# True Detective - HBO - McConaughey / Harrelson \[SPOILERS\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 11, 2013, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/true-detective-hbo-mcconaughey-harrelson-spoilers/660697 "2013-06-11T03:43:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 25
**Author:** ![BrokenBriton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@BrokenBriton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrokenBriton)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2014, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/true-detective-hbo-mcconaughey-harrelson-spoilers/660697/481 "2014-04-13T20:11:47Z")
AuntiePam, it’s interesting you mention E8. The show finished on UK tv last night and there is some debate about e8 in particular. People don’t seem to have picked up on that point in particular, but there is quite alot about cliches and the denoumement. Many of the interesting posts here cetre on someone who calls himslef alternatively seanmcnulty/SeanMurray > **[True Detective recap: season one, episode eight – Form and Void](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2014/apr/12/true-detective-recap-season-one-episode-eight-form-and-void)** > > Gwilym Mumford: So in the end, the makers abandoned their slow-burn for an overly neat, disappointingly cliche-ridden finale. But at least Cohle could see the bright side for once … ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2014, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/true-detective-hbo-mcconaughey-harrelson-spoilers/660697/482 "2014-07-21T17:00:12Z")
For all True Dectective fans out there - there is a luxury hotel in Malaysia called “Carcosa”. Yes, it derived its name from the same source as the series - the King in Yellow. 😃 > **[Carcosa Seri Negara](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carcosa_Seri_Negara#Choice_of_name)** > > The Carcosa Seri Negara is a residence located on two adjacent hills inside the Perdana Botanical Gardens, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Originally built as the official residence and guest house of the British High Commissioner in Malaya, it is now owned by the Government of Malaysia. The name is a composite of the two colonial mansions located on the compound: the residence, named Carcosa (completed in 1898), and the guest house, now named Seri Negara (1913). > The buildings figured prominently in the... > [@](#): > > To the Editor of “British Malaya” [British Malaya, May 1936] > > SIR, > > In the April magazine your correspondent in Malaya asks me, in courteous terms, to tell him why I gave the name “Carcosa” to the house that was designed and built for me at Kuala Lumpur by the late Mr. C.E. Spooner, assisted by Mr. A.B. Hubback – as he was in those days – and I have no objection to answer the question even though the simple truth may spoil a number of excellent stories. When this house was finished and occupied I read a book which interested me. It was called “The King in Yellow” and at the beginning of this book there were some verses with a note explaining that they came from Cassilda’s song in “The King in Yellow”, Act 1, Scene 2. Here are two verses: - > > “Strange is the night where black stars rise, And twin moons circle in the skies, But the stranger still is Lost Carcosa.” > > “Song of my soul, my voice is dead; Die thou, unsung, as tears unshed Shall dry and die in Lost Carcosa.” > > I did not call the Resident General’s dwelling “Government House,” or “King’s House,” because neither seemed an appropriate name in Protected States. I did not give it a Malay name, because it was to be the residence of a British Officer; so I took a book name as has often been done before. > > As to the word Carcosa, I imagine it was the Castle of the King in Yellow, but the book explains nothing about either the place or its occupant. That apparently can be found in the play, to which there are only occasional allusions. Probably it is a word created by the author’s fancy, though it looks like a combination of the Italian words cara and casa and would mean “desirable dwelling,” as indeed I found it. > > The only curious fact is that this name was prophetic for, as I understand, the house has lost its name and is thus, “Lost Carcosa.” The occupant, I am told, is now styled “F.S,” instead of “R.G.” > > Yours obediently, FRANK SWETTENHAM > > 19 April 1936. ---
**Author:** ![Absinthe\_Anecdote](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f6c823/32.png) [@Absinthe\_Anecdote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Absinthe_Anecdote)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2014, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/true-detective-hbo-mcconaughey-harrelson-spoilers/660697/483 "2014-07-24T22:05:55Z")
True Detective season 1 was one of the best things I’ve seen HBO put out, and that’s a pretty strong statement considering some of the other series they have done. I’m looking forward to season 2; it will be all new characters a completely different story, and a new director. The word is it will be set in California this time, and possibly revolve around three main characters. I’m glad there seems to be more experimentation in the US market with the concept of telling stories this way. While the mini-series isn’t a new concept, it fell out of favor for some reason. I am a fan of Korean dramas, and they tend to use the mini-series concept to good effect. No sprawling story lines, no watering down of the writing, due to writers moving on to other projects like in perpetual series. They tell a good story and bring it to an end. True Detective season one, was basically an eight hour movie, they told a good story and ended it. Season two, will be a completely different story, with different people putting it together, only Nick Pizzolatto is coming back as lead screen writer and producer. I’m looking forward to see what he comes up with, I don’t expect it to be the same tone and feel as season one, nor do I want it to be. ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2014, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/true-detective-hbo-mcconaughey-harrelson-spoilers/660697/484 "2014-07-24T22:58:01Z")
