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[Cornballer]

Content Roundup - Episode 8 - Form and Void

Reviews:

- Sepinwall's review
- IGN review
- MTV review
- The New Republic
- NY Times on the finale
- Rolling Stone review
- Onion A|V Club review
- Poniewozik
- NY Mag
- Slate.com
- Alyssa Rosenberg for the Washington Post
- Maureen Ryan
- Nola.com
- IndieWire
- EW
- Newsday
- Paste Magazine
- TV Overmind
- CraveOnline
- Daily Best
- The Atlantic
- SJ Mercury News
- Zap2It
- Variety
- The Wire
- Warming Glow
- Think Progress
- NPR review
- Collider
- Matt Zoller Seitz with a long look at TD: The 7 Things That True Detective Was About
- Emily Nussbaum
- Andy Greenwald and other Grantland writers on the finale​

Videos

- Inside the Episode (youtube)
- The Altar
- Episode clip: "I am not ashamed"
- Episode clip: "This is the place"
- Closing credits song: "The Angry River" - The Hat, Father John Misty, & S. I. Istwa​

Other

- Sepinwall Interview: 'True Detective' creator Nic Pizzolatto looks back on season 1
- HBO episode synopsis
- Final lines from the show:

"You're looking at it wrong, the sky thing. "
"How's that?"
"Well, once there was only dark. If you ask me the light is winning.”

- GIFs from Warming Glow
- GIFs from NY Mag
- Slate.com: Here Is Rust’s Final Speech From True Detective (transcription of the final scene)
- A few promo pics and other content from the darknessbecomesyou website
- Closing credits song: "The Angry River" - The Hat, Father John Misty, & S. I. Istwa (available on iTunes)
- Variety: True Detective Finale Overwhelms HBO Go
- Daily Beast: True Detective’s Red Herring: Actress Erin Moriarty, Who Plays Marty’s Daughter, Tells All
- IndieWire: Say Goodbye To 'True Detective' With All The Music From The Series
- Rolling Stone: 5 Things We Learned From 'True Detective'

Gifs:

- Onion A|V Club's "For our consideration" feature: Into the void: True Detective’s (completely necessary) ridiculousness
- Film Critic Hulk on True Detective
- NY Mag: Was There a Hidden Comic Book Homage in the True Detective Finale?​

 

[Loki]

I really enjoyed the metaphysical aspect of Rust in the show.

Everyone talks about how The Yellow King is everywhere, all around us, but I realized Rust is the same. I guess he is the opposite force to him, whatever that is. From Reginald Ledoux seeing Rust in his dreams, to Errol calling him a priest, and asking him to show him his true face by taking off his mask.

Also the fact that Rust is able to see/read people, get confession out of them. The scene with the old lady also stands out, how she didn't talk and was considered crazy, until rust held her hand and she talked to them. Obviously all the 'hallucinations' also.

Again, incredible show.

Interesting take. Never connected those dots in that way.

 

[geestack]

Film Crit Hulk basically sums up my thoughts on the show and all the discussion around it, it's a really good read:

http://badassdigest.com/2014/03/10/the-genius-of-true-detective-its-just-one-story/

 

[NotTheGuyYouKill]

Seriously guys, that was a beautiful ending.

Previous show title: True Detective

Current show title: True Bromance

Future show title: True Cthulhu

Believe. It will take a few seasons for all the masks to drop and Nic Pizzathulhu to show his True hand.......

I believe. Preach, brother.

 

[Imm0rt4l]

Yeah I mean it makes sense and all from a plotting standpoint, I just figured their obsession with the case and illegal actions were going to be a thematic part of the ending

If pizza made these guys to be anti-heros that'd one thing but he sees these men as just hero cops. The way the show treats religion, I just can't see karmic justice really fitting the narrative.

 

[duckroll]

It was the only slight disappointment I had with the ending. Seemed too optimistic, even after having a near death experience. I would have much preferred "I think the light's putting up a good fight at least" or something. But still.

