# True Detective: Season Two .How is it **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 21, 2015, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/true-detective-season-two-how-is-it/723095 "2015-06-21T20:57:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Richard\_John\_Marcej](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Richard\_John\_Marcej](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_John_Marcej)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2015, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/true-detective-season-two-how-is-it/723095/21 "2015-06-22T14:13:53Z")
I agree but nearly every new drama series that appear these days, whether they began as one or not, are becoming serialized. Actually, I’d blame **24** more than any other show that paved the way for this. There are still many episodes of season one _Lost_ that can be viewed as just a single story. There are no episodes of any season of _24_ that can be enjoyed as a stand alone. Remember, more and more people are DVRing, TIVOing, binge watching than ever before. The powers that be, who are usually slow on the uptake, are watching this closely and will do what they can to grab those viewers. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2015, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/true-detective-season-two-how-is-it/723095/22 "2015-06-22T14:23:28Z")
> [@joebuck20](#): > > Needed more buttfucking with headless corpses. Do you realize how expensive coffee is these days?! I just lost half my morning cup!!! ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2015, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/true-detective-season-two-how-is-it/723095/23 "2015-06-22T14:26:25Z")
I liked it myself. I can see the complaints about it being all atmosphere, but it’s a pilot episode. It’s setting up the mood and the characters and the background. The show really starts with the characters meeting at the end. ---
**Author:** ![Nonsuch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonsuch/32/2922_2.png) [@Nonsuch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nonsuch)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2015, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/true-detective-season-two-how-is-it/723095/24 "2015-06-22T15:50:45Z")
I get that it’s serialized and that not a lot’s going to happen on the first outing. But that’s no excuse for putting out such an inert, shallow hour of television — you can get your pieces lined up but you still have to be entertaining. The portentousness was suffocating and the dialogue so bad it’s made me wonder if it was just as bad in the first season, and I just didn’t notice it because McConaughey and Harrelson were so good. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_John\_Marcej](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Richard\_John\_Marcej](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_John_Marcej)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2015, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/true-detective-season-two-how-is-it/723095/25 "2015-06-22T15:56:52Z")
> [@Nonsuch](#): > > I get that it’s serialized and that not a lot’s going to happen on the first outing. But that’s no excuse for putting out such an inert, shallow hour of television — you can get your pieces lined up but you still have to be entertaining. The portentousness was suffocating and the dialogue so bad it’s made me wonder if it was just as bad in the first season, and I just didn’t notice it because McConaughey and Harrelson were so good. Well, there you go. The first season just centered on McConaughey and Harrelson. It’s much easier to focus on just two characters, allow those two actors to fill the entire hour. If this years’ show (albeit, with only the pilot) can be criticized it’s that they may have overreached themselves. With four characters, no matter how strong the writing or performances will make for a choppy hour of drama. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2015, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/true-detective-season-two-how-is-it/723095/26 "2015-06-22T16:01:47Z")
I thought it was a bit of a mess but there’s real potential here. I’ll watch every episode, for sure. The biggest lesson I took away from the first episode is: Do NOT bully Colin Farrel’s rape baby. Also, Vince Vaughn clearly fingered someone else as the rapist, no doubt having Farrel do some of his dirty work for him for free. Neither Farrel nor the fingered rapist look anything like that kid. The most confused I was had to be early on, when Rachel McAdams couldn’t get anal from her boyfriend. I just can’t wrap my head around that. (Come over to my place, Ani, I’ll treat you right!) ---
**Author:** ![Section\_Maker\_Jupe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/section_maker_jupe/32/1424_2.png) [@Section\_Maker\_Jupe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Section_Maker_Jupe)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2015, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/true-detective-season-two-how-is-it/723095/27 "2015-06-22T16:07:32Z")
I liked it. Give it some time…Season 1 would be impossible to repeat, but at least the director and lead actors from that epic are involved in Season 2. (producers etc) It takes place in my state, with some reflections on our politics…(maybe the show can “derail” our goofy bullet train!! haha… and it will be fun to see places I’ve been to. edit, last scene closes at Pt. Mugu Rock, on Pacific Coast Highway. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2015, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/true-detective-season-two-how-is-it/723095/28 "2015-06-22T16:17:38Z")
> [@russian\_heel](#): > > I really enjoyed it. I read all the reviews whining it can’t possibly follow up Season One, but who says? I don’t WANT repeat of Season One. I want a good plot, good acting, and good directing and so far we got it all here. Im in. Colin Farell just devours the camera. I enjoy LA Noire, and this is a modern version of that. And we already have a good corrupt underbelly plot developing. What is not to like? I endorse this message. This is not an episode (or a series, I’d imagine) that you can watch with one eye while you surf the internet. I tried that, and wound up missing a lot of important visual information. So I re-watched it later with the laptop closed, and found the episode still complicated, but not confusing. I liked it. A lot. I want to see where it goes. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2015, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/true-detective-season-two-how-is-it/723095/29 "2015-06-22T16:20:44Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > The most confused I was had to be early on, when Rachel McAdams couldn’t get anal from her boyfriend. I just can’t wrap my head around that. (Come over to my place, Ani, I’ll treat you right!) He was surprised! He didn’t think women liked that… come back to bed… 😉 That was an hilarious scene. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2015, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/true-detective-season-two-how-is-it/723095/30 "2015-06-22T16:22:39Z")
