All Evageeks should watch HBO's True Detective

[StarShaper7]

SPOILER: Show

That's really more of a set-up for a character arc, rather than a complete one. Stories that don't bring a character arc to completion tend to illustrate a point with this sudden, unwanted stop. Given how the story has been thus far, it wouldn't really work.

Killing off Velcoro at this point would be a cheap gimmick that demonstrates how "edgy" the show is and we'd start trying to anticipate the next major death. The thematic value it would have is very little, given the potential that would be wasted. I could see this sudden death working if it was either Velcoro's or Bezzerides' partner instead. I don't even remember their names.

Also, check out the official synopsis for episode 3. Way to keep us guessing, HBO.

[Blue Monday]

So, non-lethal rounds? Bummer. I like it the way I was reading into it.

To be honest I really like the end of E2. It's like something out of the Coen brothers' No Country for Old Men but through a Lynchian lens. Justin Lin's been doing a pretty good job so far as director in my opinion. Shame he's not dong all the episodes in the series.

[StarShaper7]

I also get that McCarthy-ish vibe from TD at times, so it's unsurprising that the author is on Nic Pizzolatto's list of influences. Also unsurprising but cool to know is that he likes Alan Moore and Grant Morrison. Good taste confirmed.

edit: That was intense.

[NemZ]

So that whole thing was totally a setup by someone in the Vinci PD, right? Gotta be.

[Blue Monday]

Yeah, that's what I was thinking too. That Dixon guy totally had a hand in it. But Christ, that was like something pulled out of a GTA rampage. Shit was crazy.

Also, I didn't really get a good read on the next ep preview. Does it looks like there's going to be a bit of a time skip now?

[NemZ]

Not as good as the single-take scene around this time last season, but pretty good.

Preview was so vague I know pretty much nothing.

[Blue Monday]

I like how Paul was almost completely chill at the end there as well, totally back in his element, whereas Ani and Ray are falling to pieces (and who fucking wouldn't). The proverbial is going to hit the fan after this shit.

[A.T. Fish]

That Dixon guy totally had a hand in it.

Who is Dixon? Do you mean the mayor? It seemed to be heavily implied that the mayor set that up.

Also, I didn't really get a good read on the next ep preview. Does it looks like there's going to be a bit of a time skip now?

It looks like the case will be officially solved, much like in season one, but unlike season one they are pretty sure they didn't get the culprit yet. Also, media coverage and public opinion following last episode's massacre will probbaly be very negative towards the detectives.

[Blue Monday]

Figured as much. Time skips are almost an essential part of a Nic Pizzolatto work by now (his one and only novel to date, Galveston, has a pretty big one in it too).

Who is Dixon? Do you mean the mayor? It seemed to be heavily implied that the mayor set that up episode's massacre will probbaly be very negative towards the detectives.

Yeah, it just felt suss with the mayor even being there in the police station before the raid, and what with the snidely wishing them luck. The mayor's name is Chessani though. Teague Dixon is Ray's fat slob of a partner, who's obviously much more competent and dangerous than he lets on.

SPOILER: Show

Even though he's dead now, he was trailing Paul last episode taking pictures, and also the way he was looking at him in the pawn shop scene really leapt out at me. I got the impression he set up that whole facet for whoever he's working for.

[NemZ]

That and the fact that the watches didn't actually match. The one in the store had some extra details on the face.

I expect Velcoro will be a bro and go to his partner's place to delete his porn as requested and find the photos he's been taking of Woodraugh and his 'army buddy'.

[Kazuki_Fuse]

I am really loving this season's soundtrack.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yL2JgT04ULw

[Blue Monday]

Can't say the Lera Lynn stuff has grabbed me (yet), but that fucking Leonard Cohen opener blows me away each time, and I'm all like...

[NemZ]

Yeah, I need to get down to more Leonard Cohen. Between this and the Watchmen soundtrack I'm really digging his style.

Incidentally the missing verses of Nevermind (which I just listened to) are clearly about a marriage breaking up, so maybe the theory that Seymon's Wife is the one muscling him out has some merit?

Random side thought: I suspect Paul is the birdman and acting on the therapists' direction. He blacks out sometimes and doesn't know what he's done, just follows orders expecting that everything will work out, might be tied to Caspere's sex parties, pretty sure it was mentioned that he sees a shrink for ptsd and likely his repressed homosexuality... Just a hunch, but I'm sticking with it until proven wrong.

[Blue Monday]

Cool theory. Nothing like that had even crossed my mind to be honest. Although, not that I presume to know the inner workings of Nic Pizzolato's writing, I just feel he has an inherent aversion to what we'd call a "plot twist" of that kind. His style seems much more grounded and speculative. Not that anyone should pay any heed, because this is coming from the guy that thought the ol' non-lethal rounds trick "wasn't True Detective enough".



