HBO's True Detective - Part 2

[ChrisBaleBatman]

Someone here last week immediately speculated he may be closet gay, which seems to have been on point. Honestly, I love how all damaged these characters are. I care more about where they end up at the end than I do the crime they are investigating, which I think is the point Pizzolatto was trying to make in the scene where Ani dropped off Ray at his car.

Definitely, that's the power of good storytelling. When you wind up being so invested in the characters that you genuinely care what happens to them, and what they've been through. I care about the crime, and it being solved, but for me the character moments are the juice for me.

i really hope hbo green lights another season...despite the negative critics..

Personally, I can't wait for this season to be over. If not for anything else than to atleast make it clear to people that we can have another great season, covering different themes while getting some more Neo Noir...and kinda shake the shadow of the first season. I loved the first season, but when I found out that they were going with an Anthology approach to the seasons I was able to go into the first episode this season without trying to compare everything to last season, or carrying any baggage.

Most of the criticism I've seen seemed to basically try and hold last season against this one. Which just seems unfair, to me. They're supposed to be self contained seasons, so for the most part I'll treat them that way.

Besides, Collin Farrell is the **** in this. He won me over about a third of the way in the season premiere. When he dished out that beating.

 

[Man in the Suit]

i really hope hbo green lights another season...despite the negative critics..

The viewers/ratings for episode 2 were very steady, not much of a drop from episode one. Still in the 3 million viewers range, so I imagine it'll keep those viewers or add some next week after that ending.

And that's not counting DVR, Go, and On Demand.

 

[ChrisBaleBatman]

Man, this show is definitely meant to be re-watched. There's visual treats, and storytelling hints that are peppered throughout. It's impressive.

 

[Kane52630]

I can see the criticisms with episode 1, but not with 2. Episode 2 is where it got its groove back.

 

[Uptown Finest]

Definitely, that's the power of good storytelling. When you wind up being so invested in the characters that you genuinely care what happens to them, and what they've been through. I care about the crime, and it being solved, but for me the character moments are the juice for me.



Personally, I can't wait for this season to be over. If not for anything else than to atleast make it clear to people that we can have another great season, covering different themes while getting some more Neo Noir...and kinda shake the shadow of the first season. I loved the first season, but when I found out that they were going with an Anthology approach to the seasons I was able to go into the first episode this season without trying to compare everything to last season, or carrying any baggage.

Most of the criticism I've seen seemed to basically try and hold last season against this one. Which just seems unfair, to me. They're supposed to be self contained seasons, so for the most part I'll treat them that way.

Besides, Collin Farrell is the **** in this. He won me over about a third of the way in the season premiere. When he dished out that beating.

I want next season to be about narcotics. Keep the neo noir vibe like you said and the eerie almost supernatural like elements too with the cult stuff. I would love a season taking place in South Florida.

 

[Bruce Malone]

Two theories:

-He was wearing a bullet proof vest.

-Some kind of bean bag shotgun ammunition.

Even with a vest that impact would F you up very bad. This show seems to try to be relatively grounded and not make their characters out like superheros.

Also Ray was in a private lair essentially, if that guy really wanted ray dead he'd have time to make sure he was.

I'm thinking it has to be just some sort of threat and not an actual attempt on his life. So in that case non-lethal rounds.

 

[Uptown Finest]

I thought the man was dead for a minute. I figured this show could be crazy enough to pull off that shocker.

 

[BestGirl]

That therapist was the skeeviest guy I've ever seen. I'll bet he was the murderer.

 

[aNarcHy2day]

So, is GRRM consulting for all HBO shows, now?

 

[Bruce Banner]

That therapist was the skeeviest guy I've ever seen. I'll bet he was the murderer.

He actually seems more likely to take the same amount of pleasure in Caspere's sexual habits. Maybe even partake in them.

However he seems like the kind of guy who would be not at all be comfortable with wielding a shotgun or strong enough to be moving a dead body.

 

[Eddie Dean]

I bet he wishes he had... Jesse's girl.

 

[RockSP]

I bet he wishes he had... Jesse's girl.

Heh...had no clue that was him while watching. But then, I haven't seen him in anything in a couple decades.

 

[Rowsdower!]

I bet he wishes he had... Jesse's girl.

Ha!

I remember watching it and thinking, "That guy looks like some old rock star" when I saw him. Meant to look it up after the episode but I forgot.

 

[Doctor Jones]

In this episode I caught the Lone Star Beer logo at the Black Rose bar. Nice little easter egg.

 

[The Shape]

I really enjoyed Episode 2. Can't wait for things to really start heating up.

However, I do feel that some of the dialogue just plain sucks. Some of it really seems forced and comes off as written dialogue that's meant to be metaphoric, existential, or memorable, rather than conversational and natural. This was something I never felt during the first season, even as McConaughey was rattling off these wild monologues.

 

[shauner111]

I hope there's some vague explanation as to how Ray survives. I mean other then "he's a fighter".

Hell you'd at least expect the hank schrader full season recovery mode at least from those blasts?

The only believable option is that Bird-man didn't actually want to kill ray just hurt him or whatever.

Rock salts, bean bag shells. It was planned that way.

I really enjoyed Episode 2. Can't wait for things to really start heating up.

However, I do feel that some of the dialogue just plain sucks. Some of it really seems forced and comes off as written dialogue that's meant to be metaphoric, existential, or memorable, rather than conversational and natural. This was something I never felt during the first season, even as McConaughey was rattling off these wild monologues.

