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S02.E01: The Western Book Of The Dead


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On the front/passenger seat, and I'm pretty sure it was a real (dead) bird.  Or a mask?

 

A raven, it looked like.  

 

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raven.jpg

They worked quickly, building songs around phrases and imagery supplied by series creator Nic Pizzolatto. For the song that became “My Least Favorite Life,” she recalls, “I believe Nic said he was looking for a song about a lover who dies and comes back as a crow.” (That may or may not refer to an image that appears during the climax of episode 2.)

http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2015/06/21/lera-lynn-on-making-music-for-the-true-detective-season-premiere/

  • Love 1

...I was totally expecting a reveal that Frank's wife was Ray's ex....Ray mentioned early in the ep that he and his ex had been trying forever when she was raped and Frank mentioned that he an his wife were gonna give IVF a try and Ray kind of gave a weird look and I thought ..... maybe?...

Probably not, but good catch on the parallel issues regardless. And then there's TK's viagra dependent character. I do sense a theme.
  • Like 1

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?

 

Upon rewatch, Paul's superior said, "But it's got the tabloids on that mercenary work." So presumably the tabloids are the ones making a big deal about Black Mountain, and he's worried about what will be revealed.

 

For all that clunky expository dialogue ("Let me explain step by step what that actress did, even though you obviously already know"), the scene still managed to be confusing.

  • Love 3
(edited)

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 thought exactly the same! :)

 

I have very neutral feelings about Vince Vaughn as an actor, I never cared about his acting one way or the other but I thought he was quite good in this first episode. For example he conveyed quite well that his character, while using CF's character, seems to have some genuine concern and affection for him.

 

I agree. I think Vince Vaughn will be the one who will have to "work" a little bit harder in order to prove he's able to pull this character off, with so many people identifying him as the douchebag he plays in the comedies he's usually in. That said, I'm definitively going to give him the benefit of the doubt. I mean, I can't stand Colin Farrell whatsoever, never did and probably never will (besides, each time I see him he always looks like he needs to take a shower), but I try not let my dislike of him biasing my opinion on his performace, which is quite positive so far. Even though Rachel MacAdams is absolutely my favourite.

 

Is Ani Ray's ex-wife? They mentioned a failed marriage her belt, she said he was a cop that was a real piece of work, she is fucked up herself... Yeah, we didn't see the kid with her when she was screwing that guy, but that doesn't have to mean anything. He could have been at school. Plus, the two clearly know each other and have a history based on the look at the end of the episode. I dunno, just a thought.

 

For an instant, I had the same thought. But IIRC they all introduced themeselves and I don't see a reason to pretend they didn't know each other, if they were divorced.

 

Am I the only one who thought that, when Colin Farrell's lawyer asked him if the guy who raped his wife had been caught, his long pause before asnwering "No"  meant that he either found him and killed him or that, at the very least, there's more to that story that meets the eyes?

 

All in all, not 100% convinced yet, but I'll definitively watch next episode.

Edited by penelope79
  • Love 2

Probably not, but good catch on the parallel issues regardless. And then there's TK's viagra dependent character. I do sense a theme.

 

For some reason, the first thought that came into my head, was VV knowing about CF's situation, and telling a small lie (needing IVF) to make him feel better. I'm probably wrong

I thought exactly the same! :)

 

 

I agree. I think Vince Vaughn will be the one who will have to "work" a little bit harder in order to prove he's able to pull this character off, with so many people identifying him as the douchebag he plays in the comedies he's usually in. That said, I'm definitively going to give him the benefit of the doubt. I mean, I can't stand Colin Farrell whatsoever, never did and probably never will (besides, each time I see him he always looks like he needs to take a shower), but I try not let my dislike of him biasing my opinion on his performace, which is quite positive so far. Even though Rachel MacAdams is absolutely my favourite.

 

 

For an instant, I had the same thought. But IIRC they all introduced themeselves and I don't see a reason to pretend they didn't know each other, if they were divorced.

 

Am I the only one who thought that, when Colin Farrell's lawyer asked him if the guy who raped his wife had been caught, his long pause before asnwering "No"  meant that he either found him and killed him or that, at the very least, there's more to that story that meets the eyes?

 

All in all, not 100% convinced yet, but I'll definitively watch next episode.

