I’ve been watching but I almost feel like, while the show is compelling, there’s not much to speculate on. We’re all just piecing it together in “real time” and watching a mystery play out.
I will say this about the last episode (Episode 6) and the new suspect:
I’m pissed that they immediately went to the dad as a suspect and didn’t give a thought to Stockholm Syndrome or brainwashing. It’s been 10 years…there’s been a long time to brainwash Julie.
I’m also let down by the trope of “the higher-ups don’t care and want this case closed so let’s go with the easy conviction.” Roll. Eyes.
I don’t think it’s fizzling out at all. The PLOT is kind of being wrapped up in a predictable way (predictable for those who have been avidly following it and trying to put the pieces together themselves) but the plot itself is almost a red herring, secondary to the phenomenal acting of Ali and Dorff. This isn’t really about the case, it’s about the enduring friendship of two men who have been through hell - sometimes together, sometimes in their own separate ways - and Roland honoring his partner by helping him achieve closure to this case that’s been haunting him, during what he knows is the final chapter of his life, even though it hurts. This is what it’s really about. And it’s been executed phenomenally.
Do we know what happened to Hayes daughter? She’s only appeared in flash-backs, and from what I remember was only referred to once in the most current timeline. But my wife and I took the reference to mean two different things. (any answers should be spoiler-boxed). thanks!
I tried to watch it, really I did. Got three and a bit in. But the flashbacks within flashbacks within flashbacks was giving me a headache. They are stretching it out hwaaaaaay too much.
The smoking was over the top, HBO must really like that under the table cash from Big Tobacco. I realize this is a period piece, but they can skip the smoking (no one would complain) and they dont have to have to camera lovingly linger on each puff. :mad:
And there’s no one to root for, they are all pretty much rat bastards.
Acting was pretty good (as Lamoral sez) and the scenery was remarkable. Ok, I will give them that.
Gonna have to skip the rest of the season, just like season 2.
That’s how my wife understood that scene, back in one of the first episodes. However, I understood it as the son just saying that the daughter was living in LA and too busy, but in reality she was actually dead. The son just found it easier to say that lie than to have to tell his Dad she’s dead every time Dad forgets. There was something about how this was all said that made me think that. And this latest episode makes me think her death (maybe disappearance) is related to the crime.
Also, do we really know how Hayes’ wife died? So far they’ve been letting the audience assume she passed away of natural causes but there’s been no mention of her suffering from any specific disease or ailment.
I have a feeling the key line of dialogue for this series will be when the now-retired Roland told Hayes, “You really don’t remember what happened, do you?” The Purcell murder/kidnapping will turn out to be a sideshow to a bigger conspiracy involving the town’s main employer, Hoyt, which will end with Hayes’ wife and daughter dead, the company pulling up stakes and leaving the town destitute, and the rich and powerful getting away with everything while Hayes and Roland look on powerlessly. The final scenes will parallel the ending of Chinatown (“Forget it, Jake. It’s Chinatown”) except Hayes actually did end up forgetting due to dementia.
Well, the season’s over. I’m not quite sure it stuck the landing, but the solution was satisfactory. Poor Old Hays. The rampant fan speculation that “he solved the mystery and then forgot!” did turn out to show up in a different form — in his tracking down of Mary/whomever.
Yeah, I think saying it didn’t quite stick the landing is a good way to put it. The season’s been great and top notch acting, but the ending was kind of just…there. Way better than season two, but not quite the final dramatic oomph of season one.
Re the connections to series 1 - eg the mention of the crooked spirals by the TV interviewer, the dolls used in a similar way to the devil traps - I’m disappointed that they turned out to be red herrings. I had thought that perhaps each series (barring 2) would be connected by some sort of affiliation of paedophile rings.
Contrary to this, I’ve read another opinion elsewhere…
That, when drinking the water Lucy gave him, he DID have a quick flash and remembered who he was looking at. He made a decision not to say anything calling back to his earlier words about the truth sometimes only causing pain.
Thanks for spoilering your comments, everybody! The girlfriend and I have finished binging GoT, and we’re about to start True Detective. I appreciate your input, and I can’t wait to find out what the fuck y’all are talking about!
This season gets a big “meh” from me. I was looking forward to it and I did watch it every week and I dunno…it felt like it was trying too hard. And I zoned the fuck out every time there were relationship-related scenes with Hayes and the wife.
The ending gets a thumbs down from me.
I was uncomfortable as fuck with the “yes massa” black housekeeper guy. “Miss Isobel she wasn’t feelin’ too good.” Jesus. I am honestly surprised that Ali thought this was some sort of amazing script. Perhaps he’s never seen any mysteries?
I did like him getting to see Julie in the end but the way he came to get there was also eye-rollingly contrived. Ghost of his wife? Huh huh cool dude.
Didn’t like the “evil rich guy” Hoyt either. Sippin’ a bottle of liquor as he grunts out evil guy stuff in the woods. EYE ROLL.
Watched the first episode last night. I’m glad I did. I love the chemistry between the main characters and the transitions between the three time periods. We both commented on how great the makeup was. The corn brides were creepy.
I see this argument a lot. It’s definitely the POV of the showrunner. I just fucking hate it. The “it’s about the journey, not the destination” is some cop out bullshit. The journey matters, but so does the destination. It’s a little thing called plot, and when you make the plot exist solely in service of character development you only have half a story. It’s like auto racing, cars going in a (flat) circle. I’d rather go somewhere interesting with my car.
This was a big Ringer theory. I simply didn’t see that, I think the commentators are reaching a bit there.
[spoiler]The way I read it, Hays simply forgot. The final scene of him walking into the jungle was a metaphor of his brain totally giving out on him and the real “Wayne Hays” is gone, lost in the weeds.
Maybe his son will use the note to finally close the loop though. If Hays really remembered and wanted to let it die, the writers wouldn’t have added this contradictory bit of uncertainty.
[/spoiler]
