• Hey Guest. Check out your NeoGAF Wrapped 2025 results here!

True Detective - McConaughey/Harrelson crime series - S2 starts June 21st

Status
Not open for further replies.
This show is the real deal Holyfield. I don't remember a more movie like TV series. The directing has style to it and pacing is just brilliant. Dialog is on point. There's no handholding with the narrative like so many other tv shows. Only 8 episodes? Not enough. Great show.
 
Notice how Rust was able to maintain a relationship post-Ledoux? Settling that case also settled something inside of him, at least for a while. As soon as the pharmacy killer brought that into question, it stirred all that shit up again.
 
Marty keeps talking about Detective's Curse. That the answer was right under his nose all along and he was not looking at it.

Both times he was referencing his family when talking about it. Something to do with his tween daughter acting out? Maybe she was molested in school?
 
I think the performances are a bit cheesy, Harrelson is over the top, McConnaughy wavers between brilliant and theatre, stylistically it's a bit common, the story seems like its unravelling well but it's not exactly setting my world alight. Music is top notch though. I'm enjoying it, but don't get the big fuss.
It's very... Actor-y if that makes sense.
Harrelson ia not over the top. Have you seen his previous stuff at all? One of the first observations I did during episode 1 is how subdued his acting is. You would really have to be a contrarian to come to your conclusion.
 
Marty keeps talking about Detective's Curse. That the answer was right under his nose all along and he was not looking at it.

Both times he was referencing his family when talking about it. Something to do with his tween daughter acting out? Maybe she was molested in school?

Perhaps. The obvious (and literal) meaning of that statement, was that he was not paying enough attention to his family. He wasn't "there" for them, the way he needed to be. Now, as a result of this, did something happen to his daughter? That is the question. Or is it just a case of, being an absent parent made his house fall apart, and he blames himself for that?

Either way, it was interesting to say the least.
 
Looks like Mondo put up a few more posters:
jCnv6VD.jpg


HpQNTW8.jpg
More via the IndieWire link.
 
So if Maggie has an affair with Rust, I guess it would happen after the fall out Marty is having with his daughter? I'm assuming the marriage will be on the rocks again over this. And given that Rust is losing his mind over this case (and Marty doesn't seem all that interested), one thing will lead to another?
 
Really liking the theory that
Marty's father-in-law is involved with the cult. Clearly a man of means, would provide an explanation for the implied abuse that Marty's daughter suffered under as a child, would fit perfectly with the way Marty's talking about the detective's curse of missing the devil under your nose and would've been neatly underscored by the father-in-law's speechifying about how moral decay and kids playing with hula-hoops makes him not understand modern America. With Rust's talk about the flat circle of time and the importance of eternal recurrence to the show it'd really fit to have him, as the ur-evil man, proselytise about declining morals.
 
My thoughts echo a lot of other people's: Rust is still undercover, Marty's probably still on his side, Marty's daughter acting out = some kind of abuse?

Rust's hair in 2002 makes me lol a bit.

And man, it was kind of adorable to see Rust smile. First time this series he's cracked a smile.
 
Was there any significance to the figures rust made out of those beer cans? He eventually arranged them in a circle (where one fell in the middle), similarly to how Marty's daughters had their dolls arranged that one time in his flashback.

That just has to be coincidence right?
 
Notice how Rust was able to maintain a relationship post-Ledoux? Settling that case also settled something inside of him, at least for a while. As soon as the pharmacy killer brought that into question, it stirred all that shit up again.
I actually didn't like that bit. After all of the nihilistic shit he's been spewing since the pilot, it was hard to believe he'd settle down with a chick for any period of time.
 
Was there any significance to the figures rust made out of those beer cans? He eventually arranged them in a circle (where one fell in the middle), similarly to how Marty's daughters had their dolls arranged that one time in his flashback.

That just has to be coincidence right?

Huhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

You may be on to something. Something creepy.

That final shot creeped me out so much. Each Devil's Nest was a trophy, right? But why leave them there? Why not at the scene of the crime like Dora Lange? But then again, guess they didn't wanna get caught after LaDoux bit it.
 
I actually didn't like that bit. After all of the nihilistic shit he's been spewing since the pilot, it was hard to believe he'd settle down with a chick for any period of time.

I'm hoping that's not just a throwaway story point. I don't necessarily think he was ready to settle down. There is a scene in particular when they are watching TV together and he looks completely discontent.