Oh, definitely. I think that's why they've stayed in contact, because CF hunted that guy down and killed him, and feels in debt to VV for tracking that person down

  • Love 1
Am I the only one who thought that, when Colin Farrell's lawyer asked him if the guy who raped his wife had been caught, his long pause before answering "No"  meant that he either found him and killed him or that, at the very least, there's more to that story that meets the eyes?

 

 

I think it was implied that Vince Vaughn's character had "taken care" of the rapist in the flashback scene where Velcoro is still in uniform and mustacheless. And that is why (or at least one of the reasons) Velcoro works for Semyon. He is in his debt.

  • Useful 1

I think it was implied that Vince Vaughn's character had "taken care" of the rapist in the flashback scene where Velcoro is still in uniform and mustacheless. And that is why (or at least one of the reasons) Velcoro works for Semyon. He is in his debt.

 

I thought CF was in debt because VV found the rapist and told him who he was (so he could avenge his wife), but it never occured to me that he also "took  care" of him. This is another take on the scene that makes sense, so thank you!

  • Love 1

I'm not finding myself in a rush to judge this one. It certainly doesn't hook you like the season 1 premiere but I didn't find it boring... and of all the returning things T. Bone Burnett's musical textures are as welcome as NP's writing. I'm interested enough to see how the story unfolds. I don't know why it's considered such a sin for a story to unfold slowly. It seems most of the critics gave been confused as to how it all ties together. It doesn't seem that complex to me. We're introduced to four characters and their personal struggles and a murder which brings them all together. I can see how that may not be the most captivating thing, but its not confusing.

  • Love 7

I didn't actually think the first season was the best thing ever and I thought that some of the critical raves for it were overblown.  Now I think that the backlash the second season has gotten from some critics is also over-blown, or at the very least premature. I wonder if this has less to do with the flaws of the show than with its creator coming across to some as a pretentious and arrogant person?

  • Love 6
(edited)

First off, I love the new credit sequence.  Leonard Cohen sounds like a one man Greek chorus: "I was not caught, though many tried, I live among you, well disguised."

 

Pizzolatto has been living in California for quite awhile and has a good grasp on the varied geography.   I like that we see big industrial areas, farmland, and parts of Los Angeles. That last shot on PCH was gorgeous.

 

All the critical pearl-clutching is premature at this point.  I'm looking forward to the rest of the season. 

Edited by CodeNameDuchess
  • Love 6

I didn't actually think the first season was the best thing ever and I thought that some of the critical raves for it were overblown. Now I think that the backlash the second season has gotten from some critics is also over-blown, or at the very least premature. I wonder if this has less to do with the flaws of the show than with its creator coming across to some as a pretentious and arrogant person?

Maybe... NP probably is pretentious. Honestly so much of the success of the first season was the directing and MM's remarkable ability to sell Rust Cohle's existential angst. The character could have been a disaster without the right actor. Those aspects are less apparent one episode into s2 but I'm not sure there's anything that much worse about the writing so far.

I hope there's nothing overly twisty about the ex wife... Abigail Spencer is supposed to be in the show... I'd guess it's her.

  • Love 1

I LOVED the first season and was quasi-obsessed with it - but that had lot to do with Woody & Matthew's acting and chemistry and because I'm a south Louisiana native and mild nihilist. I also loved the two untrustworthy narrators device.

I had to watch this season's premiere episode twice because I knew I had missed some stuff. On rewatch, I caught a lot more and I also enjoyed the episode more than I did on first watch. I recommend a rewatch to anyone who isn't quite sure if they liked it.

While I think that Colin and Rachel's characters seem somewhat cliche, I'm interested in the Paul (Taylor Kitsch) character and even in Vince Vaughn's character. I don't think I've seen him in a drama in the past decade or so. I know most of you seem to feel differently, but I think he is doing a good job. I also think Kelly Riley is GORGEOUS. I agree though that some of her dialogue was weird and out of nowhere (especially at the party), but I think that's because her role as VV's wife is to basically distract people so VV can talk about business without too many ears around. I also think she's a much bigger part or plays a much stronger role in VV's criminal empire than it appears right now. I think she may be calling some of the shots or at least is heavily able to influence VV. I don't think she's just a cliche pretty, supportive wife of a gangster/politician.

There were a few times in the episode that I didn't quite buy Colin Farrel's American accent. I've seen him in plenty before and never noticed it. In the scene with the lawyer, he just didn't sound quite right - I could detect at times a teeny, tiny hint of an Irish accent.

I do think Colin and VV's characters have the possibility of being really amazing to watch together. I liked them both best in their scenes together at the bar.