I think it's meant to be read and seen like a novel brought to life. I find both seasons to be like a dark fairytale or dream-world, disguised as a gritty/realistic story at first. It starts to reveal itself as a David Lynch type of world. Not as extreme obviously, but it's close. It's dark, bizarre, realistic until it's not realistic, it's poetic, intelligent, grim and dirty. I understand the criticisms of the odd line of dialogue, but i treat it like a novel. Even Nicolas Refn's films like Drive and Only God Forgives are described by him as a bit of dream world. I get that feeling with True Detective even though it's probably more realistic than any cop show that's out there at the moment.

I love this show. Even the things that most people have problems with. It's like David Fincher (at his best) meets David Lynch.

Ill take this dialogue over the first meeting between the two leads in Gone Girl though. Any day. I found their conversation at that party to be so forced.

 

[Eddie Dean]

I see absolutey no David Lynch is this, besides, maybe, the use of jazz in the score. Season one was way more Lynchian. This is more James Ellroy and The Long Good Friday than anything else.

 

[The Shape]

Rock salts, bean bag shells. It was planned that way.

I think it's meant to be read and seen like a novel brought to life. I find both seasons to be like a dark fairytale or dream-world, disguised as a gritty/realistic story at first. It starts to reveal itself as a David Lynch type of world. Not as extreme obviously, but it's close. It's dark, bizarre, realistic until it's not realistic, it's poetic, intelligent, grim and dirty. I understand the criticisms of the odd line of dialogue, but i treat it like a novel. Even Nicolas Refn's films like Drive and Only God Forgives are described by him as a bit of dream world. I get that feeling with True Detective even though it's probably more realistic than any cop show that's out there at the moment.

It shouldn't necessarily be treated like a novel, though. It should be treated like a live action television show or teleplay. Since there's no internal monologus as there are in novels, we're only hearing what the characters are verbally articulating and some of it is coming off as fairly heavy-handed and unnatural.

I totally understand their intentions and what they're going for, but there is such a thing as being overly poetic/wordy to the point that it becomes jarring. I never found this to be a problem in the first season because the dialogue and monologues were integrated so well that it felt natural instead of heavy-handed.

We're only two episodes in so obviously I can't say that I'll have an issue with any of the unseen episodes, but I just found it to be particularly jarring in Episode 2.

 

[Joe Von Zombie]

It shouldn't necessarily be treated like a novel, though. It should be treated like a live action television show or teleplay. Since there's no internal monologus as there are in novels, we're only hearing what the characters are verbally articulating and some of it is coming off as fairly heavy-handed and unnatural.

I totally understand their intentions and what they're going for, but there is such a thing as being overly poetic/wordy to the point that it becomes jarring. I never found this to be a problem in the first season because the dialogue and monologues were integrated so well that it felt natural instead of heavy-handed.

We're only two episodes in so obviously I can't say that I'll have an issue with any of the unseen episodes, but I just found it to be particularly jarring in Episode 2.

The bit with Ray's ex was especially painful .

 

[Uptown Finest]

Rock salts, bean bag shells. It was planned that way.

I think it's meant to be read and seen like a novel brought to life. I find both seasons to be like a dark fairytale or dream-world, disguised as a gritty/realistic story at first. It starts to reveal itself as a David Lynch type of world. Not as extreme obviously, but it's close. It's dark, bizarre, realistic until it's not realistic, it's poetic, intelligent, grim and dirty. I understand the criticisms of the odd line of dialogue, but i treat it like a novel. Even Nicolas Refn's films like Drive and Only God Forgives are described by him as a bit of dream world. I get that feeling with True Detective even though it's probably more realistic than any cop show that's out there at the moment.

I love this show. Even the things that most people have problems with. It's like David Fincher (at his best) meets David Lynch.

Ill take this dialogue over the first meeting between the two leads in Gone Girl though. Any day. I found their conversation at that party to be so forced.

I Maybe next season they can have Fincher direct the first two episodes like Justin Lin did this season.

 

[BestGirl]

Vaughn's been awful so far but he has the most pretentious lines to deliver. Can't be easy. I don't think any of the other characters have really had awkward dialog, at least, nothing is coming to mind.

 

[ChrisBaleBatman]

I dunno about that. I mean, I don't think he's been amazing...but I think he's been okay. I liked the 'paper mache' scene. He does kinda seem like the weak link, though. But, still early and he could surprise me. I do think Farrell's been amazing in these two episodes.

BTW, there's an interesting breakdown of the Season 2 premiere over at Polygon that re-examines the first episode after having watched the second episode. It's an interesting read on all the characters and everything that happened in the season premiere: http://www.polygon.com/2015/6/30/8869875/true-detective-season-2-explain-details-characters-plot-help

 

[Man in the Suit]

BTW, there's an interesting breakdown of the Season 2 premiere over at Polygon that re-examines the first episode after having watched the second episode. It's an interesting read on all the characters and everything that happened in the season premiere: http://www.polygon.com/2015/6/30/88...season-2-explain-details-characters-plot-help

I hate the comments and even some Twitter reactions like: "I laughed during the entire episode." Sure you did. And stylized (and even noir-ish) dialogue =/= bad dialogue.

People act like this is Under the Dome or something.

 

[Marvolo]

Is this season really getting reviews that bad?

 

[Thundercrack85]

I have to say it hasn't gripped me the way the first one did. But it's certainly nowhere near Under the Dome bad.