I don't think it's pure optimism so much as perspective. The statement alone is optimism, but the rational behind it shows the perspective. "Once there was only dark" is the key here. He's not talking about a general comparison of brightness, he's talking about the creation of the world. As long as life exists, it's already a victory against non-existence.

 

[Buba Big Guns]

Just mulling over the finale a little more; I loved it.

So fucking intense.

 

[SamVimes]

It just occurred to me that they didn't catch Marty's father in law.

 

[Real Hero]

It just occurred to me that they didn't catch Marty's father in law.

huh?

 

[AkuMifune]

I found what I was looking for in the subtitle track.

Ascension removes me from the disc and the loop. I'm near final stage. Some mornings, I can see the infernal plane.

Come on inside, little priest.

So good.

I don't think it's pure optimism so much as perspective. The statement alone is optimism, but the rational behind it shows the perspective. "Once there was only dark" is the key here. He's not talking about a general comparison of brightness, he's talking about the creation of the world. As long as life exists, it's already a victory against non-existence.

It just felt slightly off, but I'll give him a break and excuse it. The same way I'll excuse the Jesus imagery he saw in his reflection. Maybe a little too much...but I'll let it go.

I'm not going to say it's the best show ever or some such crap, but I can easily say it's one of my favorites.

 

[Wilbur]

As usual, despite the fact his articles are fucking abhorrent to read because of his capitals, I find myself agreeing with Film Crit Hulk. Both his Lego Movie and David O Russell/American Hustle essays have hit the nail on the head as far as I'm concerned, and the True Detective piece is the same.

 

[Dennis]

 

[SamVimes]

huh?

Also it was obvious that Marty was the killer 5 episodes in, seems like a terrible oversight from the writers to forget to put that scene in this episode.

 

[Salvadora]

Errol was a really great villain despite his only major appearance coming in the last episode.

That was an area I thought might be a tad disappointing going into it.

 

[Mononoke]

I found what I was looking for in the subtitle track.





So good.



It just felt slightly off, but I'll give him a break and excuse it. The same way I'll excuse the Jesus imagery he saw in his reflection. Maybe a little too much...but I'll let it go.

I'm not going to say it's the best show ever or some such crap, but I can easily say it's one of my favorites.

I don't think it felt off, if you consider that Rust never 100% bought into what he sold. It's up to interpretation, but I think a lot of Rust's views on life stem from the death of his daughter. He lost all meaning and purpose, and saw life as an accident where people set themselves up thinking there is more to it (because that is how he felt, after he lost his daughter).

My assumption about Rust was that, at one time he was a whole person. So his perspective at the end doesn't feel forced or out of no where. Plus as others have said, I don't think it's pure optimism.

 

[Anton Sugar]

Errol was a really great villain despite his only major appearance coming in the last episode.

That was an area I thought might be a tad disappointing going into it.

Knowing now that he was both a hillbilly weirdo and much more than that, I would like to have seen more of him. Seemed like an interesting/fun character to explore.

 

[chaobreaker]

I'm a bit confused. Errol was hyped as being the big bad but there were clearly quite a couple of high-rollers involved in those rituals as well. What was special about him? Did he organize them all or is he always in them?

 

[TrumanBurbank]

Collider Recap if anyone wants to read.

Her Episode Rating: A+

Her Season Rating: A+

 

[Cornballer]

I'm a bit confused. Errol was hyped as being the big bad but there were clearly quite a couple of high-rollers involved in those rituals as well. What was special about him? Did he organize them all or is he always in them?

From Sepinwall's interview with Pizzolatto:

All of the things that, in the previous episode, Cohle was telling Marty that he had uncovered, and what we saw on the videotape, pointed to a larger group of men working on these things. But we get to the end, and it's just Errol left, along with his father in the shed. How many other people were involved in the specific things that Cohle and Hart were investigating?