I got all sorts of Film Noir vibes from everything about the city manager's house/death & some other elements of the story. The dead bird (or dead bird mask?) reminded me of "The Maltese Falcon" and Ani's sister's involvement in porn reminded me of "The Big Sleep," as Lauren Bacall's character's sister was doing porn as well. The city manager's house was like something out of a weird Man-Ray-esque surrealist sex toys and art collection - like a modern day den of Dr. George Hodel (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Hill_Hodel). Dr. Hodel was friends with the director of "The Maltese Falcon," John Huston. Hodel was also a suspect in the Black Dahlia murder.

I'm a sucker for anything set in/around LA with a Film Noir aspect/vibe, so I'm here for this season. I'm also here for more shirtless Taylor Kitsch.

  • Love 8

lI have an irrational dislike of the redhead with Vince Vaughn. I really want her to brush her hair, I think. Then my feelings may change.

As I posted before, I think Kelly Riley is gorgeous and I think that her character is up to more than just being just a pretty wife of a politician/gangster. But yeah, something was up with her hair. The color is pretty but sometimes it looked like a bad wig, especially with how it kind of laid on top itself or seemed almost matted to itself near her head. I kept wondering if it was just a bad wig and no one on the set caught how bad it was, or if it was intentional and the audience was (for some reason to be revealed later) supposed to be able to tell that she was wearing a wig.

Someone (sorry not sure who) posted that VV looked like he didn't quite know what to do with his dialogue/scenes. I think maybe that's intentional. I think the character, despite his power and gangster persona, is very self-conscious and lacks confidence. He kept asking if he should have booked the country club even though he said not to look hungry even when you eat, etc. I read it as VV telegraphing that the character wasn't as self-assured as he seems. Plus, his wife seems overly self-assured.

  • Love 4

 

I have no issue with the foreclosure turning into a missing persons case. That woman was lucky that she actually ran into cops who gave a shit enough to personally follow up on her complaint (although I suspect the connection with Ani's father's cult didn't hurt).

 

It just seemed way too coincidental and contrived that showing up at the house of someone she didn't even know put her on a case that lead straight back to her father.  What are the odds? Especially since it didn't look like there were more than a handful of "followers" listening to his sermon. It didn't look like some great big giant thing half of the city was involved in, it looked like a neighborhood book club.

 

Is Ani Ray's ex-wife? They mentioned a failed marriage her belt, she said he was a cop that was a real piece of work, she is fucked up herself... Yeah, we didn't see the kid with her when she was screwing that guy, but that doesn't have to mean anything. He could have been at school. Plus, the two clearly know each other and have a history based on the look at the end of the episode. I dunno, just a thought.

 

The guy who showed up at the school to pick up the kid is apparently his step-father so it seems to me that Ray's ex-wife is remarried, and Ani isn't. 

  • Love 1

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.

 

Since Ray actually IS a cop, I can see the dad not wanting to call the police. And I can just see the court case about the kid:

 

"Your honour, that man NEARLY threatened his own kid!"

 

"Nearly?"

 

"Yes!"

 

"So he didn't actually do it; he just came close. I see. NEXT!"

  • Love 1

The guy who showed up at the school to pick up the kid is apparently his step-father so it seems to me that Ray's ex-wife is remarried, and Ani isn't. 

He came across more as a mediator to me. Meeting at a neutral location to pick up/drop off? Yeah, my brother went through that for awhile with his bio-dad before my dad adopted him.

 

I enjoyed the episode a lot more on rewatch. There was a lot I feel like I missed. Yeah, some of the dialogue is stupid and it doesn't have the same punch as it did last year, nor did any of the characters suck me in like Rust and Marty. But I liked it. Taylor Kitsch's character is who I want to know most about. Watching it the second time knowing that he's impotent when that woman tries to buy him off with a blowjob makes his situation a lot more upsetting, when he's clearly facing some serious demons anyway. I just want to give him a hug and a pat on the head. Ray is interesting enough, but I hope there's more to him than brooding alcoholic dirty cop. (Which reminds me: this makes two HBO shows where an adult character screams at a child bully that he will kill his mother and rape his father. Only on "Silicon Valley", it was hilarious in a really awful way.) Not too interested in Ani yet, but I'm not much of a fan of Rachel McAdams as an actress. Vince Vaughn can do drama, as he was good in "Clay Pigeons", but he hasn't made much of an impression yet. His acting seems stilted. There's enough here to keep my interest though, so I'll stick with it. I really miss Rust's nihilism though. I felt like someone on TV was finally speaking my language.

