In the fourth episode of The Gone's second season, the narrative deepens as the truth about the Goatman's shadow begins to emerge. The episode opens with a bang, as Sinead Martin (Rachel Morgan) is arrested by Sergeant Bruce Harris (Scott Wills) for instigating a riot at the Backpackers Hostel, following the discovery of hidden cameras. This arrest sets the stage for a series of events that will unravel the dark secrets of the town and its inhabitants.
Theo Richter (Richard Flood) and Diana Huia (Acushla-Tara Kupe) confirm that the cell phone found at the scene belonged to Emma Wilson (Dea Doglione), the first victim of the Mountain Murderer. The Medical Examiner's findings on the bones suggest they are male, over a century old, and show signs of puncture damage. Detective Sergeant Gwenda's (Miriama Smith) suspicion that these bones lead to a specific place is confirmed, though she remains tight-lipped about the details.
Mervin De Leon (Nick Dunbar) denies any knowledge of the hostel's hidden cameras, but Diana's theory that the bones came from a sacred Maori cave on Motutapu Island gains traction. This cave is believed to be the resting place for many Maori who were slaughtered by the British over 150 years ago. Richter and Diana bring Frank Pastors (Owen Black) in for questioning, but it proves futile. Richter is soon called away to deal with a confrontation between Anita Dalton (Clare Monnelly) and Aileen Ryan (Carolyn Bracken) at the motel.
At the motel, Richter manages to quell the argument, but not before realizing Aileen's guilt over Derry Fallon's (Aaron Monaghan) death. He plans to escort her to explain things to Anita later. Meanwhile, Diana visits Valeria Armstrong (Ella Gilbert) to inform her about finding her mother's taonga, but Michaela Armstrong (Alison Bruce) arrives and coldly tells Diana to stay away.
Bruce arranges for local weapons to be tested against ballistic evidence from the cabin, while Richter visits Doctor Ray Morris (Edwin Wright) for an examination. Ray is hopeful about Richter's health, but the blood test results bring devastating news: Richter has developed proteins that lead to brain changes. A test trial is mentioned, but qualification requires New Zealand citizenship.
Judge Hannah Martin (Michelle Fairley) confronts Sinead over her recent behavior, but the conversation quickly deteriorates, with Sinead blaming Hannah for her problems. Hannah walks away, leaving the situation unresolved. Bruce returns Vaughn's (John Leigh) weapon, clearing him as a suspect, but discovers a room filled with Ku Klux Klan memorabilia. Richter faces a similar awkward situation when he escorts Aileen to speak with Anita, which only worsens when Aileen reveals that Derry killed her brother Brian Dalton (Diarmuid Noyes) on Bounce's orders.
Ginge (Poroaki Merritt-McDonald) interrupts a Wiki Family dinner with an apology and a request to be welcomed back. The clan embraces him, but Anita's visit to Judge Hannah is less successful. Anita's fear of helping to bring down the Fallon Organization is evident, and the encounter ends with her walking away. Ray confronts Michaela about her treatment of Valeria, accusing her of favoring Mayor Ken Armstrong (Matt Whelan) and blaming Valeria for Ken's arrest. Michaela initially denies the claims but eventually listens to Ray's accusations.
After a long day of fingerprinting locals, Bruce and the authorities return to the station, where Bruce discovers a snippet of a conversation on Mervin's hard drive. The conversation involves someone named Tanya instructing an unknown recipient to get a powerful gun and go to the hut. Realizing they didn't fingerprint Mervin, they use his water glass from the interrogation for a quick test, confirming his prints as a match.
The episode concludes with Bruce listening to the rest of the recording while Richter, Gwenda, and Diana race to Mervin's house. They find no sign of Mervin, but uncover a hidden Goatman shrine in a secret room, suggesting a deeper and more sinister connection to the town's dark past.
This episode of The Gone is a masterclass in suspense and intrigue, as the characters navigate the complex web of secrets and lies that define their town. The revelation of the Goatman shrine adds a chilling layer to the mystery, leaving viewers eager for the next installment in this gripping crime drama.