Jump to content

Type keyword(s) to search

S02.E01: The Western Book Of The Dead


  • Reply
  • Start Topic

Recommended Posts

So all of our protagonists are pretty fucked up. Well, Ani not so much. It just looks like your typical rebellion against the parental figures there. Although I am curious what she wanted to try with her hookup that freaked him out.

Ray was doing some wish-fulfillment there with Aspen (that's a boy's name?) and his dad, but how does that not bite him in the ass?

  • Love 2
Link to comment
(edited)

Well, going by the first episode I would say that our "heroes"  seem angry enough to become murderers themselves any second. Or suicide in Paul's case. And Ani seems just as fucked up as the other two. Clearly therapy has not worked for any of these people. 

 

It sounds weird to say that I am hoping this murder case will at least accomplish one thing - to draw some of them out of their malaise and depression?

 

I wouldn't say that Vince Vaughn's character seems the most likable - just the most "together" at the moment.

Edited by magdalene
  • Love 6
Link to comment

I like most all of the cast and the mystery is kind of intriguing, but some of the dialogue is just godawful. Also there is absolutely no humor at all and it is sorely needed, IMO. Woody brought at least a little last season.

I'll stick with it because it took me a few episodes to really get into the first season, and then another few for me to really get annoyed with it. So this could be hit and miss with me throughout.

Also, I don't know if it was the L.A. setting or some of the atmospheric music, but Columbo kept popping into my mind. Like a really, REALLY dark episode of Columbo. Not sure that's what they're going for.

  • Love 3
Link to comment
(edited)

Help. The woman with Vince Vaughn? I'm in I gotta know where I know her from mode. Anyone have a name?

Kelly Reily.

Appeared in the ABC show Black Box.

Also the films Flight, Calvary and Eden Lake.

Edited by MrsRafaelBarba
  • Love 2
Link to comment

Vince Vaughn is horrible. Wooden and hollow. Rachel McAdams is killing it. Just spot on.Colin Farrell's character is a bit overblown but the paternity issue should come into play in some strange and awful way. Some of the plotlines are a little overblown and hackneyed like Colin's typical out of control alcoholic cop and his sneaker fueled rampage, the tacky erotica in the tossed apartment, all of the phones calling the drunk folks was exactly like the scene in Bosch. Should be interesting to see how this plays out. 

 

I was thrilled to hear Nick Cave in the closing theme!

  • Love 6
Link to comment
(edited)

I can't believe Colin Farrell is only 39.  I thought he was closer to 50, which I realize may have been intentional, I was just surprised when I was looking up the cast just now after watching.

 

There were definitely a few groan worthy lines of dialogue, and it's hard for me to forget about pretentious and unlikable Nic Pizzolatto can be in real life, but I love crime mysteries and I have no life so I'm in.

Edited by Morbs
  • Love 7
Link to comment

Kelly Reily.

Appeared in the ABC show Black Box.

Also the films Flight, Calvary and Eden Lake.

She played Mary Watson in Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes.

For me it was Flight. The woman with Denzel. Thanks.

  • Love 1
Link to comment

Am I the only one, who thought Ray was going to punch Aspen too?

 

That little speech was probably more effective than a punch.  Carol from The Walking Dead has a rival for menacing threats to kids.  :-)

  • Love 12
Link to comment

I'm intrigued enough to stay.  Clearly, these are some f'ed up people, as is the case always on True Detective.   

 

The theme song and imagery (like the highways being like veins) were very cool!

 

I'm already bought into Rachel McAdam's character (Antigone is not necessarily a name to aspire to, as it were) and want to see where they take her.  She's such a compelling actress!

 

Colin Farrell's character was a little too much a little too early, but I feel like we already have a picture of the guy, so kudos to that.

 

Vince Vaughn's character is interesting, but I have a good deal of uneasiness about this wife (girlfriend? whatever?).  He does, indeed, seem like the most the put together of the bunch, but the bar is low.

 

I do want to get the story behind Taylor Kitsch's character and those scars and I think, based on his work in The Normal Heart, he might rock the meaty material.   This is childish, but I giggle whenever he says CHP, as all I can think about is Erik Estrada and that blond guy.  Hee.  

  • Love 5
Link to comment

Weird that Vince Vaughn, as the gangster, is the most likeable character.

I've found this to be a specialty of Vince, at least in some of his other roles.

 

I agree, that Colin's character is a bit much, especially after seeing Matthew's last season.

Link to comment

I quite liked Vince Vaughn, Affable Gangster. He wants to build a train! He asks about your kid, and whether you are dating. Brings something good to drink but doesn't lecture you about drinking too much. 