Anyway, seeing as we are halfway in, it seems like an opportune time to share some theories. Mine's kind of two-pronged. Going by Pizzolatto's since retracted "secret occult history of the US transportation system" statement, I still think there will be elements of that in play. As such, in the vein of things like the General Motors streetcar conspiracy, I reckon Caspere's death is the result of action from some elusive group or company who are trying to sabotage the light rail initiative he and Semyon and many others were working towards. However, this isn't the story our detectives will unfold. It will only every be alluded to as something sinister at work in the world.

The second plot we've been set on - and the one the series will focus on - is the secretive, hedonistic sex cult born out of the post-New Age religion crap the mayor, the psychiatrist (Was his name Pitlor? Yeah, I think he's the Birdman) and a bunch of others are obviously involved in. The photograph Ani's dad showed of the aforementioned characters when they were younger will probably be our guys. If you get a chance to rewatch the episode, take note of the especially sinister, older looking figure at the back whose face is cast in shadow. This will tie into the missing girls and possibly even some human trafficking stuff. Caspere was deep in this as well, which would explain why the mayor et al are trying to cover it up as quickly as possible. Caspere's death will never be truly solved but our protagonists will uncover something huge, unearthed as a direct consequence of their investigations, which is where their redemption and resolution will come from.

[Joy Evangelion]

Can't say the Lera Lynn stuff has grabbed me (yet), but that fucking Leonard Cohen opener blows me away each time, and I'm all like...

Ditto. And that image of Venus or whatever transiting the Sun at the end of the opening is awesome as well. And for what it's worth I couldn't stand S1's theme.

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Anyway, I won't get into any theories since I haven't been watching too closely, but I did notice that the beginning of both seasons' third episodes had a man on a strange gesturing strangely, and both had the intense scenes at the end of episode 4 so I wonder if anyone else noticed any other interesting parallels between the two, or if I'm just making things up out of thin air.

[A.T. Fish]

New edit of the opening song this week was a surprise. Everything is coming together, a little too well for my taste, the plot seems a bit contrived.

[Kazuki_Fuse]

Violent, angry Ray is best Ray.

[Blue Monday]

Everything is coming together, a little too well for my taste, the plot seems a bit contrived.

I feel the same way, but think about it like this; with three more episodes left to go, it leaves room for some further twists and weird shit toward the end (hopefully).

Violent, angry Ray is best Ray.

"A little black rage goes a long way. Sometimes your worst self is your best self."

[NemZ]

New edit of the opening song this week was a surprise. Everything is coming together, a little too well for my taste, the plot seems a bit contrived.

Agreed, things are moving too fast after doing absolutely nothing the last few episodes straight. Clearly the shootout was pointless filler to spice it up mid-season because they know it's getting boring.

[Gendo'sPapa]

I'm really liking Season Two. But the popular reception towards the season was always going to be one of intense disappointment.

Season One was a perfect collaboration between an author who had worked for years on an idea & severely wanted to make a name for himself - Nic Pizzolatto - a filmmaker of great talent who had always been great but wanted to show the world how special he was - Cary Fukunaga - & two excellent actors who were back on the rise & wanted to remind the world they're real talents - Woody Harrelson & Matthew McConaughey.
Pizzolatto brought HBO a great script, then Fukunaga did what any true filmmaker does & he translated that script into a visual story (I'm positive the one-shot action set piece in the original script was a dialogue heavy sequence) & worked close with the actors to tell a story over eight hours. The first season of True Detective was lighting in a bottle. A once in a lifetime TV event that was really an eight hour movie told in eight parts. It could not be repeated.

The warning signs for trouble regarding Season Two started the second it became "The Nic Pizzolatto Show All The Time". A man with zero experience running a show suddenly being put in the prime seat. Gone was the one visionary filmmaker watching over all eight episodes & living with the story from start to finish & in it's place was a bunch of directors who do their job - direct an episode or two - & then move on. The 35mm photography was replaced with going digital on the Alexa. Pizzolatto didn't even have years to work on the story.

Oh well. I'm actually really enjoying Season Two. Colin Farrell has been fantastic! Rachel McAdams is wonderful! Taylor Kitsch had some growing pains but has come into his own the past two episodes. Vince Vaughn is still a bit of a bust & there's way too many side characters but I'm enjoying Season Two.

But not loving it. And that's going to be Season Tow's legacy when people stop calling it "terrible" & "the worst thing ever".

Now I think Fargo Season Two is not going to encounter the levels of animosity True Detective has received. Partially because Fargo Season One was put in True Detective's shadow last year & also because the entire creative team is back for Season Two.

[url] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFVNi8gUEy4[/url]