It's not the acting, as much as the charisma of the main protaganists. Harrelson and McConaughey are both far more charismatic than all the actors in the new series. This meant it was a joy spending time with them, even if that was just driving along in a car spouting pseudo-intellectual garbage. Farrell would be the closest thing to them (although even he struggles to pull off lame lines like that one about sucking a robot's dick) and the other three are nowhere near, so you really need better material to keep you interested. We might yet get that better material, though. I hope we do. For me, the way this series can reach the same heights of the first one is by getting right what that one got wrong i.e. having a coherent and logical plot. When you call a show True Detective, you really need the detective work to be something that stands up to scrutiny. Which didn't happen in season one. If they can get it right in season two, then it could still be a cracking piece of television. The atmosphere, soundscape and visuals are great, so the potential is there.
Television True Detective | Season 2 Spoilers
- Thread starter Dirty Schwein
- Start date
It's not the acting, as much as the charisma of the main protaganists. Harrelson and McConaughey are both far more charismatic than all the actors in the new series. This meant it was a joy spending time with them, even if that was just driving along in a car spouting pseudo-intellectual garbage. Farrell would be the closest thing to them (although even he struggles to pull off lame lines like that one about sucking a robot's dick) and the other three are nowhere near, so you really need better material to keep you interested. We might yet get that better material, though. I hope we do. For me, the way this series can reach the same heights of the first one is by getting right what that one got wrong i.e. having a coherent and logical plot. When you call a show True Detective, you really need the detective work to be something that stands up to scrutiny. Which didn't happen in season one. If they can get it right in season two, then it could still be a cracking piece of television. The atmosphere, soundscape and visuals are great, so the potential is there.
True. I know the writer didn’t want to follow the sort of formula he went with in Season 1, but even if he’s not doing that, I still feel like he should be trying to create an exciting and interesting dynamic between the four main characters. Which he hasn’t really done. Farrell and Vaughn’s history is interesting, but that’s about it. I don’t think Kitsch has had an interesting interaction with any of them. And there’s a potentially decent dynamic between McAdams and Farrell, but it’s not really gone anywhere thus far.
Exactly how I feel about it. I'd also add that there are too many main characters and having to spend time with each of them can be tedious when compared to last year. We had two leaders for the show, this one feels like going in too many directions.
It's the writing more than anything. McConnaughey couldn't have pulled off "never do anything out of hunger. Not even eating".
McAdams' as...I mean character is the most interesting so far for me. Farrel's feels like you've seen it all before and Kitsch's is barely a character.
Not sure CF's character is dead.
There's absolutely no way he is
Which is saying something!
I monged out in front of episode 1 again last night and enjoyed it much more second time around.
Caught 2 things...
1) Vince Vaughans goon
2) When Farrell is asking his son what happened to his shoes the very first thing he jumps to is "did they shit in them?!". I thought this was feckin hilarious..... "err no, they just cut them with some scissorss....eurgh wtf."
I seemed to pick up on loads more subtext between characters relationships too. They're all suffering some kind of sexual issue.
Caught 2 things...
1) Vince Vaughans goon
with the red hair could be the father of Farrells boy. Apart from the hair color matching Vaughan says to him something weird about having mutually beneficial relationships.
2) When Farrell is asking his son what happened to his shoes the very first thing he jumps to is "did they shit in them?!". I thought this was feckin hilarious..... "err no, they just cut them with some scissorss....eurgh wtf."
I seemed to pick up on loads more subtext between characters relationships too. They're all suffering some kind of sexual issue.
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Have to say, I think this show might have been better off if it was just McAdams and Farrell.
I'll obviously reserve judgement though.
I'll obviously reserve judgement though.
Vince Vaughn is meh.
The dialogue is just awful.
It's like Twin Peaks and No Country For Old Men got together and had a terrible offspring without proper schooling.
Big fan of both those, so does that mean I'll like the 2nd season? Been waiting to get more episodes saved up on my DVR, but maybe I'll start sooner.
Mmm...no, I was going more for the sarcastic tone on that one. Or maybe it's sardonic? Cynical? I am not really sure.
Neither are the show's writers, apparently...
The exchange between Frank and his wife after she blew him was just...beyond terrible.
I'm really enjoying this, it's not on the same level has season 1 but it's still a great show. The lead actors are all good as well I think Vaughn and Farrel have been quality so far.
So far, so good from me. Ok so the dialogue and acting is a bit dodgy in parts but that's about it. We know nothing to form a real judgement yet.
People keep referring back to S1 and I don't really get why. The only similarities they share on screen are double exposure title sequence and name. I think you have to watch it with the mindset of S1 not ever existing in order to at least enjoy this.
People keep referring back to S1 and I don't really get why. The only similarities they share on screen are double exposure title sequence and name. I think you have to watch it with the mindset of S1 not ever existing in order to at least enjoy this.
Really average episode and that's probably being kind. The characters are crap and boring and I have no idea what the case is about.
Anyone else notice Berba halfway through?