I thought season 1 was good… but I don’t really think it quite deserves the adulation it’s getting. I think Fargo, which was clearly very similar (miniseries in an anthology format, main characters are detectives and criminals, hints of the supernatural or metaphysical) was better, largely because it didn’t have long and frankly pointless digressions about how time is a flat circle. I feel like to really enjoy those I would have to either be (a) stoned, (b) a smart high school junior, or possibly © way way WAY smarter than I am. I mean, it was good, and I’m looking forward to season 2, but I think it overreached and took itself a bit too seriously. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2014, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/true-detective-hbo-mcconaughey-harrelson-spoilers/660697/485 "2014-07-24T23:06:41Z")
I think it was one of the best shows ever made until the last tie episodes when it somehow became an ordinary, boring cop show. ---
**Author:** ![Absinthe\_Anecdote](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f6c823/32.png) [@Absinthe\_Anecdote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Absinthe_Anecdote)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2014, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/true-detective-hbo-mcconaughey-harrelson-spoilers/660697/486 "2014-07-24T23:33:42Z")
> [@MaxTheVool](#): > > I thought season 1 was good… but I don’t really think it quite deserves the adulation it’s getting. I think Fargo, which was clearly very similar (miniseries in an anthology format, main characters are detectives and criminals, hints of the supernatural or metaphysical) was better, largely because it didn’t have long and frankly pointless digressions about how time is a flat circle. I feel like to really enjoy those I would have to either be (a) stoned, (b) a smart high school junior, or possibly (c) way way WAY smarter than I am. > > I mean, it was good, and I’m looking forward to season 2, but I think it overreached and took itself a bit too seriously. I loved McConaughey’s rambling little speeches, and the one about the “flat circle” was given after he had drank a six pack of tall boys and a flask of whiskey. Plus, the young detective’s reaction to the “flat circle” was priceless. His best rant was at the tent revival and the interaction with Woody during that scene was great. Woody had some pretty good lines also, my favorite was when he was describing how the best years of his life had passed him by and he didn’t realize it. I think it was episode six, and they were showing his daughters play in the yard; one of the girls takes a tiara with ribbons and tosses into a tree. As he explains how he had a few good years with his family, the ribbons fray as those good years pass, and then the camera pans down to show his now teenage daughters coming home from school. Excellent story telling! ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2014, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/true-detective-hbo-mcconaughey-harrelson-spoilers/660697/487 "2014-07-25T00:43:11Z")
> [@Absinthe\_Anecdote](#): > > Woody had some pretty good lines also, my favorite was when he was describing how the best years of his life had passed him by and he didn’t realize it. I think it was episode six, and they were showing his daughters play in the yard; one of the girls takes a tiara with ribbons and tosses into a tree. As he explains how he had a few good years with his family, the ribbons fray as those good years pass, and then the camera pans down to show his now teenage daughters coming home from school. > > Excellent story telling! Absolutely, that was fantastic. ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2014, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/true-detective-hbo-mcconaughey-harrelson-spoilers/660697/488 "2014-07-25T05:12:25Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > I think it was one of the best shows ever made until the last tie episodes when it somehow became an ordinary, boring cop show. Yeah, it was a pretty good ride until the ending. ---
**Author:** ![Absinthe\_Anecdote](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f6c823/32.png) [@Absinthe\_Anecdote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Absinthe_Anecdote)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2014, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/true-detective-hbo-mcconaughey-harrelson-spoilers/660697/489 "2014-07-25T12:37:14Z")
> [@Accidental\_Martyr](#): > > Yeah, it was a pretty good ride until the ending. I’ll go along with this a tiny bit. The ending in relation to the killer became less interesting, but it wasn’t central to the story line to me, at all. I thought it was more about Marty and Russ resolving the bad blood between them and becoming friends again. There was a good story being told that made it worth while. If you are a middle age man that has been through a divorce, chances are you identified with Marty on some level. Watching him go from his peak, in his 30s, to his low point in his late 40s, was like having a bucket of cold water thrown in my face. Browsing internet dating sites, eating microwave food alone, while telling himself that he was keeping things level. There was level of realism that is very rare in TV and movies. Plus, there were a bunch of little things that were so damn funny amid the darkness and sad tone of the story. Marty sucking on a Werther’s Original with the old lady in the retirement home, or his asking “What’s scented meat?” It’s very hard for me to criticize season one of True Detective. I’m really looking forward to seeing a new story and cast of characters in season 2. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2014, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/true-detective-hbo-mcconaughey-harrelson-spoilers/660697/490 "2014-07-25T15:44:16Z")
