Television True Detective | Season 2 Spoilers

I'm not impressed by either of those leads, especially Vaughn. I take the point that the previous leads weren't always highly thought of either though. I hope the writing can save this show because between them and Justin Lin directing the first two episodes, there is not a lot for me to be excited for. Disappointing to say the least.
 
I don't really have a problem with the leads. If the writing and direction is as good, then I'm sure the cast will fall into place. I was never a fan of McConaughey before True Detective (and also Dallas Buyers Club) either, and whilst I do like Woody Harrelson, I didn't think he'd be as good as he was in that sort of role.

I doubt many people expected Bryan Cranston to be as good as he was in Breaking Bad either, after being known primarily for a goofball comedy role. Give 'em a chance.
 
Yeah, the show's strongest aspect were acting and directing. Now both of them are in doubt, especially the latter. Justin Lin is not an impressive director and will guarantee that the show, or at least the first 2 episodes, will look totally different from last season. Maybe they're fast paced, action packed, first 2 episodes? Who knows.
 
Showrunners are more important to television than directors and Vaughn and Farrell have the chops to handle this sort of show, regardless of their CVs.

Pizzolatto is out of his depth though, that's the big worry.
 
Brown Toothpick said:
Yeah, the show's strongest aspect were acting and directing. Now both of them are in doubt, especially the latter. Justin Lin is not an impressive director and will guarantee that the show, or at least the first 2 episodes, will look totally different from last season. Maybe they're fast paced, action packed, first 2 episodes? Who knows.
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Not necessarily. Directing a TV show isn't the same as directing a movie. You're expected to stay within certain boundaries and rules in order to keep things in-sync, otherwise it'd be a massive mess due to the fact that most shows change directors every episode.

If they want to keep the same sort of tone and style as the first series, they will.
 
Just finished watching this and thought it was pretty darn good. Perhaps the most interesting thing about it is the way in which an entirely derivative, cliché ridden and borderline plagiarist script can be spun into something that feels so fresh and gripping, by a talented cast and crew.

It's a great display of alchemy that made gold from such a base metal, hackneyed pot boiler. The two central performances are terrific and the supporting cast do a great job. The cinematographer is a genius and the direction is superb. Mcconaughey's one note character is the perfect example of the gold spun from straw. He's a weak mix of dime store nihilism and a scrap book of ideas lifted almost verbatim from the likes of Ligotti, Burroughs, Vonnegut, amongst others. Yet from nothing but a little bit of acting an utterly compelling character is born. He even gets away with quoting Tralfamadorian time theory for feck sake.

I did enjoy the show a lot but towards the end I was getting kind of frustrated by the level of deja vu, particularly in the last episode. What with it's whistling child predator, the Texas chainsaw atmosphere, the sniper gag from Breaking bad of all things and perhaps the most shameless piece of all the thievery on show: "And then I woke up" the final gutteral punch of a line from No Country for Old Men - And they fecked it up anyway. Sure there is nothing new under the sun and all that, but the amount of material in this show that is lifted from other works, without any attempt to reinterpret or expand upon the original idea is pretty appalling.

So I hear the only thing that carries over to the next series is the hack script writer? should be fun...
 
Just finished watching this first season. I thought it started alright and got progressively worse. McConaughey's dark weird geezer schtick was interesting at the beginning and he had some thought provoking dialogue, but I was sick of him by the end. Some truly laughably bad scenes, especially that whole motorcycle gang infiltration crap. And where did they get some of these cliche, cardboard Louisiana character actors? God, some of them were awful. Also thought the writer lost control of the plot and it became so unbelievable and scattered. I could barely finish the last episode it got so bad.

Very disappointed with this series. Considering Vince Vaughn is coming in for the next part I will avoid this like the plague.
 
I liked how they went in with cop uniforms...because skinheads with giant beards can totally pass as police in the right outfit...
 
Nobby style said:
Just finished watching this first season. I thought it started alright and got progressively worse. McConaughey's dark weird geezer schtick was interesting at the beginning and he had some thought provoking dialogue, but I was sick of him by the end. Some truly laughably bad scenes, especially that whole motorcycle gang infiltration crap. And where did they get some of these cliche, cardboard Louisiana character actors? God, some of them were awful. Also thought the writer lost control of the plot and it became so unbelievable and scattered. I could barely finish the last episode it got so bad.

Very disappointed with this series. Considering Vince Vaughn is coming in for the next part I will avoid this like the plague.
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There's always one.
 