He mentioned before that his second relationship ended up not working out. I wonder if re-opening the Ledoux case is what causes it.

Anyone else think about Dr. Manhattan during this series?

 
I actually didn't like that bit. After all of the nihilistic shit he's been spewing since the pilot, it was hard to believe he'd settle down with a chick for any period of time.
People say shit they themselves don't fully buy into all the time. It's him in the moment. He doesn't have to adhere to his nihilistic views for the entirety of the show. Especially considering the time it spans.
 
Huhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

You may be on to something. Something creepy.

That final shot creeped me out so much. Each Devil's Nest was a trophy, right? But why leave them there? Why not at the scene of the crime like Dora Lange? But then again, guess they didn't wanna get caught after LaDoux bit it.


We don't know yet what went on at that school. Before and after it was closed
 
Also, I've got to admit--I was kind of scared in the last five mins or so of last night's episode. Exploring the school all alone? Fuck that shit.
 
I'm hoping that's not just a throwaway story point. I don't necessarily think he was ready to settle down. There is a scene in particular when they are watching TV together and he looks completely discontent.

He mentioned before that his second relationship ended up not working out. I wonder if re-opening the Ledoux case is what causes it.
That scene somewhat redeems it for me because they clearly acknowledge how weird it is for him to commit to something like that.

I definitely think they'll touch on it again, though. I think I saw something in the preview.
 
It seems to be Rust is willing to say and do things that he might not believe in just to seem socially grounded. Marty is the only one he reaaally has opened up to.

With his new girlfriend, the two scenes we see with them together - it definitely feels like Rust isn't even into her. He might have done it just to keep people from talking about him. In episode 1 Marty even says something to the effect of "A man his age without a family, there is something wrong with that."

So its probably nothing more than a front for Rust.
 
I think the performances are a bit cheesy, Harrelson is over the top, McConnaughy wavers between brilliant and theatre, stylistically it's a bit common, the story seems like its unravelling well but it's not exactly setting my world alight. Music is top notch though. I'm enjoying it, but don't get the big fuss.
It's very... Actor-y if that makes sense.

Im no judge of what actors should be doing, i've no issue with either of the leads performance. But what is your issue the narrative, illustration, definition, division and classification, or compare and contrast?

Are you an actor? give some insight on what you see when you watch cause i've no idea what the trained eye sees when you look at performances i just say ok i buy it and see where the story goes, or go meh seems like he's reading lines and waiting for a check and it distracts from the story. Of all the things to call over the top on the show i never though it would be Harrelson lol.
 
Really liking the theory that
Marty's father-in-law is involved with the cult. Clearly a man of means, would provide an explanation for the implied abuse that Marty's daughter suffered under as a child, would fit perfectly with the way Marty's talking about the detective's curse of missing the devil under your nose and would've been neatly underscored by the father-in-law's speechifying about how moral decay and kids playing with hula-hoops makes him not understand modern America. With Rust's talk about the flat circle of time and the importance of eternal recurrence to the show it'd really fit to have him, as the ur-evil man, proselytise about declining morals.
Good observation. But you dont have to spoiler it if its just observation/speculation. Spoiler it ONLY if you are discussing previews or something spoilerific you read online.
 
Particularly after this past episode, I think it's amazing how well-acted Marty and Rust are. Rust steals the show often enough, but Harrelson's portrayal of Marty is at once frustrating and saddening.

He imbues his character with just enough awareness to make his self-destruction completely humane and sympathetic. 2012 Marty looking back at the prior Marty--the way that his choices have caused him to reflect back on his own life is tragic. He's that guy who has enough morality to know he's wrong IMMEDIATELY after doing something, but doesn't do anything to change until it's too late.

I guess, in a lot of ways, its a tried and true archetype, but it really works for me here.
 
Such a good show! So much stuff went down last night.

- The Black Star stuff LeDoux was spouting before Marty capped him - the last scene with Russ looking at the wooden sculptures as the camera pans out through the glass? That glass formed a star shape, and there were two asterisk stars at the corners, right?

- Did LeDeoux's Meth buddy hit a grenade tripwire or did he have something on him that Russ shot to make him blow? It didn't look like he stepped on anything.

- When Russ started re investigating the Yellow King murders, he was looking at computer files that showed "Made in Error" under every file he checked. What are we thinking that was for? Missing person cases?