Right now I'm thinking with a bit of tweaking this could've made a passable Scooby-Doo episode.
When it's not making you cringe the dialogue is barely comprehensible and some of the wistful looks from the cast (Vaughan especially) recall Joey in Friends trying to emote.
When it's not making you cringe the dialogue is barely comprehensible and some of the wistful looks from the cast (Vaughan especially) recall Joey in Friends trying to emote.
Even if you do, it's still just a bit shit really. And a lot dull.
I actually found this one a bit more enjoyable than last week. Still far from perfect, but managed to hold my interest more.
We at least saw more of Kitsch’s character, and his repressed homosexuality was brought to the forefront, but it’s still fairly hard to care about the character because he always just comes across as miserable. Smile every so often. Or tell a joke, or something.
The scene with Farrell and his father was alright, wouldn’t mind them building upon that relationship a bit. His son keeps on coming up, so I definitely think the whole disputed parenthood aspect is going to be important.
I’m still not sure what Vaughn’s character is actually supposed to be. He seems something between a feared gangster who’s really insecure, and a shit gangster who’s really insecure, but I don’t know which at the moment.
We at least saw more of Kitsch’s character, and his repressed homosexuality was brought to the forefront, but it’s still fairly hard to care about the character because he always just comes across as miserable. Smile every so often. Or tell a joke, or something.
The scene with Farrell and his father was alright, wouldn’t mind them building upon that relationship a bit. His son keeps on coming up, so I definitely think the whole disputed parenthood aspect is going to be important.
I’m still not sure what Vaughn’s character is actually supposed to be. He seems something between a feared gangster who’s really insecure, and a shit gangster who’s really insecure, but I don’t know which at the moment.
So the acting and dialogue isn't great and you don't know enough about the story to make a judgement either way, but it's so far, so good? Something doesn't add up there.
After the slight pick up with the second episode I've gotta say this was a disappointment. Its all beginning to seem more and more directionless in terms of both plot and dialogue. Some really ripe dialogue this episode especially regarding Vince Vaughan/Frank and his wife as well as his basement punch up. I Still think his acting isn't really the problem so much as the dialogue coming out of his mouth.
The entire thing just feels like it needs a greater sense of direction.
The entire thing just feels like it needs a greater sense of direction.
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"Accent? You racist woman" was another peach.
Loved that ep, thought the dialogue was ace. All became very Shakespearean at times.
Quite liking it so far.
I think the theme for this season is also class.
I think the theme for this season is also class.
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"He looks half anaconda, half great white"
That was genuinely awful.
That was genuinely awful.
I liked this comment I read on IMDB (the bit in bold 
):
):There are only a few definitive great TV dramas. Ignoring the obvious bad ones, everything else is good TV (see Dexter, True Blood etc). This season has the unfortunate task of following potentially one the greats shows thus it's being judged against that. To use a football analogy. Messi & Ronaldo's 50 goals/season exploits mean the 20 goal/season striker has now been rendered average.
Back to my original point, I was hinting that the plot is still unravelling so we can't really judge it fully yet. Also something not being great doesn't necessarily mean it's bad.
I almost feel like it’s the opposite, though. The main reason that the shows getting anywhere near its current level of attention is because it’s following a great 1st season.
If this was the 1st season of a new show, while it wouldn’t be particularly awful, I don’t think it’d be getting all that much attention since it’s just fairly middle of the road.
I'm still enjoying it, it's a slow start but its getting there, stuff is starting to happen but some of the dialogue is just.....bad.
The boxing scene was just dumb. He should have either shot or slit his throat.
Yeah that was stupid. I reckon his ginger henchman is behind it all.
I'm deliberately looking for the Scooby Doo climax now after the first season too.
I'm deliberately looking for the Scooby Doo climax now after the first season too.
That wouldn't have have allowed him to showcase his dynamite jab.
Just been reading this. Some interesting stuff about series one:
http://vigilantcitizen.com/moviesandtv/deeper-meaning-true-detective-season-one/
http://vigilantcitizen.com/moviesandtv/deeper-meaning-true-detective-season-one/
They're definitely going for that Lynchian eerieness. Those shots of LA, the music, all the weird sex stuff, mobsters, and just the overall creepiness. A bit too heavily influenced in my mind -- almost bordering on plagiarism.
I loved last season's overhead shots of rural Louisiana, and they seem to be going for something similar this season wit Southern California. The only problem is that this has been done before by both Lynch and, as someone mentioned before, Micheal Mann. Whereas rural Louisiana was relatively unexplored in cinema.
I loved last season's overhead shots of rural Louisiana, and they seem to be going for something similar this season wit Southern California. The only problem is that this has been done before by both Lynch and, as someone mentioned before, Micheal Mann. Whereas rural Louisiana was relatively unexplored in cinema.
Yeah, the first scene was straight out of Twin Peaks.
I like it to be honest, even if it's not as good as the first. Really could have done without Taylor Kitsch though.
I like it to be honest, even if it's not as good as the first. Really could have done without Taylor Kitsch though.