Organic Potatoes said:
I liked how they went in with cop uniforms...because skinheads with giant beards can totally pass as police in the right outfit...
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It was fairly obvious they weren't supposed to be master criminals, something which was confirmed by the colossal SNAFU the whole thing quickly became.

I agree with @Archie Leach about it being the best episode.
 
Pogue Mahone said:
It was fairly obvious they weren't supposed to be master criminals, something which was confirmed by the colossal SNAFU the whole thing quickly became.

I agree with @Archie Leach about it being the best episode.
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I reckon the episode after is the best, but that sequence is ridiculously cool. Second best episode.
 
dumbo said:
Just finished watching this and thought it was pretty darn good. Perhaps the most interesting thing about it is the way in which an entirely derivative, cliché ridden and borderline plagiarist script can be spun into something that feels so fresh and gripping, by a talented cast and crew.

It's a great display of alchemy that made gold from such a base metal, hackneyed pot boiler. The two central performances are terrific and the supporting cast do a great job. The cinematographer is a genius and the direction is superb. Mcconaughey's one note character is the perfect example of the gold spun from straw. He's a weak mix of dime store nihilism and a scrap book of ideas lifted almost verbatim from the likes of Ligotti, Burroughs, Vonnegut, amongst others. Yet from nothing but a little bit of acting an utterly compelling character is born. He even gets away with quoting Tralfamadorian time theory for feck sake.

I did enjoy the show a lot but towards the end I was getting kind of frustrated by the level of deja vu, particularly in the last episode. What with it's whistling child predator, the Texas chainsaw atmosphere, the sniper gag from Breaking bad of all things and perhaps the most shameless piece of all the thievery on show: "And then I woke up" the final gutteral punch of a line from No Country for Old Men - And they fecked it up anyway. Sure there is nothing new under the sun and all that, but the amount of material in this show that is lifted from other works, without any attempt to reinterpret or expand upon the original idea is pretty appalling.

So I hear the only thing that carries over to the next series is the hack script writer? should be fun...
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I'm not sure if you've ever been to Southern Louisiana/SE Texas but the way the cinematography captures it is incredible, the neglected billboards for missing children from the Katrina period, the abandoned church in rotting swamps, revival tents and the ghetto in Beaumont, pelican bay etc.., its incredibly raw but very well done and that to me was the best part of the series. That observation and deduction scene from the tent ministry is such as base yet perfect version of characterizing people from that locale. You have to develop an understanding of the locale to find the fun outside a few dialogues.
 
Cina said:
the first two episodes are directed by the guy who made Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift.
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I guess that means Farrell is a cop, working undercover as a car thief, while detective Vaugn , who is unaware of Colin's true identity, is trying to put him behind bars. Be ready for some great car chasing stunts.

Hoping Vin Diesel makes a cameo appearance to add yet more depth to the intricate plot.
 
Vince Vaughn, the director of Tokyo drift, ... the only thing missing is Michael Bay now...

They're going to ruin this completely aren't they?
 
Vato said:
Vince Vaughn, the director of Tokyo drift, ... the only thing missing is Michael Bay now...

They're going to ruin this completely aren't they?
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Making studio films and making a HBO series are two entirely different animals. I'd suggest keeping an open mind to the possibilities.
 
Ramshock said:
Vaughan and Farrell will be epic in this. Its HBO ffs not a Disney movie
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For some reason, probably because they are in so many films together i read this as Vaughn and Ferrell and i thought, what fecking direction are they taking this in.
 
It will be tough to beat the Matthew-Woody combo but Vaughan and Farrell are great actors, I expect them to do well.
 
I like the actors, it's the director I'm worried about...

Rust should get his own series. I just want another 10 episodes of him in an interview room.
 
Tarrou said:
I like the actors, it's the director I'm worried about...

Rust should get his own series. I just want another 10 episodes of him in an interview room.
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Rust is awesome, but so was Woody's character.

They should do a series +20 years later when they're touching 60-65 years. They need to get back together as there was one loose end from all those years ago.
 
The first season slipped a little when Rust/Marty left the interrogation room. That framing device was the most riveting part of the whole show.
 
Binge watching this at the moment, read the first few pages of this thread but I have to be careful not to spoil the last two episodes that I'll probably watch tonight.

I was hooked pretty quickly and I guess there's not much left for me to say that hasn't been lauded time and time again. McConaughey is really sensational, but the overall pacing of the show, the cinematography, the music, the whole atmosphere, just make it absolutely perfect. It's actually genuinely scared me a few times, like the ending of episode 3 (the monster at the end of the dream) or when Rust is exploring that Tuttle school.

The opening credits are superb as well, the music is haunting.
 
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