HBO's True Detective - Part 2

[runawayboulder]

Is there going to be some kind of time jump now? I got that vibe watching the preview for next week. Maybe a small jump like 6 months or so midway through the episode.

 

[chamber-music]

Well that escalated quickly

That end shoot out was like gunfight at the Ok Corral meets Grand Theft Auto San Andreas.

Ray is better at receding into the trees than Homer Simpson and Michael Myers

That bar Frank and Ray meet in has to be the most depressing bar in the world.

I don't know the name of the bar but it should be called drowned sorrows.

Paul was more stressed out after waking up to find he banged his buddy again than after he was just involved in a bloody shoot out.

I had a feeling Ani's hook up with that deputy would come back to bite her in the ass.

Frank is probably going to die. Frank is embracing his old mob life and ticking all his old associates off. Sometimes your worst self. Is your best self.

The tooth fairy has nothing on Frank.

Andrea from Breaking Bad appearance!

 

[Kane52630]

Pretty cool episode overall.

 

[P Supreme]

the shoot out saved this episode for me everything with Paul is cringe worthy !

Farrel and Vaughn in that bar are the best scenes

 

[Serpico Jones]

Love how all of the red shirts get killed and yet the three leads leave the shootout without a scratch on them.

 

[Serpico Jones]

I also think Vince Vaughn's storyline has been boring so far. In fact, much of the season has been boring.

 

[hobo123]

Love how all of the red shirts get killed and yet the three leads leave the shootout without a scratch on them.

Exactly my thoughts. As much as I liked the last scene, it was hilarious that everybody else kept getting shot in their heads but the main leads kept getting shot at their feet.

 

[Dragon]

I have four words: Ray Velcoro's glove box.

But yeah that was intense. And they know they ****ed up bad.

Clearly they were set up, and they (especially Velcoro) are smart enough to know it. I think their looks of defeat were as much about realizing what they're up against as the deaths of their comrades and innocent bystanders.

 

[Dragon]

It's interesting that, despite how different this season has been so far, its structure has some similarities to that of the first season.

Looks like the case may be "solved" again in this case when it really isn't.

I thought the same thing. Explosive ending in ep 4, the case seemingly solved in ep 5.

 

[slimshady247]

I also think Vince Vaughn's storyline has been boring so far. In fact, much of the season has been boring.

Thank you for this incredibly deep and well thought out analysis.

I thought the same thing. Explosive ending in ep 4, the case seemingly solved in ep 5.

Yeah, only this season, it's much clearer that there's a lot more to this case than some random pimp, i.e. Ani's sister Athena mentioning the parties (again), the connections with the mayor and the psychologist and Ani's father, etc.

It seems as though the four characters' sexual dysfunctions and the victim's sexual deviancy are all going to (at least thematically) tie into whatever it is that is truly at the center of this case.

Also, apparently

Spoiler

the guy in the mask who torched the car was also on the movie set.

 

[BestGirl]

I feel sorry for Vaughn having to recite the lines he does. I mean, I don't think he's particularly good in the role but not many actors could make his dialog work. "I've never had a cavity"...was that supposed to be threatening?

I don't get what's going on with Jordan, either. Why is she trying to have a child with Frank when she knows he's broke? What if he can't get his money back? I suppose it proves that she's not behind bankrupting him.

Ray continues to be awesome. I loved his almost paternal scene with Woodrugh, and his line "to hell with this monkey ****". It tells you something about Farrell's skill as an actor that he makes his scene with Chad so touching even though we know for a fact he's a psycho even around his son.

I can't figure out why Ani asked Betty about her mom. Obviously it was so we would hear Dr. Pitlor's name for the second time but why did she care?

The shootout at the end was awesome. Even though it ran fairly long it was never boring and often quite frightening in its rawness. I loved that shot at the end with the detectives freaking out; it really brought home how horrifying the experience had been for them. That's something you don't see in very many TV shows and movies.

I'm still really intrigued by the mystery and want to see how all the parts fit together.

 

[Sawyer]

Heh.

 

[Dragon]

I feel sorry for Vaughn having to recite the lines he does. I mean, I don't think he's particularly good in the role but not many actors could make his dialog work. "I've never had a cavity"...was that supposed to be threatening?

I don't think it was supposed to be threatening. Simply a show of strength. The dealer tried to belittle him and Frank pushed back, while knowing he couldn't actually insult the dealer because he needs him and his brother. I wasn't happy with Vaughn in the first episode. My son, who has really enjoyed Vaughn's comedic performances agreed. They weren't letting Vince be Vince. Vince did come through in the the second episode. The scene on the street with the writer, the scene with the Mayor.. His performance has been uneven, but when's he's good, he's really good.

I don't get what's going on with Jordan, either. Why is she trying to have a child with Frank when she knows he's broke? What if he can't get his money back? I suppose it proves that she's not behind bankrupting him.

She might actually love him and not care about his wealth. Just as she was suggesting rather than moving forward with the club, they take time together. Although, granted, if she knows where his money is, then she wouldn't care about him making more. If she was to destroy him, then she'd certainly be pushing him away from re-acquiring his wealth and power.

Ray continues to be awesome. I loved his almost paternal scene with Woodrugh, and his line "to hell with this monkey ****". It tells you something about Farrell's skill as an actor that he makes his scene with Chad so touching even though we know for a fact he's a psycho even around his son.

Yeah, Farrell remains the best thing about the show. He's no McConahey, but he has come into his own, instead of being this season's Cohle.

I can't figure out why Ani asked Betty about her mom. Obviously it was so we would hear Dr. Pitlor's name for the second time but why did she care?

