# True Detective - HBO - McConaughey / Harrelson \[SPOILERS\]

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/true-detective-hbo-mcconaughey-harrelson-spoilers/660697>\
**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:** 1\
**Showing post:** 418

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**Author:** ![Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/bc8723/32.png) [@Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unauthorized_Cinnamon)\
**Post date:** [March 10, 2014, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/true-detective-hbo-mcconaughey-harrelson-spoilers/660697/418 "2014-03-10T19:58:36Z")

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> [@Acsenray](#):
>
> Speaking for myself, I wasn’t looking for an unexpected twist, but I was hoping for an ending that did not include thriller clichés like–
> 
> 1. A chase
> 
> 2. A shoot out
> 
> 3. An unrealistic fight on which people take savage beatings or injuries and still manage to keep fighting
> 
> 4. An “out-of-nowhere” gunshot to save the day by an off-screen person who we thought was down for the count
> 
> 5. A family reunion
> 
> 6. An “I saw the light” near death experience

All fair criticisms. If someone asked me if they should check out True Detective, I’d say, “Yes - it’s a bog-standard serial killer cop story, but told with a ton of style and excellent characterization.” However, I feel like the finale does rely on more pedestrian tropes without the artistic flourishes that made the first half of the season so mesmerizing.

> [@](#):
>
> 1. What did the Yellow King have to do with this? Was a Yellow King costume part of the ritual killing?

I believe in the underground tunnels, the weird skeleton figure draped in yellow cloth was a representation of the god they were worshiping. As I said, I don’t think _The Yellow King_ by Robert Chambers exists in this universe - it’s supposed to be a deity in their degenerate Santeria-Voodoo-Whatever-Insanity religion. Possibly invented by Sam Tuttle.

> [@](#):
>
> 1. Why were two (?) of the murders do publicly revealed when the cult has taken pains to keep its countless murders secret?
> 
> 2. Was Errol Childress some kind if mastermind or a simpleton gone rogue? If the cult was careful to make sure Rev. Tuttle wouldn’t expose them, why would they let an apparent loose cannon like Errol roam free?

I think what’s shown supports a narrative that Errol went rogue (though not a simpleton) - torturing his father to death certainly dovetails with that. Perhaps he also killed the Reverend, either out of vituperation or self-protection. I’ll have to watch it again . . .

> [@](#):
>
> 1. WTF was that all about when Errol Childress suddenly started talking like Cary Grant? What was the point of showing us that?

Ya got me there. That was full of WTF-ness.

> [@](#):
>
> Oh and a minor point, I think I missed the part where Marty actually found a telephone.

It’s not shown, but implied by Marty saying, “Everyone has a phone - where’s yours?!” then running out of the house like he’d taken care of what he needed to do in there.

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