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True Detective - Season 2 - We get the Season we deserve - Sundays on HBO

neoism

neoism

Member
Oscar said:
People forget how slow S1E1 was after it hooked them a few episodes later.
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meh mattys last line in ep 1 did it for me...right then i knew it would be amazing and then it got better and better..... after ep 5 though it went back to being just really good...and the pacing of the first three eps was amazing... but i loved everything about matts character... that and the way he played him...
 
D

Deleted member 30609

Unconfirmed Member
I hope we get something more than interesting dark men talking about dark things. It works for me, but it could be so much more. It's a waste of talent, I guess. I'm hoping much of the... self-evidently horrible tropes in this episode are a set-up for something subversive down the line, buuuut

we'll see.
 
Grizzlyjin

Grizzlyjin

Supersonic, idiotic, disconnecting, not respecting, who would really ever wanna go and top that
Did anyone else find the plot just too convenient? I understand it wanted to bring the three main cops together, but having Woodrugh just happens upon the corpse felt super lazy.

Maybe things will pick up once we get the three main bouncing off each other. But I can't say this really sold me. It felt like a caricature of an HBO crime show. I was pretty sold on season 1 by the end of the first episode, not so much here. The series has garnered enough good will for me to stick around but I can understand why it reviewed so poorly.
 
D

Deleted member 30609

Unconfirmed Member
Grizzlyjin said:
Did anyone else find the plot just too convenient? I understand it wanted to bring the three main cops together, but having Woodrugh just happens upon the corpse felt super lazy.
Click to expand...

I was okay with this. I doubt it would have felt weird had the episode started with that scene. It's the only reason he's actually part of the story.

I have some complaints about this episode, but starting the season by showing the characters aimless and frustrated, before clicking them all together was fine with me. I have little doubt that the writers knew that starting the story at that point would have been more immediately interesting. Playing with the format like that works for me. Frustrating the audience can pay off sometimes, and -- I don't know -- after season one I willing to give the benefit of the doubt.
 
J

Jonm1010

Banned
I do think anyone who is upset an HBO show hasn't hooked them the first episode is being very impatient or doesn't typically watch long form TV.

That's not to say there isn't plenty to criticize about this episode in its own right but most HBO shows aren't set up like episode one of Breaking Bad. Most are more like The Wire, Treme, Rome, Deadwood or Boardwalk Empire where they play out more like a novel with a slow build that spends the early episodes establishing characters, themes and stories that leads to a more complex narrative and a big payoff for that investment.

Where you kinda have to give the show enough time to establish itself. I remember my first time watching The Wire it took til around episode 6 or 7 before it actually "hooked" me.
 
D

dead souls

Member
I had the lowest possible expectations for this premiere and that turd of an episode still managed to disappoint me. Laughably bad. I guess I found my hatewatch show for the summer.

I can't even imagine how cable/satellite feeds are going to handle the amount of macho testosterone bullshit once this and Ray Donovan are sharing a time slot in a few weeks.

What a dreadful night of programming for HBO outside of John Oliver.
 
M

Miss.Selfdestruct

Member
It took me 2-3 episode to get into Season 1. Initially thought half the characters were too generic and dull.

Askherserenity said:
I was wondering this when he visited Aspen's house. Like...the dude is easily identifiable, how would he just get away with that?
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Maybe because even with the family reporting a beating, there was a murder to address...
 
I

Intheflorsh

Banned
I think I'm going to agree with the critics on this one, it was a very flat and opaque episode. I did, however, enjoy Taylor Kitsch's various facial expressions.
 
B

big ander

Member
Scattered premiere without much of a hook at all. Brave choice in a way, think people will be turned off by how this set-up was clunky and meandering. Could pay off though, now that the True Detectives are together

Dialogue was awful a lot of the time and none of the characters are interesting or distinct at all yet. I guess Ray is the loudest, but his shit was also comically bad so. Typing this out feels like I hated it—I didn't while I was watching though. I'm still in for more, we'll see what happens.
 
Avinexus

Avinexus

Member
McAdams seemed like the only one that could actually act. Ferrell I think did the best he could, but the writing for his character was just really bad (although the writing was bad in general). Vaughn was as bad as I expected. Kitsch I was indifferent about. And I agree with those saying the story felt like a mess. And there was so much unnecessary moody/atmospheric/whatever music throughout the episode that felt so out of place. I read some of the reports about the early reviews being not so hot, but was hoping that was because people were comparing it to season one. But nope, this first episode really was pretty bad overall.

The best part about the episode is that the new opening credits are gorgeous (theme song is terrible though) and I liked that song near the end from the girl in the bar.

Oscar said:
People forget how slow S1E1 was after it hooked them a few episodes later.
Click to expand...