 

I stay unspoiled for my shows because I think it gives a better perspective on what a show is really about, so I had no idea what this second season was going to be about. Clearly, it's about the dead guy and how things will unravel from that. They certainly got their best on that case! I'm most interested in the relationship with VV and CF and how that developed. Clearly, the flashback was their first meeting, but the scene in the bar looks like they've been working together for quite some time. 

 

I kept wondering if RM hippie dad was staying at the same retreat where Don Draper invented the Coke ad. 

 

It's really good that True Detective is sending out such a strong, open anti bullying message too. 

  • Love 14
Link to comment
(edited)

I loved it. I found it much easier to get into than the first episode of the first season, and I am interested in each of the characters which is always a good sign. Rachel McAdams (Ani) is already my favorite, I just love her and I'm so happy to see her nail a darker role. Colin Farrell was great so far, I am both horrified and fascinated by his family life. Tim Riggins (sorry, Taylor Kitsch) was very good, albeit quite mysterious so far. On a shallow note, it's nice that the main nudity in this episode was from him! Overall, I am definitely in for the full season now and I'm excited to see where this goes!

Edited by SallyAlbright
  • Love 11
Link to comment

She played Mary Watson in Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes.

Wasn't Rachel in that film as well?

If we're playing that game, I throw in Rachel and Vince in Wedding Crashers.

  • Love 6
Link to comment

I really liked it.  Love Rachel McAdams and so nice to see a female character with layers.   Plus ...Colin Farrell is always a draw for me. That said, I am most curious about Taylor Kitsch  and his work.

 

I'll be tuning in for the next episode.

  • Love 8
Link to comment

I just want the characters that are interesting characters. Male and female. I don't look at them differently. So far, they all seem to have some meaty stories to bite into. It is for sure easier to dive into than season 1. I almost fell asleep several times trying to watch the pilot episode.

  • Love 4
Link to comment
(edited)

I knew the reviews were mixed, but I went in with an open mind, since I knew it was going to be different.  That said, a bit slow at times and some of the dialogue was really too much (if might have been like that last season too, but Matthew and Woody were just able to sell it better), but I think it picked up at the end, and I do think now that all the cops are together and we have a case, it will get good.

 

Interesting that I felt like with last season, it started out with Martin seeming normal and Rust a loon, and then when the show progressed, we see that Martin is just as fucked-up in his own way, and Rust has his moments of clarity.  Here, pretty much everyone is fucked up.  It's crazy that the gangster seems to be the one who has it the most together at the moment.

 

I always rooted for Colin Farrell, so I hope this works out for him.  I think he can be good; he just picks bad material a lot of times. So far, Ray seems like another alcoholic cop with family problems, a temper, and working under the thumb for a mobster, but I think they could go somewhere with this.  His method towards handling his son's bully sure was something.

 

Love Rachel McAdams, so I love Ani, even if she seems to be kind of a judgmental jerk (even then, I can understand finding out your sister is a cam girl, might not be the best thing to hear.)  But I'm guessing those scenes with her dad (David Morse!), is setting up that she never got along with him, so she was kind of the rebel of the family, while the sister was his favorite.

 

Not sure what to make of Paul/Taylor Kitsch yet.  The mentioned that he was in the military, so I wonder if he is suffering from PTSD. And it seems like he has commitment issues with his girlfriend.

 

Any time I saw Vince Vaughn, it was hard to not quote Swingers.  I actually am kind of interesting in his take.  I kind of get a kick out of Frank not being a typical, TV gangster, but actually seems to care about Ray on some level, and doesn't enjoy his shady dealings.  He just wants to get it done!  I do think his wife will end up playing a bigger part in this.

 

They sure filled out the supporting cast, huh?  I spotted James Frain, W. Earl Brown, Michael Irby, Levin Rambin (and Ani's sis), Adria Ajana (as Paul's girlfriend), and Ritchie Coster.  A lot of recognizable faces wanted to be in this!

 

Last season's opening credits will be hard to top, but I think this season's will grow on me too.

Edited by thuganomics85
  • Love 7
Link to comment

I have a hard time taking Vince Vaughn seriously in this or any other role.  Over the years, his characterizations seem to be all douchebag, all the time.  So I really have to work at thinking of him as something deeper than a generic dick.

 

Officer Paul, I understand you are most likely trying to commit suicide, what with the riding at high speed on a winding road at night with no headlight.  However, you're not wearing a helmet.  Sure, that will help enable your death wish if you do crash, but, in the meantime, you don't want to get a ticket.  That won't look good on your record.  `  Mmkay?

  • Love 6
Link to comment

They sure filled out the supporting cast, huh?  I spotted James Frain, W. Earl Brown, Michael Irby, Levin Rambin (and Ani's sis), Adria Ajana (as Paul's girlfriend), and Ritchie Coster.  A lot of recognizable faces wanted to be in this!

