WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD. DO NOT PROCEED IF YOU HAVEN'T WATCHED SEASON 2 , EPISODE 2, 'NIGHT FINDS YOU'

Fans who watched the second episode of True Detective's dark and second season may be asking themselves only one question today: Did that just happen?

Everything We Know About 'True Detective' So Far

The episode, which picked up as the investigation into the murder of Vinci city manager Ben Caspere (who was gruesomely tortured beforehand) gets off the ground, also revealed some more backstory about the three detectives involved in the mystery--Ray Velcoro (Colin Farrell), Ani Bezzerides (Rachel McAdams) and Paul Woodrugh (Taylor Kitsch). As the mystery unfolds, Velcoro's corruption appears to pay off when his criminal conspirator Frank Semyon (Vince Vaughn) provides an address for Caspere's secret sex pad in Hollywood.

It is here where the episode's final scene--and the ones making fans freak out--takes place. As Velcoro pokes around the apartment--which is clearly where Caspere was murdered--he is approached from behind by someone in a bird mask (the same kind seen with the killer as he drove Caspere's corpse in the season premiere) who shots Velcoro with a shot gun, once from across the room and a second time at point blank range.

What We Learned In The Season Premiere Of 'True Detective'

Now, fans are wondering if the show really offed one of its main characters so quickly--and what it might mean for the season going forward.

Here are the two most popular theories about Ray Velcoro's actual fate going forward:

Velcoro Is Really Dead And From Here On Out, His Appearance On The Show Will Be Told Entirely Via Flashback

Naturally, after being shot twice, it is safe to assume Velcoro is actually dead. His death would make for another shocking twist to possibly throw his fellow detectives off when it comes to looking for the person who killed Caspere. As for Velcoro's back story, it would likely solve the problems with his ex-wife and the custody of their son, but flashbacks to their history could explain in more detail just what went wrong with them--and why Velcoro turned out the way he was.

Now, this would also mean that any and all appearance by Farrell in the show's promotional material that seem to be from later on the chronology of the investigation were purposely created by the showrunners to throw viewers off...which is pretty devious.

Velcoro Survived The Shooting--But Gets Some Big Clues Behind What Happened With Caspere As A Result

Though a twist involving a main character dying so quickly (along with a fakeout for fans)( would be an intriguing way to take the story, Velcoro is likely only injured at worst. As a detective, and one who has been investigating a murder, he likely came prepared for his solo venture to the house in Hollywood--with a bulletproof vest on underneath his clothes. Or the killer, AKA 'Birdman' used a non-lethal ammunication (rock salt, beanbag rounds, etc). If that's the case--then he will still very much be a part of the main investigation--and could use the attack on himself as a key piece of evidence in the investigation.

With his backstory with his wife very much still about to be revealed, his being alive would make more sense with he and his wife's upcoming custody battle. In addition, he could figure out a big key to the entire Caspere murder puzzle--specifically through his attacker being clad the way they were--and the interesting parallels it may have to the commune that Ani's father is the head of.

What do you think Velcoro's fate was? Tell us in the comments below.

True Detective airs Sundays at 9 p.m. on HBO.

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True detective, Hbo, Television