Huh? Most were hooked right from the first episode during season one. Slow =/= bad television. This episode wasn't bad because it was slow.
 
B

big ander

Member
The girl playing in the bar where Ray and Frank talked was great.
Admiral Woofington said:
The fact the movie [In Bruges] is marketed as a comedy still disgusts me.
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w...why? It's a funny movie that's trying to be funny. it is a comedy.
brianjones said:
what was that first scene with her all about? was she trying to play with his ass or something? pretty weird scene to open with

as for the title track.. yeah.. i'll stick with early leonard cohen if thats any indication of his new album lol .. he is 80 years old tho ill give him a break
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Yeah the hell was up with that. It seemed like a scene about buttplay but it wasn't clear which direction exactly and then that was spun into a different equally vague argument?
Oscar said:
People forget how slow S1E1 was after it hooked them a few episodes later.
Click to expand...

S1E1 got off to a more concise start though. you had just two main characters, you had a flashback structure that made them more intriguingly defined, you had a mysterious crime. This is spread out between 4 main characters who have 1-5 pertinent supporting characters each, and none of it moved beyond setup.
 
H

hateradio

The Most Dangerous Yes Man
I didn't respond instantly to the first season, and even throughout its phases I wasn't always buying what it was selling.


However, overall, I thought it was alright.


This episode was overall, just okay. It's a wait-and-see situation.


(Thanks the person who posted this.)

XA1YWMK.gif
 
N

NotTheGuyYouKill

Member
Just finished the opener. After all the mixed reviews, I wasn't sure I would. I didn't wanna compare it to TDS1, so this is based on its own thing.

I really, really liked it. Don't get me wrong, there were some dumb bits here and there, but overall, I really liked it.

- The new intro is awesome. From the immediate outset, a new tone and vibe is set, messier, more chaotic. It works.

- The decision to go with city corruption and dirty cops on the edge of self-destruction versus hunting a deranged serial killer and dirty cops on the edge of self-destruction is a welcome one. Pizzaman isn't really doing anything new with these stories. He did an exceptional job with Season 1, and there's nothing wrong with that at all. He's doing the same here. I've got high hopes.

- The actors are all good in their respective roles. Ferrell and McAdams are the standouts thus far, but everyone's doing good. Ferrel's got this great 'barely hanging on' edge to him. When this dude explodes, he fucking explodes. McAdams feels like there is sharpness to all her performance. It's interesting to see. Kitsch constantly gives the vibe that he's a livewire, and his suicidal death wish bike race confirmed it. Vaughn was pretty good too as the criminal trying to go legit. I like that Ferrel and Vaughn's characters seem to have some actual friendship here, seeing the genesis of their relationship and that Vaughn at least seems to be showing some concern for him. But I'm sure they'll be at odds soon enough.

- I like Lin's direction. It's not the moody, laconic vision that Fukunaga brought when depicting Louisiana. It's bright lights, derelict towns, sunshine. If Season 1 was Noir (and it felt like Southern Noir), then Season 2 immediately feels like Western Pulp. It's hard to put into words. I did like it though. I'd rather they go with a different look than try and imitate Season 1.

- I like the crime that sets off the story. The torture and murder of a municipal figure, causing all sorts of political and financial ramifications that ripple out. In Season 1, no one cared about Dora Lange. Everyone cares about Casper.

- The music was good. Loved that scene where Lera Lynn is playing that song in the bar in the background and it goes to all the cops' shitty lives. It's a good song. Where can I get that song and the Nick Cave track that played at the end? That was fantastic. All The Gold In California.

The stupidest thing was:

- Colin Ferrel beating a white dad in the suburbs in California with brass knuckles and not getting in trouble for that. I call bullshit. I can suspend my disbelief on a lot of things, but not that.
 
M

Mooreberg

is sharpening a shovel and digging a ditch
Askherserenity said:
I was wondering this when he visited Aspen's house. Like...the dude is easily identifiable, how would he just get away with that?
Click to expand...
I am vaguely confused as to whether he is actually a detective in the town where his son attends school, and in which the bully lives. The reason for this is that Vinci is a stand in for a real town with fewer than 200 residents. Would such a place have a police force on the basis of the industrial employee population? Either way, seems like the kid would go to school elsewhere in the county, or at least in the town where the mother resides. He could get away with that if he does not show his face there very often.

I like the premise so far, if not the delivery. Velcoro and Semyon's misdeeds seem like something that could mesh well with a larger narrative. Not quite as sure with the sexcapades of the other two.
 
N

NotTheGuyYouKill

Member
ivysaur12 said:
This feels like it was written by someone who's only brush with LA is through dismissive New Yorker articles?
Click to expand...

