Under the Banner of Heaven Episode 4 is the fourth part of an 2022 American true crime drama television miniseries based on the nonfiction book of the same name by Jon Krakauer. The premise involves a police detective who’s faith is shaken when investigating the murder of a Mormon mother and her baby daughter that seems to involve The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).
S P O I L E R S
Entitled “Church and State”, Under the Banner of Heaven Episode 4 finds our main character Detective Pyre questioning his own Mormon faith even further as he learns more about the motivation behind the murder he is investigating, the true origins of the Mormon faith and the resistance of the LDS Church in aiding the police with the investigations, for fear of embarrassment and negative press.
READ OUR ANALYSES OF UNDER THE BANNER OF HEAVEN.
As far as the truth behind the murders, there seems little doubt at this point that the Lafferty brothers committed the heinous deed. Thus, in that respect, as pointed out previously, moving forward, the story lacks tension altogether. By now, the story is more about Pyre’s character than anything else. The examination of a devoutly religious man who realises that his faith is not quite what he believed it to be all this while.
Essentially, as the episode title suggests, the crux of the problem relates to Mormons not willing to abide by the laws of the land, insisting that God’s law – which they claim allows them to practice polygamy and ignore state and federal tax laws – is paramount. All very convenient of course, to its proponents. One can believe whatever they want but when one’s beliefs lead to violence and murder, well that is something else altogether.
Under the Banner of Heaven Episode 4 does not seem the advance the narrative much but certainly the series continues to be interesting for its depiction of Mormon history and its impact on the Pyre character.
Now streaming on Hulu.
… still there’s more …