Everything is Ending, Time to wake up. If I were to tell four months ago that this season’s ‘True Detective’ would revolve around a city planner being murdered, you might look at me funny. So after you tell me ‘that’s stupid.’ I would then say “Well what would you do to follow up one of the most talked about and praised shows of last year?” then I’m sure this conversation would continue but this metaphor has gone on long enough. Nic Pizzolatto is a good writer. The bad thing is, he thinks he’s a whole heck of a lot better than that. It’s been said plenty of times all over the internet the past few weeks. This season felt like a parody of last year. A similar but different theme song. Everyone talked like Rust Cole, and we were drowning in cliches.
The empath in me thinks that maybe the bar was just set to high last year. And we should give this show a break. But then you forget all that when you watch the show. It’s a mess. Filled with red herrings and characters that don’t matter. Stereotypes so over the type it feels like they walked in from an episode of NTSF:SD:SUV. So when you can’t latch on to anything story wise you’re left looking at the not so subtle imagery and dialog that’s supposed to blow your mind. For example, Frank’s walk through the desert was a great and powerful moment towards the end. But when we see a two-shot of him walking and then two vultures behind him sitting in his blood trail I couldn’t help but laugh. It’s shot almost comically. And you know that wasn’t a directors choice. After last year I doubt any director has any saw over the all mighty Pizzolatto. And if they do step out of line I’m sure we will see them portrayed on the show as a snooty director next year.
“Worlds Greatest Dad”
The bright spot amongst all this pretentious writing and imagery was the cast. Not necessarily everyone as I said, some of them were cartoon characters. But the four leads I thought were pretty great with very little to do other than brood and talk about how awful they are as human beings. Taylor Kitsch, The man, just trying to do the right thing spent most of his time standing in front of people as they barfed exposition on to him. Played the stoic and calm army vet very well. His last stand was a great action scene even if you didn’t know what was going on. Or why his lover would all of a sudden turn on him. But what ever he died without any pomp or circumstance so why should we care. Vince Vaughn, the Gangster, trying to get out. Now if that sentence alone didn’t put you to sleep, you must be on Day-quil. Vaughn is the only reason this character stood out he was charming, engaging and just entertaining to watch. As I said, his walk through the desert met its high point once his wife (Kelly Rielly) told him he could rest now. And then turning around to see his own body laid out on the ground. Very creepy and awesome moment.
Admit it…You can’t stop staring at that mustache.
Rachel McAdams, the hard nosed detective. — a different detective stereotype for every county. – Haunted by a terrible past she plays it very cold and very distant for a long portion of the season. It’s an interesting and new take for her as an actress. her high point had to be the Sex Slave party…thingy? that whole sequence for her was pretty great. also because she was hardly in the final 20 minute climax. She played it very well. Finally we have Colin Farrell, trying to make up for his past sins. Out of all of them I would have to say Farrell was the most interesting thing about this season. I felt like we got to know his family better than any of the others, and to understand his point of view the best. Again icy and distant but so is everyone now that I think about it. I think Nic Pizzolatto needs to talk to a therapist. People don’t act or talk this way, but these actors made it less unbearable.
A part of the reason I feel like last season worked so well was the cohesive nature to it all. I also think Pizzolatto was kept in check a bit by Cary Fukunaga. Someone he demanded be off of season two. The striking nature and almost surreal look to Mississippi was part of the intrigue and Fukunaga made that shine through while Pizzolatto wrote the dialog. Once Nic Pizzolatto falls back down to earth –which will probably as soon as he hears about the critical reaction.– He should reexamine what made season 1 so enjoyable. The dynamic between Rust and Marty, the surreal setting, and an easy enough (at times.) through line to follow.
