‘Church and State,’ the fourth episode of FX on Hulu’s crime series ‘Under the Banner of Heaven,’ explores detectives Jeb Pyre and Bill Taba’s efforts to protect the Lows and Stowes from the wrath of the mysterious killers. When Pyre and Taba arrive at the Lows’ home, they discover that the house had been burglarized while the family was away. They discover a note from Ron’s wife, Dianna, in the house, which alters the path of the investigation. The thrilling episode concludes with the detectives attempting to locate the alleged murderer. If you want to take a closer look at the same, we can help! SPOILERS FOLLOW.

Recap of Episode 4 of Under the Banner of Heaven

‘Church and State’ begins with Pyre and Taba attempting to confirm that no additional killings had occurred within their authority. They discover a letter sent by Dianna to Prophet Kimball regarding Ron’s anti-tax and anti-law efforts while searching the Lows’ burglarized home. He contacts Kimball’s office for more information and discovers that the letter had no effect on Ron and Dianna’s marriage. Pyre discusses the letter with Robin and learns that Dan is the one who spreads anti-law beliefs in the family.

Dan ran for sheriff to ensure that the law did not interfere with the agreements of LDS Church members. Robin also informs Pyre of Dan’s desire to adhere to FLDS practices and beliefs, including polygamy. The second eldest Lafferty son even approached his wife Matilda to explain his plans to remarry, which enraged her. Dan, who was imprisoned for not obeying traffic laws, taught his brothers his core principles. In Dan’s opinion, he wanted to follow in the footsteps of the Prophet Joseph Smith, who had married multiple times.

Despite learning a lot about the Laffertys’ core beliefs, Pyre and Taba are unable to tie them to Brenda and Erica’s murders due to the lack of a motivation. Meanwhile, two witnesses notify the lead detective that a green station wagon was observed on the Lows’ property. Pyre verifies that the car is Ron’s. The detective, who had suspected Dan all along, begins to explore the idea that Ron shares his younger brother’s beliefs. Pyre interrogates Robin and asks if Ron was drawn to Dan’s ideals before Dianna wrote the letter, to which he responds affirmatively.

Is Ron the Killer in Under the Banner of Heaven Episode 4? What is his motivation?

When Pyre and Taba learn that Dan is a fundamentalist Mormon, the detectives begin to suspect him as the perpetrator of the murders. The witness testimony that leads Pyre to Ron’s car, on the other hand, makes them understand that Ron could be just as engaged in the murder as the suspected Dan. Pyre theorizes a motivation after Robin reveals that his eldest sibling has been following Dan’s extreme ideals even before Dianna’s intervention. Although the detectives have yet to determine whether Ron is the murderer, his involvement in the killings is almost certain.

Although Ron initially believed that the law should be observed, it didn’t take long for him to agree with Dan’s fundamentalist ideas and notions. By the time Dianna submitted a letter to Prophet Kimball exposing the Laffertys’ illegal behaviors, Ron had evolved into someone who preferred to follow Heavenly Father’s rules and regulations over man-made laws. Ron, as a spouse, realized that his wife couldn’t write a letter to a higher authority without help. Brenda may have been regarded as a threat by Ron since she was the only one who consistently disputed the Lafferty brothers’ beliefs.

As a fundamentalist, Ron must have interpreted Brenda’s intervention, in the form of the letter, as her protest against the supremacy of Heavenly Father’s regulations over the lower laws of the land. Because Pyre and Taba believe Ron is a possible killer, they may consider him killing Brenda for opposing their beliefs and turning the prophet’s greater authority against him and Dan. They may also believe Erica was murdered as a result of her mother’s conduct. Because Ron and Dan have similar ideas, Pyre and Taba may not be surprised if they discover that both brothers are implicated in the murders.

Where are the low points?

When Sam Lafferty reveals to Pyre and Taba the existence of a “holy list,” they realize that additional killings are possible. They learn through Robin that the Lows may be on the list, requiring the detectives to track them down. However, the detectives discover that the Lows’ house is empty. The Stowes informed the detectives that they had not heard from the family in a week. Meanwhile, the family is on vacation. Morris, a police officer, discovers Low, one half of the family, fishing in a river in the woods. Pyre and Taba are anticipated to finally affirm that there are no more killings now that Morris has found him.

The Lows are also anticipated to assist Pyre and Taba in their investigation into Ron and Dan’s participation in Brenda and Erica’s killings. If the mother and daughter were murdered because of the former’s relationship with Ron’s wife Dianna, the Lows must have had a similar role in the brothers’ affairs, which may help the detectives clarify the killer’s or killers’ motive.