The two supporting actors I recognized were Yara Martinez (the waitress at the dive bar/Luisa from Jane the Virgin) - imdb lists her only in this episode and she had about two brief lines, so that's a tiny, tiny part. And Colin Farrell's son (or "son"), who plays one of Eddie's friends on Fresh Off the Boat.

  • Love 3
Link to comment
(edited)

True Detective and the cost of sky-high expectations. http://previously.tv/true-detective/youre-supposed-to-savor-that/

I mostly agree with this review, but even moreso with

...there is absolutely no humor at all and it is sorely needed, IMO. Woody brought at least a little last season...

And while I initially agree with:

The reviews didn't say that T-Bone Burnett is in charge of the music again. That alone makes it worth watching.

the violence Colin Farell's character is getting away with is both hard to imagine and not something I want to imagine. I mean, seriously? Brass knuckles beat down on front porch of suburban dad to teach his allegedly bullying kid a lesson? Last I checked, torture is not a good method of getting reliable intel, and torture is what CF's character basically threatened his son with if the son didn't cough up the name of another kid. I hope it is the wrong kid. I'll probably watch one more episode to find out, and for the music.

ETA: I was surprised to see Woody H and Matthew McC executive producing, which I guess means they thought this was a good bet, so they laid down some money on it.

Edited by shapeshifter
  • Love 3
Link to comment

I'm going to have to watch it again. It's dark....not just in subject matter, but I felt like I wasn't seeing everything I was supposed to on the screen. Someone turn up the lights. Also, the dialog is stiff and sometimes awkward. I don't think it's the actors, I think it's what they have to work with. But my biggest pet peeve is how after turning off the light on the bike and randomly landing on some small stretch of road, he lands right next to a dead body. Really? 'm kay.

  • Love 1
Link to comment
(edited)

At the beginning of the episode, I suspected that Frank had something to do with Ray's wife being beaten and raped, like maybe he had one of his men do it so that he could "get" the perpetrator (possibly framing someone he wanted to get rid of anyway) and hence have Ray in his debt. But I admit that Vince Vaughn's list of previously douchey characters may have influenced my suspicions.

 

As someone who lives in California, I was rolling my eyes at the allegedly enlightened guru acting like a condescending jackass who refuses to take responsibility for his actions because yeah, I've heard that kind of stuff in real life more often than I'd like. He must be good at convincing his flock to contribute money if he has that swanky place right on the ocean though. I can't blame Ani for rebelling against his hippie dippie bullshit.

 

Riggins, I knew what to expect (aka I knew that his glorious Riggins mane was gone) but thanks to HBO for making up for that with a shot of his bare ass. Hee, I giggled when Ani's dad said that Athena sounded "clear eyed." I was hoping Paul would poke his head in to add, "Full hearts, can't lose!"

 

Was Athena referring to herself as the goddess of love on her webcam or was that her dad adding that bit of commentary? Either way, wrong goddess!

 

Was the missing girl that Ani was looking for the same girl who is sleeping with Paul? I didn't get a very good look at the picture that her sister showed Ani so I really only saw the dark curly hair.

 

ETA: Thanks to IMDB I learned that Paul's girlfriend/sex partner is named Emily and the missing girl is named Vera. Obviously I need to pay better attention because Vera is played by the same actress who played Talia on Pretty Little Liars.

Edited by ElectricBoogaloo
  • Love 5
Link to comment
(edited)

Was the missing girl that Ani was looking for the same girl who is sleeping with Paul? I didn't get a very good look at the picture that her sister showed Ani so I really only saw the dark curly hair.

I could have sworn that I saw the missing girl in the back of the guru's church and that was the reason the cops were there. It took me awhile to realize that the guru was Ani's father.

I am ever so tired of the damaged cop character. Female cop with commitment issues, check. Male cop with violence issues, check. And both have daddy/family issues and drinking problems because of course they do. I am holding out hope for Taylor Kitch's character to keep it together, at least in a relative sense. At least we know he showers. Im not sure I can say the same thing about Farrell or McAdams characters.

Edited by Deanie87
  • Love 9
Link to comment
(edited)

I am ever so tired of the damaged cop character. Female cop with commitment issues, check. Male cop with violence issues, check. And both have daddy/family issues and drinking problems because of course they do. I am holding out hope for Taylor Kitch's character to keep it together, at least in a relative sense. At least we know he showers. Im not sure I can say the same thing about Farrell or McAdams characters.

 

This. Add in Vince Vaughn as a smug douchebag, and it felt like Pizzolatto was trying to shove in as many cliches as humanly possible.

