoid the pain and trauma of losing her firstborn. What’s sad is that it might cause Mare to lose her daughter too.

3. Detective Zabel Is On it

Detective Zabel isn’t just following Mare around like some puppy. We got the sense in episode 2 that he wasn’t necessarily buying what everyone was saying, and in episode 3, we start to see him act on those suspicions. What’s interesting is how Mare will react to him, showing this type of initiative. Will she roll with it or be incredibly upset because, in Mare’s eyes, this investigation is hers.

2. The priest

We are starting to get a clear picture of Deacon Mark Burton, and just like everyone in Easttown, he has a past. However, it seems that his past may be relevant to the current events. While the Deacon has been slightly cryptic, it seems that his transfer to this Diocese may have had something to do with an accusation of an inappropriate relationship with a minor. Now, we are dealing with the death of a 17-year-old mother just months after his arrival. It’s not hard to think that he had something to do with Erin’s death.

1. Desperation

Mare will always Carrie in one lens, and that’s of the person responsible for her son’s death. Now that she’s attempting to clean up her life and wants custody of her son, Mare views it as she’s just seeking out another victim. The tension in the scene is off the charts. Mare’s actions aren’t acceptable, but they are understandable. To her, no one can change. However, it’s her jaded view of the world that ultimately ends up backfiring.

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Dewey Singleton

I'm a member of Critics Choice, Hollywood Critics Association, and The Society of Professional Journalists. I am also on Rotten Tomatoes. My bylines include @awardswatch, @deweysmovies, @awardsradar, @weliveentertainment, @bleedingcool, and @insessionfilm. I am married to @sgitw and have two sons.

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