  • Love 6
(edited)

"First off, I love the new credit sequence. Leonard Cohen sounds like a one man Greek chorus: "I was not caught, though many tried, I live among you, well disguised."

Yesss. There are some words in the song that are not in the poem, like my favorite: "I dug a grave/that you can't find."

Edited by susannot
  • Love 3

Proud to say that I made it through 45 minutes of this unintelligible crap fest. No mas for me.

 

I LOVED the first season and was quasi-obsessed with it - but that had lot to do with Woody & Matthew's acting and chemistry and because I'm a south Louisiana native and mild nihilist. I also loved the two untrustworthy narrators device.

 

 

Same. The two leads were great and the Louisiana setting was a third character. I don't need another LA cop show. Yawn ...

  • Love 2

I also thought at first that Vince V's wife was Colin's ex, because of the red hair, but I don't think so.  I think the guy at the school yard was new step dad. 

James Frain is always a bad guy, he's totally in on it.  Also spotted in the Hey, it's that guy vein was Jon Linstrom, long running actor on General Hospital.  They focused on his face for a second at the railway party.  He must come into play later.  It was too much of a focus for him to be an extra. 

 

I took me a while to figure out what the hell was going on, but I guess that was the point.  I'm in for a few more, to see if it hooks me.

  • Love 2
(edited)

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

Haha! I had the same exact thought about the retreat!

I believe the "Mad Men" retreat scenes were shot at Big Sur. Not sure where Ani's dad's institute's scenes were shot. It certainly looked similar.

Also, does hippie guru dad not know that Athena is not the Greek goddess of love but the Greek goddess of wisdom, courage, inspiration, civilization, law, justice, math, strength, war, the arts, crafts, and skill? The Greek goddess of love is Aphrodite. I doubt Nic Pizzolato would make such a mistake, so I'm assuming it's intentional that it's hippie guru dad's mistake.

Thinking more about Ani & her sister's names...Antigone's male form (Antigonous) means "worthy of one's parents" or "in place of one's parents," and Ani does seem to be more of a parent to her sister than her dad does. Given the different legends of Antigone and their endings as well as the fact that her parents are Oedipus and his mom....just ugh....I'm not thinking there's good things in her backstory or in her storyline going forward (or both).

Edited by MyPeopleAreNordic
  • Love 3
(edited)

I really miss Rust's nihilism though. I felt like someone on TV was finally speaking my language.

Same with me. I ended up reading Ligotti's "The Consipracy Against the Human Race" because of Rust Cohle (well, okay, because of Nic Pizzolato's writing of Rust Cohle). I highly recommend it if you haven't read it already, Mindy McIndy (and any other Cohle fans).

Edited by MyPeopleAreNordic
  • Love 2
(edited)

Antigone and Athena's surname is Bezzerides, which I believe is a shout-out to film noir writer and novelist A.I. Bezzerides. https://en.wikipedia.org/?title=A._I._Bezzerides

 

Also, I assume that Vinci is supposed to be something like Vernon, CA, which is a tiny industrial city that had a huge corruption scandal that was uncovered by the LA Times a few years ago.

 

Is Ben Caspere's name, and the Maltese Falcon-like object that was in the car with him, a shout-out to Kasper Gutman?

Edited by J-Man
  • Love 4

I'm 85% sure that the guy Vince Vaughn said raped Velcoro's wife did not actually rape Velcoro's wife.

Heh, "85%." Is that using Rust Colian mathematics? Sounds about right to me too.

INteresting article about theme song Nevermind and the great Leonard Cohen.http://www.vulture.com/2015/06/true-detectives-theme-song-leonard-cohen-nevermind.html

...It is the sort of song I can imagine Matthew McConaughey listening to on repeat in his Lincoln....

I wish TD season 2 had opened with that scene.

I enjoyed the episode a lot more on rewatch. There was a lot I feel like I missed...

Is that what's passing for "mystery" these days? Sorry, that was a little mean, but I do find myself wondering more and more lately in this post-Lost terrain of viewing whenever and however that it seems show runners presume viewers will obsess over a show, especially when they have already shown themselves willing to do so as in season 1 of TD. A good show or novel or story should, IMO, reveal extra layers upon repeating, but it should also stand alone. I'm not sure this is succeeding, but it's early, and NP has earned the right to leave us guessing--I guess.