The only part that confused me was the threat to butt-fuck the guy with the headless corpse of his wife. Is she gonna have a strap-on? The logistics bewilder me. ---
**Author:** ![Clawdio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d07c76/32.png) [@Clawdio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clawdio)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2015, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/true-detective-season-two-how-is-it/723095/31 "2015-06-22T20:23:13Z")
I like all of the characters they have created with the first episode and will be tuning in for more. My only complaint is that so far, at least, the murder isn’t all that interesting. I mean with the first season, we had all kinds of things hooking us in right from the start: Was it some kind of ritual killing? Was there some real or imagined supernatural element? Something went horribly wrong with the investigation, but what exactly? What happened between the two lead detectives? Was it a serial killer that is still at large? and probably more i’m leaving out. But after the first episode of season 2 all we have so far is: a bribed city planner is dead, and the bribe money is stolen. i’m sure we’ll learn more, but as of the end of the first episode I don’t really care who killed him… probably someone with something to gain by derailing the development project, like a mediocre episode of law & order. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2015, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/true-detective-season-two-how-is-it/723095/32 "2015-06-22T20:24:31Z")
I loved the first season. This one… I’ll give it some time, but am I the only one who had difficulty keeping the characters and the stories straight? Maybe I need to watch it a second time, but if I have to watch every episode 3 times while taking notes then it quickly becomes not worth the effort. ---
**Author:** ![Clawdio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d07c76/32.png) [@Clawdio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clawdio)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2015, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/true-detective-season-two-how-is-it/723095/33 "2015-06-22T20:30:58Z")
One thing that wasn’t clear to me. The motorcycle cop, did he go back to the actress’s place like she offered? I’m assuming so because why else would he be suspended (unless he was for some reason suspended just for reporting what she offered??), but it wasn’t exactly clear. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2015, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/true-detective-season-two-how-is-it/723095/34 "2015-06-22T20:33:22Z")
> [@Clawdio](#): > > I like all of the characters they have created with the first episode and will be tuning in for more. My only complaint is that so far, at least, the murder isn’t all that interesting. I mean with the first season, we had all kinds of things hooking us in right from the start: Was it some kind of ritual killing? Was there some real or imagined supernatural element? I’m no so sure the murder wasn’t that interesting.The eyes were burnt out with acid, there was a massive pelvic wound, and it apparently bled out elsewhere.Regarding a possible supernatural or at least ritualistic element: There’s that weird “Panticapaeum Institute”. ---
**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:** [June 22, 2015, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/true-detective-season-two-how-is-it/723095/35 "2015-06-22T20:53:45Z")
> [@Richard\_John\_Marcej](#): > > Actually the “hook” to draw you in are the four main characters. Four characters with nothing or little in common all being driven to a head on collision. Yes, most of this episode was just setting up the story, but that’s the point. It’s no good telling me what the hook was meant to be. If it didn’t hook me, it ain’t a hook. ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2015, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/true-detective-season-two-how-is-it/723095/36 "2015-06-23T00:20:39Z")
Based on the first episode, I’m in for the whole season. One thing bothered me. The guy driving the motorcycle at over 100 with no eye protection. Even if you’re suicidal you want to see good enough to pick the right spot. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2015, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/true-detective-season-two-how-is-it/723095/37 "2015-06-23T00:37:43Z")
> [@Spoke](#): > > The only part that confused me was the threat to butt-fuck the guy with the headless corpse of his wife. Is she gonna have a strap-on? The logistics bewilder me. Think about what’s left over after the head is lopped off-- it’s not just the shoulders. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2015, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/true-detective-season-two-how-is-it/723095/38 "2015-06-23T00:58:09Z")
> [@Clawdio](#): > > One thing that wasn’t clear to me. The motorcycle cop, did he go back to the actress’s place like she offered? I’m assuming so because why else would he be suspended (unless he was for some reason suspended just for reporting what she offered??), but it wasn’t exactly clear. The answer to that question was not clear to me either. I assume they left it unresolved for a reason. As I understood it, the actress reported him for the incident as though it were his idea. But I might have misread the scene. There is a lot of mystery swirling around this motorcycle cop. . ---
**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2015, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/true-detective-season-two-how-is-it/723095/39 "2015-06-23T01:08:13Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > I thought it was a bit of a mess but there’s real potential here. I’ll watch every episode, for sure. > > The biggest lesson I took away from the first episode is: Do NOT bully Colin Farrel’s rape baby. Also, Vince Vaughn clearly fingered someone else as the rapist, no doubt having Farrel do some of his dirty work for him for free. Neither Farrel nor the fingered rapist look anything like that kid. > > The most confused I was had to be early on, when Rachel McAdams couldn’t get anal from her boyfriend. I just can’t wrap my head around that. (Come over to my place, Ani, I’ll treat you right!) That’s what that scene was about? I thought he tried anal, but she refused. Maybe I do need to watch the episode again. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2015, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/true-detective-season-two-how-is-it/723095/40 "2015-06-23T01:12:58Z")
As for the red-headed rape-baby, I notice Vince Vaughn has a red-headed wife and a red-headed consigliere (his brother-in-law?). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/true-detective-season-two-how-is-it/723095.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/true-detective-season-two-how-is-it/723095.md?page=3)