- When Marty started talking about his family and inattention a reason it fell apart, Was super tense- I assumed one of his girls was going to climb up in the tree for that tiara and fall, breaking her neck.
 
Perhaps. The obvious (and literal) meaning of that statement, was that he was not paying enough attention to his family. He wasn't "there" for them, the way he needed to be. Now, as a result of this, did something happen to his daughter? That is the question. Or is it just a case of, being an absent parent made his house fall apart, and he blames himself for that?

Either way, it was interesting to say the least.

Yeah I agree, something is going on with the school system and Marty's daughter might be a victim. Maybe Rust confronting him with that evidence is what sets then up to split. News like that is just the sort of thing to set Marty into a rage where he lashes out at everyone around him..... though by 2012 it seems clear he accepts it as a fact if he is saying the "clues under his nose" lines.
 
Yeah, have a theory about this, too, though it's not that strong. Are we fine with not putting spoiler tags?
Yes, that's fine. Raw speculation that isn't informed by the previews or something you read in an interview or elsewhere is ok without spoiler tags. On the other hand, if you're going to say something along the lines of "Well, we see in the preview that...." then that definitely needs to be under spoiler tags.
 
Reverend Tuttle is dead from mixed meds, so there needs to be more to it.

I agree there has to be more to it. But my guess is, Tuttle has some involvement in it. Whether he knew who the killer was (and was protecting him), or he himself was involved in it. But of course that is a big assumption.

I still think that Rust goes after him, and given his connections to the city and the police force, I think this gets Rust in a lot of trouble. But yeah, the killings are supposedly still happening after his death. So he can't be the only one.
 
Oh, also when Rust came back to the scene of the first episode crime, that weird hole in the tree and the wooden sculpt hanging from the tree were new right? I would assume the police would have pulled everything from the scene for evidence and not left anything behind...
 
- The Black Star stuff LeDoux was spouting before Marty capped him - the last scene with Russ looking at the wooden sculptures as the camera pans out through the glass? That glass formed a star shape, and there were two asterisk stars at the corners, right?
Yeah, and walls were painted like a forest so the asterisks were stars.

- Did LeDeoux's Meth buddy hit a grenade tripwire or did he have something on him that Russ shot to make him blow? It didn't look like he stepped on anything.
I think he either shot one of their traps or they stepped on one of their traps.

- When Russ started re investigating the Yellow King murders, he was looking at computer files that showed "Made in Error" under every file he checked. What are we thinking that was for? Missing person cases?
Missing person cases or murders. They seemed to be removed from the database/

- When Marty started talking about his family and inattention a reason it fell apart, Was super tense- I assumed one of his girls was going to climb up in the tree for that tiara and fall, breaking her neck.
Yeah I had that same feeling at the time. It seemed more like a reference to saying goodbye to their innocence.
 
Everything so far seems to be leading up to having a cult/conspiracy among the 'community leaders' and Rust working undercover collecting evidence by himself. I hope they don't pull a random twist like Marty being involved just to have a plot twist
 
Oh, also when Rust came back to the scene of the first episode crime, that weird hole in the tree and the wooden sculpt hanging from the tree were new right? I would assume the police would have pulled everything from the scene for evidence and not left anything behind...

I think this is why he was seen at the crime scene multiple times. Maybe he thinks the killer will come back and leave something.
 
Yes, that's fine. Raw speculation that isn't informed by the previews or something you read in an interview or elsewhere is ok without spoiler tags. On the other hand, if you're going to say something along the lines of "Well, we see in the preview that...." then that definitely needs to be under spoiler tags.

Thanks!


So, with Rust going to the school, it made me think. Remember Marty didn't go down the truck? Maybe it's because the lawnmower might recognize him? I know the guy said he's new to the parts, but if Marty made repeated trips there, he might have seen him before. He also didn't come down to get Rust and instead honked the horn.

I know the theory Rust slept/will sleep with Marty's wife might be the big reason for their falling out, but what if it's because Rust found out and didn't want to turn Marty in?

Reasons might be weak but it's something. Rust sure didn't look comfortable in the school. If the Yellow King is him, he sure acted strangely to the place.

Is there a preview? I haven't seen it, nor will I. I want to see the show fresh. Episode 5 is easily my fave one so far. Just makes me sad the cast won't be returning and it'll end after 3 episodes. :(
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top Bottom