Scoot McNairy has flown under the radar for quite a while now, but if you haven’t scoped out his portfolio just yet, check it out. Dude’s had quite the career, and you might not have even realized it.
But, we’re not here to talk about the totality of McNairy’s acting career today, folks. Nope – we’re going to narrow the scope to what’s airing on HBO every Sunday night for the time being: True Detective.
And, as a quick FYI – let it be known….there will be spoilers. If you don’t want any information about the show, now’s your chance to click out.
McNairy plays Tom Purcell, a father who is distraught after his son and daughter go missing. His son, Will, is later found dead by detective Wayne Hays (Mahershala Ali), and we’re off to the races as far as the big mystery of True Detective season three goes.
He’s a supporting character, and at first, it doesn’t seem as though he’s going to play such a critical role in the investigation. But, with this show, ladies and gentlemen, we should’ve known.
Tom’s a complicated man – ravaged by guilt for letting the kids go off alone the evening they disappeared…troubled by a tumultuous (and that’s putting it nicely) relationship with the kids’ mother Lucy….saying they essentially only married because he got her pregnant.
Episode by episode, we realize just how far the depths of Tom’s despair goes. He’s an alcoholic, and he can’t live with what’s happened…at one point practically pleading for his death. Where McNairy was most brilliant early on in the season was in conveying that pain. I caught myself feeling genuinely sorry for Tom….forgetting that this was a character in a show altogether.
You felt good when you found out that he had sobered up later on in life….found religion….and seemed to really get his shit together.
But, something changed in the last episode. We learned Tom’s big secret – he’s gay. At a time when it wasn’t nearly as accepted as it is today, and in a place that seems like it couldn’t be further from a welcoming community (racial segregation, the treatment of the Trash Man, etc.). It adds a new layer of sorrow to the character.
We also saw that after Julie called into the police station, the authorities shifted their eyes onto Tom. His confusion leads to anger, and it’s a wild, wide range of emotion. This character just can’t catch a break. It’s as if the universe is actively trying to break him.
Then, of course, at the end, we see the discovery Tom makes and man – that’s just anxiety-inducing. All along, McNairy is just absolutely crushing it.
Given the demands of this role, the complexity of the character – McNairy rises to the occasion. No other way to put it.
Of course, Ali dominates the screen when he’s on. Stephen Dorff is awesome. But, the role of Tom Purcell is one they absolutely had to nail, and McNairy knocks it out of the park. He deserves credit for being the unsung MVP of season three so far.
If you aren’t watching True Detective season three, you need to go out of your way to catch up. Only two episodes left.
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD and #BeBetter. “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Alabama Crimson Tide football, the WWE, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
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