True Detective (Season Two)

[fistofrage]

Re: True Detective (Season Two)

I thought this week was very ho hum, and downright excruciating whenever Frank and his girlfriend talked to each other. Their dialogue was never very good, but it just sunk to a new low.

It's rock bottom, she always talks and looks like she just woke up from a nap and Vince looked like he was ready off a teleprompter in the last episode.

Unfortunately this is starting to look more like a Scooby Doo episode. I half expect Velcoro to pull a mask off of Frank in the next episode with the obligatory I would have gotten away with it too.....

Colin Farrel gets a big thumbs up for his acting in this one though. I think the story itself might be pretty good, it is convoluted, and the delivery has been sketchy at best. It really feels like Velcoro's story because his acting is the strongest and it pulls at the heart strings. None of the other cast of characters really draw any compassion or connection from me.

[ODogg]

Re: True Detective (Season Two)

While I adored S1, the reason why I've bailed on S2 is that the story/crime wasn't grabbing me at all.

True Detective is a character study though more than a story driven show.

[pietasterp]

Re: True Detective (Season Two)

Apparently this season is getting a lot of flak for basically not being the same as season 1...From my perspective, I actually didn't like season 1 all that much (or at least not as much as everyone else seemed to), so for me that comparison is not of particular interest.

I think this season has been fine, at least it's keeping my interest as much as season 1, although it's a bit hard to follow at times (and I have a lot of trouble hearing all the dialogue without cranking up the sound...maybe I'm just getting old, but I had the same problem w/ season 1 - I don't know if it's just that the characters mumble a lot or the sound mixing is bad, but I have to crank it all the way to hear anything).

Will have to see how this all gets wrapped up before I come to a verdict, but thus far, I think it's been a-ight. I don't think Vince Vaughn is doing as bad as others seems to, I just think the dialogue is clunky and over-stylized. It was maybe novel last season, but in retrospect, I think a lot of the 'mood' of the show last year was basically Woody and Matty M driving around the bayous of Louisiana with these long/creepy vistas and alien-looking landscapes, and that seemed to gloss over the fact that the story wasn't very good and the dialogue was people reciting lifted philosophy in a pensive mood.

Season 1 peaked with the 4th episode IMO. Jury's still out on this season, but I think that 4th episode was the best one of the season so far....

[justblaze09]

Re: True Detective (Season Two)

True Detective is a character study though more than a story driven show.

This

For example, Ani went from smoking an e-cig to lighting up cigs throughout the whole episode on Sunday.

The ride is more in how the characters evolve than anything...

[JayBee74]

Re: True Detective (Season Two)

This wasn't his strategy. He was essentially forced out of the force due to the backlash from the huge shootout.

Yeah, but that's vague . Was he afraid of being "run out" by the state coming in (like they wouldn't come in after that) or the bad guys involved in the massacre and likely cover up of Caspere's real killer(s)? By quitting the police how would that help him against any state investigation, that could possibly lead to his employment at Frank Gangster Inc.?

And why would Paul leave $20K in his mother's trailer? He didn't realize that she is zero percent trustworthy?

[dsallupinyaarea]

Re: True Detective (Season Two)

True Detective is a character study though more than a story driven show.

The problem is they haven't developed the characters enough.

[JayBee74]

Re: True Detective (Season Two)

The problem is they haven't developed the characters enough.

Yeah, and the dialogue isn't very good. Even beyond the back and forth abomination that is Frank and Girlfriend.

[fistofrage]

Re: True Detective (Season Two)

Yeah, but that's vague . Was he afraid of being "run out" by the state coming in (like they wouldn't come in after that) or the bad guys involved in the massacre and likely cover up of Caspere's real killer(s)? By quitting the police how would that help him against any state investigation, that could possibly lead to his employment at Frank Gangster Inc.?

And why would Paul leave $20K in his mother's trailer? He didn't realize that she is zero percent trustworthy?

That leaving the $20 grand in the trailer was beyond stupid/ridiculous. For one, there's a 50/50 chance that the sea hag falls asleep with a smoke in her hand and the tin can goes up in flames. Two, of course if she found it, it would be gone in seconds. Three, it's a trailer. Nothing good happens in a tin trailer. Anywhere but there would have been the correct choice.

[pietasterp]

Re: True Detective (Season Two)

That leaving the $20 grand in the trailer was beyond stupid/ridiculous. For one, there's a 50/50 chance that the sea hag falls asleep with a smoke in her hand and the tin can goes up in flames. Two, of course if she found it, it would be gone in seconds. Three, it's a trailer. Nothing good happens in a tin trailer. Anywhere but there would have been the correct choice.

Agree...for all the compliments this series (both seasons) has gotten, I feel like a lot of really bad/sloppy writing gets overlooked. Don't even get me started on how season 1 ended - that was high-school level stuff in the last episode in my opinion. And this thing about Woodrugh leaving that cash in his mom's trailer and the somewhat-obvious closeted-gay angle is just...bush-league, in my opinion.

I like the show, I just think it's highly stylish trash, and nothing more.

[wwharton]

Re: True Detective (Season Two)

I agree with a lot of the complaints but some of these things, you people are giving humans way too much credit.

I don't care if your upbringing was you and your mom living in the back of a car... it still wouldn't be out of the question for someone to leave valuables in their mother's house. And we're talking about trailer park folks here. That stupid decision was one of the more realistic scenarios in the show.

[jb12780]

Re: True Detective (Season Two)

Awesome episode. Can't wait to see where it goes from here.

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[CMH]

Re: True Detective (Season Two)

I think, if not for Matthew and Woody, this series would be a complete after thought.

It's not really that good. The writing is mostly awful. The murder cases are stagnant and offer very little in creativity. For the most part, they fall into the background.

I get that the series is a character study, but it seems that the performances get more out of the lines than the actual script.

Woody and Matthew made their characters. Farrell is doing the same.

Everyone else looks like they're reading a teleprompter of one liners.

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[JayBee74]

Re: True Detective (Season Two)

Everyone else looks like they're reading a teleprompter of one liners.

I'm being redundant, but some of the least authentic dialogue I've ever seen in a TV drama. I recently sped through all five seasons of Blue Bloods, and never once got a stilted teleprompter effect. It's routine here. I don't know how much of the blame goes to the leads minus Farrell, but a significant portion has to be the writing.

Disagree a bit about your take on season one, although Matthew and Woody took it to the next level, and the X's and O's of them finding the killer fell flat.

[wwharton]

Re: True Detective (Season Two)

I think, if not for Matthew and Woody, this series would be a complete after thought.

It's not really that good. The writing is mostly awful. The murder cases are stagnant and offer very little in creativity. For the most part, they fall into the background.

I get that the series is a character study, but it seems that the performances get more out of the lines than the actual script.

Woody and Matthew made their characters. Farrell is doing the same.

Everyone else looks like they're reading a teleprompter of one liners.

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I don't know if my opinion is as extreme but I can't really disagree.

I actually don't think MOST of the main acting is THAT bad, but the script isn't doing them any favors.

[CMH]

Re: True Detective (Season Two)

It is possible Vince Vaughn is challenged with playing down to a level.

His wife, the actor playing her, is positively the most atrocious performer on the series.

She performs like she's on Valium and had her face tucked.

I don't know if it hurts Vince but he's had opportunities with Colin and it's all one note. For a character struggling with money, identity and a bad childhood, he seems rather content with his circumstances. The words don't match the inflection.

I don't know. I can't see bigger stars lining up for this next season.

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