Nic Pizzolatto: There's the men in the video, and there's about 10 of them. Then you can begin to look at that as if that cult began to disintegrate shortly afterwards, and then there were always revenants existing on a local level. If you track the name Childress, you realize Sheriff Childress was the sheriff when Marie Fontenot disappeared, an Officer Childress was attending to Guy Francis in 2002 when he committed suicide. The conspiracies that I've researched and encountered, they seem to happen very ad hoc: they become conspiracies when it's necessary to have a conspiracy. I think it would have rang false to have Hart and Cohle suddenly clean up 50 years of the culture history that led to Errol Childress, or to get all the men in that video. It's important to me, I think, that Cohle says, "We didn't get em all, Marty," and Marty says, "We ain't going to. This isn't that kind of world." This isn't the kind of world where you mop up everything. We discharged our duty, but of course there are levels and wheels and historical contexts to what happened that we'll never be able to touch.

 

[duckroll]

I'm a bit confused. Errol was hyped as being the big bad but there were clearly quite a couple of high-rollers involved in those rituals as well. What was special about him? Did he organize them all or is he always in them?

He killed Dora Lange.

 

[Van Owen]

Rust really is unkillable.

 

[Dennis]

Collider Recap if anyone wants to read.

Her Episode Rating: A+

Her Season Rating: A+

My rating for the season: A

A+ if clearly Cthulhu

 

[DarkJediKnight]

Nothing yet. I'd be shocked if we don't see it in 2015, but it will likely be Summer or Fall unless they're a lot further along than it sounds like.

I think the storyboards have to be in by this summer 2014. Casting and shooting completed by Spring/Summer 2015, and the another 3-4 months in post production.

We're looking Janurary 2016, or Fall 2015 at the earliest.

 

[TrumanBurbank]

I hope we get another reaction vid like this one for Sheriff Steve’s reaction to the video.

 

[GungHo]

"You're looking at it wrong, the sky thing. "
"How's that?"
"Well, once there was only dark. If you ask me the light is winning."

And with that line, my DVR whined up to the first episode of the new Cosmos.

What a letdown. After an amazing Episode 4 and 5, the last two episodes were mediocre, and this finale really sucked.

The last five minutes were cringeworthy.

I respectfully disagree with you. While I think things did get wrapped up awfully quickly, I think the last five minutes were fantastic.

Was any explanation given to Errol's accent, or are we just going with crazy?

Remus provides no explainations for his eccentricities.

green eared spaghetti monster = guy painting a house green?

come on

This one was weird, though. I figured it would be the ear protection he uses while mowing.

 

[Nibel]

Man, I realize more and more what a creepy motherfucking monster Childress is. His mental state is one thing, but man: this dude is huuuuuuge and built like a tank. I mean just look what he does to both Cohle and Hart and then imagine what he did to all those kids all these years.. man can be the cruelest animal indeed

 

[Imm0rt4l]

I'm a bit confused. Errol was hyped as being the big bad but there were clearly quite a couple of high-rollers involved in those rituals as well. What was special about him? Did he organize them all or is he always in them?

He wasnt made out to be the top of the food chain. Guy francis only said they didnt get the guy who killed dora lang, which errol carried out

 

[NotTheGuyYouKill]

And with that line, my DVR whined up to the first episode of the new Cosmos.

I'm gonna catch up with Cosmos today, but that's just damn perfect.

 

[SamVimes]

Jokes aside Harrelson fucking knocked it out of the park in the scene at the hospital with his family, while MM will win the emmy they both should get a nom.

 

[AkuMifune]

Wait, so maybe not Childress then.

EDIT: No Ted Childress listed on the credits. My bad. Would have assumed we met him at some point.

 

[ahoyhoy]

I think the characters got much more closure than I expected, considering the tone of the series up to this point.