 

I'm still trying to figure out what happened with Taylor Kitsch's character. So far as I can tell, it went like this:

 

He pulls over an actress for speeding, and she's high as a kite and wearing an ankle monitor. She propositions him, in the hopes that he won't get her into any more trouble. He turns her down (or so we're led to believe, considering that he appears to be impotent). Then she accuses him of sexual harassment, by claiming that he asked her for oral sex, and so he's given a paid suspension while they investigate what happened.

 

And when he finds out about his suspension, he mutters about Black Mountain, because...he thinks his participation in that mission (or whatever it was) is the real reason he's being suspended? Or was that just a clunky way to let us know that he did something mysterious and harrowing in the war?

Edited by Blakeston
  • Love 8
Link to comment

I mostly agree with this review, but even moreso withAnd while I initially agree with:the violence Colin Farell's character is getting away with is both hard to imagine and not something I want to imagine. I mean, seriously? Brass knuckles beat down on front porch of suburban dad to teach his allegedly bullying kid a lesson? Last I checked, torture is not a good method of getting reliable intel, and torture is what CF's character basically threatened his son with if the son didn't cough up the name of another kid. I hope it is the wrong kid. I'll probably watch one more episode to find out, and for the music.

ETA: I was surprised to see Woody H and Matthew McC executive producing, which I guess means they thought this was a good bet, so they laid down some money on it.

 

Agreed about the violence committed by CF's character.  It seems when he's not on the clock, he's just committing acts of violence left and right.  I imagine he's being protected by Vince Vaughn's character but come on...he'd still be getting complaints constantly called in and be the subject of an Internal Affairs investigation.  With his temper and his drinking, it's hard to believe he hasn't been caught blowing up like this in public.

  • Love 1
Link to comment

OK - I am approaching this like AHS:  Jarring to tune into a show with the same name, but totally different stuff.

 

That being said -- while I didn't love it - I certainly did not hate it - and I suspect I couldn't love it because, as a second season...my expectations and my only frame of reference was last season - which was balls out fantastic and I loved!  So I strongly suspect that it was going to be virtually impossible to love this from the outset.  (And I am hopeful that, because Woody and MM are executive producers...they will help keep it in check.)

 

However...I did not hate it...and am intrigued:  I think the characters are interesting...the performances, thus far, are certainly good...and I liked how we got these messed up band of misfit's together by the end of the show...and I actually think this story might be able to go somewhere.

 

I cannot, however, find anything good to say about CF's string ties.

  • Love 5
Link to comment

When we saw the first shot of the city manager in the back seat of the car, Mr. EB said, "When did this turn into Weekend at Bernie's?"

I love that the bar is so low that Vince Vaughn's character seems the most well adjusted simply because he didn't yell at any kids, beat anyone with brass knuckles, get totally drunk, get thrown out of a casino, have a daddy issues argument, or try to kill himself by riding a motorcycle at high speed in the dark.

  • Love 20
Link to comment
(edited)

Also, I don't know if it was the L.A. setting or some of the atmospheric music, but Columbo kept popping into my mind. Like a really, REALLY dark episode of Columbo. Not sure that's what they're going for.

I was thinking really dark Big Lebowski. If the mansion had been missing a rug, if Aspen had been named Larry...

Edited by Misstify
  • Love 4
Link to comment

It was a fairly good opening episode. Slow paced in parts but that's this show's mantra though, isn't it?

 

All the four main cast members are great but in order of character preference though ....

 

Antigone - the name is er, unusual but McAdams is off to a great start and I think she's going to be the standout of the main four. Ani's already got the more interesting backstory so far, especially with her father and sister and commitment issues.

 

Paul is intriguing as well. Kitsch is quite the surprise here but I liked him last year in The Normal Heart and he impressed in this episode.

 

Ray - the anger issues are typical but they're well done and Farrell is on fine form here as well. Ray's method of dealing with his son's bully was certainly unusual though.

 

Frank, I liked a bit more than expected though I don't really rate Vaughn's acting at times. He's an intriguing enough gangster for now.

 

The credit sequence is pretty trippy as well. Nice use of Leonard Cohen's Nevermind.

  • Love 5
Link to comment

Wow, the Noir is strong with this one.

 

Some things I learned from this first episode.

Everyone in California is a fucked up/corrupt cop or involved with one.

And there's some serious self-medication going on in the off hours. 

Apparently, getting beaten by (to you) some random guy at your front door does not result in you calling the police.  And nearly threatening your own kid doesn't result in a restraining order.

At night, there's very little adequate interior lighting.

  • Love 6
Link to comment

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Unfortunately, your content contains terms that we do not allow. Please edit your content to remove the highlighted words below.
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...