Sorry, I must have missed something cause my friend's crazy girlfriend kept texting me throughout the beginning, but when was anyone in LA? Wasn't all of this Central California, like north of LA? Or is my geography off?

hateradio said:
XA1YWMK.gif
Click to expand...

I was hoping someone would post this. I immediately thought someone would GIF this the second I saw it.

So I assume that Woodrough (LOL) is impotent cause of whatever traumatic shit happened in his past? His girlfriend was hot. Just had to say it.

Ferrel's characters past is hilariously traumatic. Gives Rust Cohle a run for his money. His wife was raped by some scumbag, she had his child, who Ferrel raised as his own son who is now gonna be taken away, oh and Ferrel killed the rapist and got trapped under the thumb of a gangster.

Lol.

Also, David Morse is like... a cult leader dad of Rachel McAdams in this, right? I did a double take at that being David Morse.
 
G

Gila

Member
What's Vaughns plot? An organized criminal looking to become legitimate? I had no idea what was going on with him
 
A

ascully

Member
Gila said:
What's Vaughns plot? An organized criminal looking to become legitimate? I had no idea what was going on with him
Click to expand...

I thought the Vaughn plot was very poorly communicated, my wife turned to me at the end and said I have no idea what Vince Vaughn is, is he a senator?
 
N

NotTheGuyYouKill

Member
Gila said:
What's Vaughns plot? An organized criminal looking to become legitimate? I had no idea what was going on with him
Click to expand...

Him and the dead guy have a plan to build a high speed railway in Central California with money from the federal government. Casper (the dead guy) is the brains of the operation or something, and presumably Semyon is the muscle/money. Now that Casper's dead, hundreds of millions of dollars are risk, as well Semyon's legacy. He's a former criminal turned real estate developer (I think?) who has united with Casper for this project. Birdman tortured and murdered Casper... but why torture and murder? Trying to get at Semyon or preventing the railway from being built?

Is it a sex thing? Or a Hotline Miami thing?

d51e2934b7794be638b2d67d1d62d749.jpg


So what unites the three cops is:

Kitsch found the body. The body was in McAdams' jurisdiction. The dead guy is from Ferrel's jurisdiction. So all three are now tangled together. The dead guy is Vaughn's partner. Ferrel's indebted to Vaughn and so basically acts as his muscle/boogeyman/detective.
 
T

TTG

Member
Spoiler: Deviant detective lady is Velcro's ex wife, that's why they were all giving meaningful awkward looks at the end.

Double spoiler: Vince Vaugn is tubby's real father.

Triple spoiler: Crazy biker Black Water cop did it. The "I discovered the body so it couldn't have been me" routine, classic.
 
N

NotTheGuyYouKill

Member
The bar owner with the scar, she and Ray probably have a past, right? I'm assuming Ray saved her or something from whoever gave her that scar.

Also:

birdhead.png


We're pretty much already at Season 1 levels of WTF. Cohle and Hart dealt with the Yellow King. Velcoro/Antigone/Woodrough/Semyon are dealing with Birdman.

I'm actually surprised at how much I enjoyed it after the mixed reviews. Might have to rewatch one more time to get what I missed cause of my friend's crazy girlfriend.
 
F

Fjordson

Member
Man I liked it. Maybe my expectations were set so low by the reviews that it was just surprisingly decent, but I thought it was pretty good. None of the main four grab you like Rust & Marty, thought they were all fine. Even liked Vince Vaughn. I liked the music too (especially the horns).

I'm expecting something lesser than S1 for sure, but I wouldn't be surprised if this ends up being pretty good in its own right.
 
N

NotTheGuyYouKill

Member
Yeah. Fjordson, I liked it as well. As it's own thing, it already feels pretty compelling to me.

I feel like the 'pacing' thing that people are talking about, the exposition-heavy nature of the episode, how everything feels like it's just ticking on... it feels kind of like on purpose.

Like, these characters are just living their regular, everyday shitty lives, and you're watching how they act on a day-to-day basis... and then at the end, the case of a lifetime drops in their laps.
 
N

NotTheGuyYouKill

Member
JasonV said:
Well, at least it had one unintentionally hilariously scene at the house with all the dicks and spooky music.
Click to expand...

There is no way that wasn't unintentional. It was fucking hilarious and bizarre for the sake of being bizarre.

I fully believe that was on purpose. It was too funny, especially the two cops' reactions at all this shit.
 
S

Seesaw15

Member
Pretty solid. While the direction/cinematography was kind of flat I'm in. Even if the season is just average I'm glad we're getting interesting mini-series on american television.