> [@Absinthe\_Anecdote](#): > > I’ll go along with this a tiny bit. The ending in relation to the killer became less interesting, but it wasn’t central to the story line to me, at all. > > I thought it was more about Marty and Russ resolving the bad blood between them and becoming friends again. > > There was a good story being told that made it worth while. > > If you are a middle age man that has been through a divorce, chances are you identified with Marty on some level. Which is exactly why the last two episodes were so disappointing. The story you describe took a back seat to police procedural and a fucking shootout. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2014, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/true-detective-hbo-mcconaughey-harrelson-spoilers/660697/491 "2014-07-25T15:52:36Z")
The amusing thing about _True Detective_ to me was that the whole thing was simply a typical police buddy story - only, it was so well done, you as the audience (at first) did not realize it. How many cop shows and movies have msimatched partners who don’t get along, but learn to do so? How many have a cop who ‘turns in his badge and gun’ because of conflict with a superior officer? These are all cliches of the genre - only, again, they are so well done, they do not appear to be cliches. ---
**Author:** ![Absinthe\_Anecdote](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f6c823/32.png) [@Absinthe\_Anecdote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Absinthe_Anecdote)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2014, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/true-detective-hbo-mcconaughey-harrelson-spoilers/660697/492 "2014-07-25T16:08:44Z")
> [@Malthus](#): > > The amusing thing about _True Detective_ to me was that the whole thing was simply a typical police buddy story - only, it was so well done, you as the audience (at first) did not realize it. > > How many cop shows and movies have msimatched partners who don’t get along, but learn to do so? How many have a cop who ‘turns in his badge and gun’ because of conflict with a superior officer? These are all cliches of the genre - only, again, they are so well done, they do not appear to be cliches. Thank you! ---
**Author:** ![Orr\_G](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ee59a6/32.png) [@Orr\_G](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orr_G)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2014, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/true-detective-hbo-mcconaughey-harrelson-spoilers/660697/493 "2014-07-27T02:28:44Z")
> [@Malthus](#): > > The amusing thing about _True Detective_ to me was that the whole thing was simply a typical police buddy story - only, it was so well done, you as the audience (at first) did not realize it. > > How many cop shows and movies have msimatched partners who don’t get along, but learn to do so? How many have a cop who ‘turns in his badge and gun’ because of conflict with a superior officer? These are all cliches of the genre - only, again, they are so well done, they do not appear to be cliches. I skipped almost all of the thread, but I caught this, and thought it was brilliantly insightful. My wife and I just finished binging on this series, and we both loved it, and were blown away by the acting, directing, and writing of the show. This comment here, though, really blew my mind. Just two short paragraphs, and I’m re-experiencing the whole show from a new perspective. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2014, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/true-detective-hbo-mcconaughey-harrelson-spoilers/660697/494 "2014-07-28T14:51:29Z")
> [@Orr\_G](#): > > I skipped almost all of the thread, but I caught this, and thought it was brilliantly insightful. > > My wife and I just finished binging on this series, and we both loved it, and were blown away by the acting, directing, and writing of the show. This comment here, though, really blew my mind. Just two short paragraphs, and I’m re-experiencing the whole show from a new perspective. Woah, I’m blushing. :o ---
**Author:** ![ralfy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ralfy/32/600_2.png) [@ralfy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralfy)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2014, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/true-detective-hbo-mcconaughey-harrelson-spoilers/660697/495 "2014-07-29T05:23:44Z")
I think closure took place only for the buddy cop story. Additional episodes would have been needed to do the same for the various subplots, the occult elements, and criminal conspiracy. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2014, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/true-detective-hbo-mcconaughey-harrelson-spoilers/660697/496 "2014-07-29T12:48:50Z")
> [@ralfy](#): > > I think closure took place only for the buddy cop story. Additional episodes would have been needed to do the same for the various subplots, the occult elements, and criminal conspiracy. They never do really explain what the whole King in Yellow/Carcosa thing was about, in terms of ideology, or its connection if any to the 19th century work of literature. Indeed, in that universe, the 19th century book doesn’t appear to exist. Moreover, I watched some of the extras, and did not see any reference to it. Again, as I mentioned upthread, I was delighted to discover that there is a luxury hotel which takes its name from the same inspiration. 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/true-detective-hbo-mcconaughey-harrelson-spoilers/660697.md?page=24)