"Hunters in the Dark" is the sixth episode of the third season of the American anthology crime drama television series True Detective.
In 1980, partner detectives Wayne Hays (Mahershala Ali) and Roland West (Stephen Dorff) as they investigate a macabre crime involving two missing children, Will and Julie Purcell.
According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode was seen by an estimated 1.25 million household viewers and gained a 0.3 ratings share among adults aged 18–49.
The episode received extremely positive reviews from critics, who praised the performances (particularly Ali, Dorff and McNairy), directing, tension, writing, and ending.
After having sex, Hays (Mahershala Ali) and Amelia (Carmen Ejogo) talk in bed, where they bond over their professions and respective ideologies.
Kindt tells Hays and West (Stephen Dorff) to investigate Tom (Scoot McNairy), suggesting that he could be involved with the girl.
Hays and West decide to question Harris James (Scott Shepherd), who investigated the backpack incident and now works for Hoyt Foods as head of security.
They later meet with Dan O'Brien (Michael Graziadei), who wants $7,000 for speaking about new information; he implies that Lucy, who is thought to have died of a drug overdose, was actually murdered to stop her telling people what she knew about the case.
In another interview, Hays is questioned by Elisa (Sarah Gadon) over Tom's possible role in placing the backpacks on Woodard's house and they both wonder about James' possible disappearance since 1990.
Hays reveals to West that he concluded that the "peep hole" at the Purcell house was actually used by Will and Julie to pass comforting notes when their parents were fighting.
The site's consensus states: "True Detective's fragmented timelines begin to crash into one another in a thrilling installment that teases out a depraved conspiracy while delivering on the series' reputation for haunting imagery and sage dialogue.
"[5] Sean T. Collins of Rolling Stone wrote, "True Detective Season Three has turned into a show about how a single, central crime spreads like a spiderweb into a whole host of small-town sins.
"[7] Ben Travers of IndieWire gave the episode a "B+" grade and wrote, "While no one is claiming Season 3 has reached the addictive highs of the original run, it does seem to be on the brink of rewarding both parts of its big ol' brain: an enriching personal story, and a well-executed conspiracy-driven twist.
"[8] Darren Franich of Entertainment Weekly wrote, "This episode bent over backwards to juice this season's slow-paced plot towards a reckoning.
"[10] Keith Phipps of Vulture gave the episode a 3 star rating out of 5 and wrote, "But for the third season to prove as memorable as the first, it will have to find a balance in the home stretch.
They end on moments of excruciating anticipation, like the tripping of a claymore, or a door opening on a pink room in a mansion that’s defended like a castle.