I'm 85% sure that the guy Vince Vaughn said raped Velcoro's wife did not actually rape Velcoro's wife.

 

 

I thought the same thing. Vaughn got himself a hitman free of charge with that plan.

 

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.

 

I felt the same way. Everybody stumbling around drunk, being bleak. It's been done. I started to imagine what it would be like if just one of the three law enforcement characters had actually had a functional life. Not Colin Farrell, because I actually like what he is doing, and with his character's history he certainly has a ton to be depressed about. Then I rejected Taylor Kitsch's character for the idea, because I immediately imagined a straight-laced, naive cop, probably with a wife and small children, getting in over his head with organized crime. So, Rachel McAdams. Imagine this: her character is a good detective who also has a happy home life. Husband or boyfriend (/girlfriend?), keeps a clean house, goes to the farmer's market on the weekends. It certainly would have provided some variety. Of course, the case would wear on her as the season goes on. So that's my alternate timeline for the show right now.

 

Hah!  Just as I managed to relegate my Terriers cancellation bitterness to the back recesses of my mind ... THIS.

 

I also thought of Terriers, especially when they started talking about land deals and holding companies. I said to my boyfriend, who only ever made it through two episodes before deciding it was not for him, "Can we please try Terriers again? Please?" He'll think about it.

  • Love 3

I started to imagine what it would be like if just one of the three law enforcement characters had actually had a functional life. Not Colin Farrell, because I actually like what he is doing, and with his character's history he certainly has a ton to be depressed about. Then I rejected Taylor Kitsch's character for the idea, because I immediately imagined a straight-laced, naive cop, probably with a wife and small children, getting in over his head with organized crime. So, Rachel McAdams. Imagine this: her character is a good detective who also has a happy home life. Husband or boyfriend (/girlfriend?), keeps a clean house, goes to the farmer's market on the weekends. It certainly would have provided some variety. Of course, the case would wear on her as the season goes on

It worked ok on Fargo.
  • Love 1

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?

 

We have three lead characters so I would imagine one will be drawn out of their malaise and depression, one will sink further into their malaise and depression and one will not be affected at all.

I also thought of Terriers, especially when they started talking about land deals and holding companies. I said to my boyfriend, who only ever made it through two episodes before deciding it was not for him, "Can we please try Terriers again? Please?" He'll think about it.

 

See, that's why I'm content to be single (again).  My cat (and yes, even my TV watching from outside the window raccoon), is more than amenable to my television tastes.  Terriers is pretty much a deal-breaker.  True Detective is moving up in those ranks as well.  :-)

  • Love 1
(edited)

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.

I know its old but honestly seeing that cop's are constantly making the news for killing unarmed black males over dumb silly shity im sorry but   i think  the deranged cop is more accurate than it ever has been

 

seriously  the level of violence  among American police is something i don't see and just about any other civilized first world country and when it is there the violence is enacted agaisnt the majority not a miniority population like in America

"Don't do anything out of hunger.  Not even eat." 

 

image.png

im glad i wasn't the only one going what the fuck at that line

 

i was like maybe it's gonig over my head lol  this was happens when someone takes into to philosophy in college and now thinks they are Plato

Edited by TonyMicheaux
  • Love 2

He didn't hit the kid, just the father. And I'm pretty sure the reporter was a female (I think that's what you're referring to re beating up a woman? That was the reporter of the six part series the cops and then VV and his people were talking about)

were we watching the smae show the reporter was clearly a man with a ponytail i swore it was a man.

What I found funny, not in a ha ha kind of way, but still funny was that CF's character bullied his son to get the name of his son's bully. That moment alone ensures that the poor kid will need years of counseling.

 

I felt bad for Paul's girl friend and her futile hope that he will ever be emotionally available to her. Cut your losses, girl, even the prettiest dick isn't worth the frustration.

  • Love 6

i never understood why people have a problem with abusive cops on shows but never seem to sepak out against the ones we have in real life lol. I mean in the last few months we have had cops murdering people and getting like two week suspensions at the most .  it really funny to me

 

This fake fictional cop charatcer colin is playing is no where close to the real life cop beatig i witnessed in real life where a bunch of cops beat down a man  , was recorded and ended up with a slap on a wrist for their misconduct. Then again this character who got beat down was a white guy  and i have never seen a police officer mistreat or beat down a white male in real life  so  it will be interesting to see what hapens.

  • Love 1

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