Still very much enjoyed the show, doubly so since we know the story of these characters is completed and we won't need to see their bright moments dragged through the dirt of repetition and filler.

 

[kingkitty]

McConaughey gonna be a strong contender for an emmy.

Great finale. I'm so happy Rust and Marty are now bffs.

 

[Mononoke]

So how did the African American lady know about Carcosa? I'm talking about the one they interviewed in the last episode. She seemed to know specifically about it. Did she just catch wind of it?

 

[D4Danger]

Great ending (except for the mumbling of the last couple of lines)

 

[chaobreaker]

So how did the African American lady know about Carcosa? I'm talking about the one they interviewed in the last episode. She seemed to know specifically about it. Did she just catch wind of it?

Maybe a participant in the rituals? That's what I assume.

 

[duckroll]

So how did the African American lady know about Carcosa? I'm talking about the one they interviewed in the last episode. She seemed to know specifically about it. Did she just catch wind of it?

It's just implied in the show that it's part of a long old culture. I don't see why it matters. There are lots of different types of folklore and occult beliefs out there.

 

[Imm0rt4l]

I hadn't remembered who Childress was. I kinda see the family resemblance now.

So this Sheriff is the guy strapped to the bed then?

Wait, he looks like Errol *(and people saying this is Childress), but his name plate says Tate..?


Wait, so maybe not Childress then.

EDIT: Oh no Childress listed on the credits. My bad. Would have assumed we met him at some point.

I dont think we ever see sheriff or officer childress. I might be wrong about the sheriff.

So how did the African American lady know about Carcosa? I'm talking about the one they interviewed in the last episode. She seemed to know specifically about it. Did she just catch wind of it?

Seems she was apart of the cult when she was working for the Tuttles

 

[Anton Sugar]

Jokes aside Harrelson fucking knocked it out of the park in the scene at the hospital with his family, while MM will win the emmy they both should get a nom.

Yup. MM will get most of the acclaim/accolades, but Harrelson did amazing work in every episode as well. For me, his performance/character was more affecting because it was more easily relate-able.

 

[Kraftwerk]

I understand why some are 'disappointed' with Rust being so optimistic in the end, but I think it was perfect. Here is my interpretation.

First, my earlier post about Rust.

Everyone talks about how The Yellow King is everywhere, all around us, but I realized Rust is the same. I guess he is the opposite force to him, whatever that is. From Reginald Ledoux seeing Rust in his dreams, to Errol calling him a priest, and asking him to show him his true face by taking off his mask.

Also the fact that Rust is able to see/read people, get confession out of them. The scene with the old lady also stands out, how she didn't talk and was considered crazy, until rust held her hand and she talked to them. Obviously all the 'hallucinations' also.

--

Now that the show is over, I truly believe Rust was something grander. He is just like the yellow king, existing everywhere at all times, and being able to sere everything from a different/higher perspective. This goes back to Rust and his speech about time and different dimensions.

I think when Rust 'died', he simply came down to our dimension. I know it's sound crazy or cheesy, but think about it. The show has always had a meta and surreal aspect, so this isn't far-fetched.

This would explain his sudden emotional outburst, and him being able to feel. It was obvious just the way he was talking about it in the wheelchair scene. It was a new and strange emotion for him, which made him break character. Errol told him "come die with me little priest" when he was talking about him going through his ascension to the higher plane. He called Ledoux and his accomplice his acolytes.

That is what I believe Rust was in the altar room with the Yellow King. The 'dimensional' gate-way to the other plane. Seems to be that everyone else in the cult was just in it for the sex with kids, but Errol truly believed in the other aspect of it, which seems to be sacrificing children for the yellow king in order to gain entry to carcosa.

To my earlier point, at the end Rust became 'human'. The last few lines about how light will win and whatnot, really reminded me of all the stories about Gods and superheroes. Usually when a great catastrophe happens and Humanity prevails, one of them says something like "do you think they (humans) will be allright?" and then the other God says "I think they will do fine".