In a way, she didn't care. she was just doing what cops do to get someone to talk. Relate to them, be their Priest. But considering Ani's issues with her sister (Saying she should have been there for her) suggest she's looking to really protect Betty.

The shootout at the end was awesome. Even though it ran fairly long it was never boring and often quite frightening in its rawness. I loved that shot at the end with the detectives freaking out; it really brought home how horrifying the experience had been for them. That's something you don't see in very many TV shows and movies.

I'm still really intrigued by the mystery and want to see how all the parts fit together.

Yeah. Still not as powerful as the end sequence of Ep 4 of Season One, but good nevertheless.

 

[Doctor Jones]

Clearly they were set up, and they (especially Velcoro) are smart enough to know it. I think their looks of defeat were as much about realizing what they're up against as the deaths of their comrades and innocent bystanders.

That's interesting if true. I never thought of that.

Though the whole structure of Ep. 5 being that the case not really being wrapped up is redundant to me and I hope when it becomes clearer it stands on its own from season one.

 

[squeekness]

Heh.

Lol, this season isn't that bad. It just isn't as good as last year.

 

[Tyrell Wellick]

Lol, this season isn't that bad. It just isn't as good as last year.

the thing is, when you go into a deep analysis of last season, you'll find many points that make season 1 also look not that good. the main advantage of last season was the fact that there were only two characters that needed deep exploration, rush and marty. all other charaters were just "there" without any deep roots. this season you have four lead characters, much bigger scale, more to explore...people tend to forget that...

according to the preview, they will close the case asap, just like in season 1 and it will be our lead characters, who will do anything to find out the truth...i assume there could be a time jump...velcoro looks a bit different...

 

[Sawyer]

Lol, this season isn't that bad. It just isn't as good as last year.

I'll agree on the second part, but thus far, every criticism I've seen of this season has been warranted.

 

[craigdbfan]

Eh, I'm really enjoying it. It definitely has problems but it's still pretty entertaining, especially Velcoro.

 

[kedrell]

I'm still invested I must say. And after the first 5 minutes of this episode I think I have an inkling of who killed Casper and why. I don't have all the pieces yet but I'm starting to take a hard look at officer Paul. There's a reason he just happened upon Casper's body. It may seem hokey for a show like this though. A little too Twilight Zone-ish. But it hit me when Paul woke up with little to no memory of what he'd done the night before coupled with his violent refuting of his nature as a homosexual man and then added to Casper's own rather unusual sexual proclivities. His murder may not have had as much to do with land deals, corruption or Frank's missing $5 million.

It's just a theory at this point any barely formed at that but it's a start.

 

[Bruce Malone]

I feel like I'm "getting through" this season.

Nowhere near as good as last season. I have high hopes for the anthology format though, it's like we get a fresh slate every season which is a good thing.

 

[O'Haire]

Still haven't watched past the first episode. Just can't seem to get myself interested enough to keep watching. Probably just wait for the season to be done with and try and binge it.

 

[chamber-music]

I feel sorry for Vaughn having to recite the lines he does. I mean, I don't think he's particularly good in the role but not many actors could make his dialog work. "I've never had a cavity"...was that supposed to be threatening?

Scenes like that just make me appreciate McConaughey and Harrelson more. The two of them can pull off Nic Pizzolatto's weird dialogue and make it work.

At times some of Pizzolatto's lines have come off sounding bad from certain characters in this season.

I enjoy Vaughn's character Frank but I don't find him remotely threatening. I don't feel Vaughn has a particular intimidating presence to him.

 

[P Supreme]

Heh.

brutal!! but hilarious

 

[Doctor Jones]

I'm still invested I must say. And after the first 5 minutes of this episode I think I have an inkling of who killed Casper and why. I don't have all the pieces yet but I'm starting to take a hard look at officer Paul. There's a reason he just happened upon Casper's body. It may seem hokey for a show like this though. A little too Twilight Zone-ish. But it hit me when Paul woke up with little to no memory of what he'd done the night before coupled with his violent refuting of his nature as a homosexual man and then added to Casper's own rather unusual sexual proclivities. His murder may not have had as much to do with land deals, corruption or Frank's missing $5 million.

It's just a theory at this point any barely formed at that but it's a start.

Eh... I don't know. Last season people theorized it could be Hart as the murderer and Pizzolotto said he thought it was a cheap and dishonest thing to do by taking a character and doing that to them.

But maybe he was just referring to in that case. Since we're dealing with four characters and one of them is still this mysterious weirdo it's more plausible than Hart being a killer I admit.

 

[Smilodon]

I don't think Pizzolatto would make any of the characters the killer either. Judging by how Marty and Rust got their closure at the end of S1, I think Pizzolatto fundamentally believes despite the shortcomings of human nature and the seemingly insurmountable darkness that plagues the souls of these characters, suffering is in a sense still a choice. These characters can choose to be victims of their circumstances and be mopey and brooding, or look beyond that. He said that being optimistic is just as much as a rational choice as being nihilistic with Rust, and though the season is different, I feel like he wouldn't betray that kind of thinking either.

Of course, that's just me assuming some of the philosophical assumptions of last season are still in play this season.

I'm kinda glad Velcoro is shaving his mustache though. Kinda like the opposite of Rust last year, where he was clean shaven in the past and shaggy dog in the present. Velcoro is shaggy dog first half, a bit better in the second half of the season.

I also dig the anthology format of the show too. If this season ends up not turning around, then we get a fresh start and it's kinda cool to speculate who will be the leads for the next season.