True Detective Catch-All (Night Country SPOILERS)

Holy sh*t.

Pedestrians mowed down like crazy. Wow.

Crazy ending to an otherwise slow episode. Didn't think it was nearly as exciting as the showdown in the projects last season though.

I'm fine with the new season because I don't try to compare it to the last one.

I compare it to other television which is pretty much unwatchable for me.

Not sure if I like the 4 main character dynamic especially considering this is one season. I'm not sure I'm going to really get enough back story or 1on1 time with each character to get really sucked into them.

I'm still underwhelmed with this season but the shootout here was very surprising. The aftermath of this has to be massive and I'm hopeful that it pays off.

It feels like all of the characters have been set up for major life changes in this episode. Could they jump forward in time a few years to examine how they all recover? I'd be down with that.

gore wrote:

It feels like all of the characters have been set up for major life changes in this episode. Could they jump forward in time a few years to examine how they all recover? I'd be down with that.

I actually got that feeling from the previews for this week's show even though the story seems to take place in recent time.

Shifter wrote:
gore wrote:

It feels like all of the characters have been set up for major life changes in this episode. Could they jump forward in time a few years to examine how they all recover? I'd be down with that.

I actually got that feeling from the previews for this week's show even though the story seems to take place in recent time.

You mean...

Spoiler:

...the lack of Ray's Raystache?

Also, as they were gearing up, I commented to my wife, "why does that 4th guy on the team have no backstory yet?" And I couldn't even remember his name at that point. And then boom, headshot. Oh well.

I'm enjoying this season, I have to say. Not nearly as much as the first but I'm into it regardless. Just... man... I wish they'd get rid of Vaughn. I mean I have a real soft spot for Vince Vaughn in the right role but he's a goddamn anchor here.

"we'll get you some pedialyte"
"enough of this monkeyf*ck!"
"never even had a f*ckin' cavity"

I love this show for some reason.

I don't get all the hate for Vince Vaughn. I think he's doing a fine job.

Grenn wrote:

I don't get all the hate for Vince Vaughn. I think he's doing a fine job.

Same.

I don't think Vaughn is actually all that bad, per se, but he's the only one who makes me feel like I'm watching someone acting. It could just be that his dialogue is clunky, or that Farrell, McAdams, and Riggins are doing so well, but he feels like the weakest part of the show.

I've seen that expressed quite a bit but I don't get it at all.

Atras wrote:

he's the only one who makes me feel like I'm watching someone acting.

That's sub-par acting. You shouldn't see the acting. You shouldn't see the seams.

Maq wrote:
Atras wrote:

he's the only one who makes me feel like I'm watching someone acting.

That's sub-par acting. You shouldn't see the acting. You shouldn't see the seams.

Agreed. It's sticking out pretty badly compared to everyone else.

Frank's lines are of a Lucasian improbability of being uttered in conversation by an actual human being. So were Rust's from last year, but the character was batsh*t nuts.

Rat Boy wrote:

Frank's lines are of a Lucasian improbability of being uttered in conversation by an actual human being. So were Rust's from last year, but the character was batsh*t nuts.

After that story about being locked in the dark for days as a kid, pretty sure Frank is insane too.

Thank god for that shootout. Show was dragging, and putting out dialogue like:

Those moments, they stare back at you. You don't remember them, they remember you. Turn around, there they are, staring.

Hopefully things will speed up a bit now.

Rat Boy wrote:

Frank's lines are of a Lucasian improbability of being uttered in conversation by an actual human being. So were Rust's from last year, but the character was batsh*t nuts.

These characters are all saying some completely crazy things too, the kind of stuff that endangers suspension of disbelief due to how "scripted" it sounds. One thing that really attracted me to the first season was how the dialogue often felt genuine and real, except that Rust occasionally starts spouting a monologue that is essentially poetry.

No real person talks the way Rust does in those moments, but there's something about the way the characters are built in the first season that made this work better, I think. Part of it may be acting, but I think the "buddy cop" relationship kind of masked how ridiculous some of the dialogue was and gave it more context.

It's an incredibly fine line to walk I think. It doesn't always work in season two but I'm not as quick to blame Vaughn for it, I think he's working with what he's been given.

Maybe you guys have forgotten the old tongue of the dead gods. In the rush to understand a world that can't be explained you speak with blaspheme to the children of now. Nah brah I'm not having any of your unholy delusions. I see without seeing. I hear without hearing. What I see and hear are words making love in the pale moon light. They give birth to nouns and adverbs that reverb through the cosmos. Through the damn cosmos. Why can't you hear it?

gore wrote:

It's an incredibly fine line to walk I think. It doesn't always work in season two but I'm not as quick to blame Vaughn for it, I think he's working with what he's been given.

I think he does a reasonable job delivering the lines, it's his inability to convincingly express inner life I have problems with. Vaughn is at his best out loud and in motion. He struggles with stillness and it really shows when you put him opposite Farrell who is acting him off the screen.

I tell you between this and Saving Mr Banks Farrell has been a McConnaughey-esque revelation.

Made it half-way tonight before I shut it off. Vaughn's character and the wife are unwatchable.

Rat Boy wrote:
Shifter wrote:
gore wrote:

It feels like all of the characters have been set up for major life changes in this episode. Could they jump forward in time a few years to examine how they all recover? I'd be down with that.

I actually got that feeling from the previews for this week's show even though the story seems to take place in recent time.

You mean...

Spoiler:

...the lack of Ray's Raystache?

Good call, except months instead of years.

66 days after the shootout.

Seems like just as last season Episode 5 serves as a...that. Like we're getting back on track after some hiccups.

Reaper81 wrote:

Made it half-way tonight before I shut it off. Vaughn's character and the wife are unwatchable.

It got better.

So the show is more about the officers lives instead of the case. I really liked this last episode. The story of the wrong guy being killed was compelling. That seems to have a lot hooks into everybody in the show.

I found a good bit to like in this episode, but I wish they had taken a little extra time before getting the gang back together. It felt a bit rushed. And that's in contrast with most of the rest of the episode, which seemed to give a bit more time for scenes to unfold.

I have really mixed feelings about this season still. I think it's gotten better at this point but I'm still disappointed as of now. There are a few too many tropes in the mix for my tastes.

The Grantland review for this episode mentioned that the State's Attorney was channeling her inner Harvey Dent and I thought to myself that can't end well for her.

Who's still on board

I need some molly.

Slumberland wrote:

Who's still on board

I am. Can't say I'm loving this season but I'm watching every week and hoping for a payoff. Thought this was the best episode yet. There was the usual silliness but the story advanced and I like the Frank/Raymond scene at the kitchen table and thought the mansion/party stuff was ok too.