I have more to say but English isn't my first language, hard to put them to words.

Jesus, I sound like a nutjob don't I?

 

[Solo]

That was really so great. With pop culture's obsession with antiheroes and badassery and cynicism, it was really incredible to see a show embrace those tropes but then come out the other end on a positive note, but get there in a completely organic and believable way.

That alone elevates it above every other show that's ever been on television; shows that drown in their own cynicism by the end (The Wire), or don't quite earn their positive outcome (LOST), or give an asshole maybe just a little bit too much good grace in the end (Breaking Bad), or stop existing after four seasons (The West Wing), or didn't quite get their chance to stick their intended landing (Deadwood).

True Detective is already the best there ever was or has been. Looking forward to what's next.

I love your hyperbole, Ben. And I mean thay 110% as a compliment. Never change. And while I don't know yet if I'd personally put TD in the pantheon of Deadwood.......if it's not there, it's super fucking close.

 

[Cornballer]

- Matt Zoller Seitz with a long look at TD: The 7 Things That True Detective Was About

 

[Solo]

No news on this front yet, right? I gather we won't see it in 2015?

Pretty much assured not to air til fall 2015.

 

[Mononoke]

It's just implied in the show that it's part of a long old culture. I don't see why it matters. There are lots of different types of folklore and occult beliefs out there.

It doesn't really matter, you are right. Was just curious. Carcosa was Errol's layer, and she seemed to really know about it.

Edit: although maybe the idea of Carcosa was prevalent to those in the culture. Doesn't mean she physically knew of the layer or was there.

 

[dead souls]

Well that finale pretty much sucked. I hope season two is better than this.

 

[Dennis]

Great ending (except for the mumbling of the last couple of lines)

I like to believe that was intentional.

"You fuckers want clarity?"
- Nic Pizzolatto

 

[AkuMifune]

I dont think we ever see sheriff or officer childress. I might be wrong about the sheriff.

Yeah, I would have assumed we met him before. I was thinking the asshole white haired guy, but nothing came of that.

Well that finale pretty much sucked. I hope season two is better than this.

I knew there would be dead souls like you. Less than I expected though.

 

[ReturnOfTheRAT]

Film Crit Hulk basically sums up my thoughts on the show and all the discussion around it, it's a really good read:

http://badassdigest.com/2014/03/10/the-genius-of-true-detective-its-just-one-story/

WHY AFTER THE FINALE HULK LOGGED ON TO TWITTER AND EVEN SAW SCORES OF FANS AND ARTICLES ASKING "That's it!??!" WHICH INADVERTENTLY JUST REVEALS THEM AS PEOPLE WHO NEVER REALLY UNDERSTOOD THE SHOW THEY WERE WATCHING... THAT MAY SOUND LIKE AN AWFULLY UGLY THING TO SAY, BUT TRULY...

THIS WAS ALWAYS WHAT THE ENDING WAS GOING TO BE.

Correct.

 

[duckroll]

It doesn't really matter, you are right. Was just curious. Carcosa was Errol's layer, and she seemed to really know about it.

She was a housekeeper for Sam Tuttle for decades right? She saw all the kids grow up. I'm sure she knew stuff about them. In fact, I personally prefer to think of the possibility that she was the influence. There's no evidence that Sam Tuttle was behind any of this. We know that Billy Lee was, and the Childress family was, and Eddie probably knew something about these stuff. What if part of the occult beliefs they practiced and especially the ones Errol latched on to, were actually stories and stuff she told them as kids, while looking after them. Scary eh?

 

[Carbonox]

Erroll will go down as one of the most memorable and vilest TV villains in quite a while. Well played, Remus, well played.

 

[HalfBakedProphet]

Ascension removes me from the disc and the loop. I'm near final stage. Some mornings, I can see the infernal plane

True Detectives version of "this isn't even my final form"