Lore Season 2, Episode 3 review: The German murder never solved

“Hinterkaifeck” is the third episode of Lore Season 2. Telling the tale of a grisly German murder, the episode stuck to the facts in a fictionalized way. This wasn’t one I looked forward to the most, but has certainly exceeded expectations.

I’ll be the first to admit that “Hinterkaifeck” wasn’t one of the Lore Season 2 episodes that I looked forward to the most. I considered skipping over this one and getting through the episodes I’m most intrigued by first, but decided to keep the order they’re set. And I’m extremely glad I did.

Telling the tale of a grisly murder in Germany that still hasn’t been solved to this day, we’re taken through the fictionalized tale that sticks to the facts. It’s hard to give all the facts since nobody knows who killed the family in the countryside, but the episode gives us a good rundown of the list of suspects.

It’s interesting that this episode led to a discussion on set about who it was. They all had their theories and I certainly have mine after watching the episode. It turns out students from a university believe they’ve solved the murder, but it’s almost impossible at this point.

Regardless, this isn’t about the murder but the episode. Lore Season 2, Episode 3 brought a tale of death and horror without any sort of narration and that’s what really made this one work.

Focusing on the inspector’s theories

More from Amazon Originals

• Will Your Christmas or Mine 2 come to DVD and Blu-ray?
• The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 3 release updates, cast, and everything we know
• Them Season 2 release updates, cast, and everything we know
• The Boys Season 4 release updates, cast, and everything we know
• What time is Dating Santa coming to Prime Video?

Lore Season 1 focused heavily on the narration, while the second season has done something different. We’ve had Punch and Judy-style Burke and Hare tell their tale and Elizabeth Bathory’s was done as if she was writing a diary or a letter to those beyond the grave. “Hinterkaifeck” avoided the narration altogether.

The story was told through the theorizing by the inspector. At first, it starts with the telling of the tale of the family. We see the events leading up to the murders and the murders themselves. Of course, this is all told as if the inspector picturing it in his head.

We then get the flashes of the theories, whether it was the believed-dead husband or the children’s father. The murders aren’t shown again, except for quick flashes to see how they could all fit in.

This whole episode felt more like a traditional true crime episode or one from something like NCIS or Criminal Minds. It was expertly done, letting the pictures tell the whole tale.

Watch Lore with a 30-day FREE trial of Amazon Prime

A sense of the time and of the setting

Each of the episodes of Lore Season 2 has given us a sense of the time. Out of the three I’ve watched so far, “Hinterkaifeck” made me feel it the most. There was something about the music, the setting, and the costumes that pulled me in more than the previous two episodes.

Granted, I watch a lot of period dramas set in the 16th to 18th centuries, so those shows have started feeling normal. I don’t watch as much set in the 1920s, which is when this story is told. That may have had something to do with it.

However, the setting definitely helped. We were put in the middle of the countryside in the snow. The sound of a train was heard, pointing out just how close it is to the train. The sound of the animals reminded me that it was a farm the whole time. And then there was the setting with three generations of a family in one home, a maid coming to help, and the need to share rooms due to lack of space.

Lighting choices also helped. At times, there was almost a sense of black and white movies, continuing that feeling of the time period.

Focus on the facts and not on the theories

While there was a little focus on some theories, there wasn’t too much. Most of this episode was about the tale and the inspector’s thoughts. We got his main opinions about who could have been the one on the farmhouse land at the time.

The information we got was enough to allow viewers the chance to explore the options. I got to see why the inspector put his suspicions on the husband, who had been considered killed in the war, and on the father of the children. This helped to flesh them out and add another layer to the story to get to know the victims.

This also wasn’t a tale about the inspector. We got some scenes with him but nothing to tell us more about his home life or his career to this point. That wasn’t meant to be the focus, so there was never a need to mention it. Some writers would get focused on the tiny details and it leads to them going off course, but the Lore writers have this season focused to the actual tale they’re telling.

It would be easy for the episode to be one to try to solve the crime. The writers could have added some sort of happy ending, and that would be the case with many other shows out there. However, it’s true crime and a cold case. The writers remained faithful to that part, giving the evidence and leaving viewers with the same questions that have plagued those working the case at the time.

One I’ll watch again

Considering this wasn’t an episode I was looking forward to in Lore Season 2, I was pleasently surprised. It was well crafted, well written, and well acted. There was a dark tale of murder without any closure, leaving me with the feeling those working the case got.

This is definitely an episode I’ll watch again. I know there were elements I was missing and small connections I didn’t make until they were pointed out. And this episode has certainly encouraged me to look more into this case to draw my own conclusions.

What did you think of “Hinterkaifeck?” What has been your favorite episode of Lore Season 2? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Lore Seasons 1 and 2 are currently available on Amazon Prime Video.