Oh and I hope the opening song grows on me because I dont want to skip the title sequence every week :/
 
R

ReturnOfTheRAT

Member
I'd say there's one problem with that episode. It's that there were a lot of moving pieces to get them all into that final place.

Although, after thinking about it, after spending some time with Ballers, I don't think Vince was so disconnected from the rest of cast anymore. In the past Vince is a somewhat low level crime guy and Colin is a THICK, apparently do-gooder officer who ended up going down a bad path due to family loss. Then we come to present and Vince is the one with his act together, although still in shady business ventures and Colin is patently corrupt and mostly a disheveled mess. It's not quite a reversal of fortunes, but enough to show a link between the two and something that will have to come to a head at some point in the season.

What happened during the sex scene with Rachel that we didn't see? I like that she's not perfect and the sting fell flat on it's face. Chill out on the webcam hate. I've heard it's legitimate business these days. :p

John Carter of the Pacific Coast Highway thinks with his dick, needs Viagra, and is a thrill seeker. Fair enough.

I liked how it call came together at the end. I haven't seen more than the first trailer or teaser and it looks like a lot of it was literally all from this episode. That's good for keeping spoiler free.
 
N

NotTheGuyYouKill

Member
Another thing about the premiere:

Every character has some kind of sexual... well, I hesitate to say dysfunction, but thing.

Woodrough is impotent. Semyon and his wife are trying to have kids and having to use IVF. Antigone freaked her partner out with... a finger in the butt? I missed that bit. Velcoro has checked out of romantic relationship altogether cause of the trauma in his life.
 
K

Ken K in the Fresh!!!

Member
NotTheGuyYouKill said:
Sorry, I must have missed something cause my friend's crazy girlfriend kept texting me throughout the beginning, but when was anyone in LA? Wasn't all of this Central California, like north of LA? Or is my geography off?
Click to expand...
Ventura county is where the city manager's body was found. Mcadam's character is Ventura county (north of la county) sheriff, kitsch's chp and Farrell's some fictional city right outside of dtla where u can see the skyline

Not sure why the person u quoted feels the way s/he does..
 
T

Tim the Wiz

Banned
I thought it was an okay start. This either ends up mediocre or a decent follow-up, but it won't be boring, which is its main saving grace.

There are some truly, truly ridiculous things in this première, though. Let's simply start and end with the Ferrell character: Not only was his wife raped, but she had a kid that's probably not his that he wants to raise as his own, and is now being taken away? And he put himself under the thumb of a gangster to kill the guy responsible--oh, and he wanted to be an astronaut but they don't go the Moon any more? This is the traumatic back-story that doesn't know when to quit.

By the time he was beating up that suburban father, I was cackling. When things are played this serious, they start to become hilarious.
 
N

NotTheGuyYouKill

Member
ReturnOfTheRAT said:
I'd say there's one problem with that episode. It's that there were a lot of moving pieces to get them all into that final place.

Although, after thinking about it, after spending some time with Ballers, I don't think Vince was so disconnected from the rest of cast anymore. In the past Vince is a somewhat low level crime guy and Colin is a THICK, apparently do-gooder officer who ended up going down a bad path due to family loss. Then we come to present and Vince is the one with his act together, although still in shady business ventures and Colin is patently corrupt and mostly a disheveled mess. It's not quite a reversal of fortunes, but enough to show a link between the two and something that will have to come to a head at some point in the season.

What happened during the sex scene with Rachel that we didn't see? I like that she's not perfect and the sting fell flat on it's face. Chill out on the webcam hate. I've heard it's legitimate business these days. :p

John Carter of the Pacific Coast Highway thinks with his dick, needs Viagra, and is a thrill seeker. Fair enough.

I liked how it call came together at the end. I haven't seen more than the first trailer or teaser and it looks like a lot of it was literally all from this episode. That's good for keeping spoiler free.
Click to expand...

John Carter being a thrill seeker, I didn't think about that. I assumed it was a suicide death wish. Could be he misses combat, so he's just turned into an adrenaline junkie. Hence, can't stay at night with his girl, always has to be out on the road.

Maybe he can only get a stiffie when it's dangerous. Like that one woman that Frasier dated.
 
J

JasonV

Member
Oh, and is McAdams suppose to be badass or a dorky martial arts nerd? Because her ninja weapons and the pan across the Hagakure was damn embarressing. Was there a copy of Art of War there too? And did I see a WIng Chun dummy? It was like a kids bedroom who watched too much Blood Sport and thought Frank Dux was legit and the Kumite was real.
 
B

brianjones

Member
the astronaut line made me think pizzalotto watched interstellar

edit: im rewatching s1 now and marty is at the bar telling a story about a girl sticking a finger up his ass
 
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