True Detective Season 2 Episode 1: Review

So this is how the second season of last year's surprise hit started off with completely different elements, so much so that one might claim that its another show. This time the darkness didn't wait for anything, it was right in our faces from the first few scenes itself. This time I feel like the makers tried so hard to make something different yet powerful enough to stand together with the previous marvel of a season, that they headed into a different dimension itself which might look similar but is a whole another thing. The creator are maybe still heading in the same direction but they changed their course and that too by a huge margin. Last time they made everything just the was they like, without any pressure of being a hit or a flop. They didn't expect anything from the viewers, they made a show just thinking that we're doing the same thing done many times before in a way never seen before. This gave the show a certain audacity and gave one of the most exhilarating first seasons of any show ever, all through a subtly philosophical, conventionally paced and contrasting characters in search of the one true evil. It was almost supernatural. But this time they had expectations. This they didn't have to make a show, they had to make something atleast as good as the previous saga yet not at all imitative. So in my opinion, the makers went too far this time, in a mostly good but slightly vacillating manner.

Before I watched this episode, I read somewhere some non- spoiler review of this episode. There they mentioned the episode was a little too convoluted. So I pretty much had a very vague idea before I started watching it. The show started with Detective Ray Velcoro's story played amazingly by Colin Farrell. This detective is a long lost demented soul who still tries to make everything right for his son despite the incident with his wife years ago due to which he's not even the kid's biological father but he loves him nevertheless which seems to be a good thing but he tends to be a little extreme in some situations (delightfully so). He isn't someone whom we might call an ideal officer of the law but yeah he has his moments so one can't particularly hate him for being dishonest. Next we move on to Detective Ani Bezzerides played by the gorgeous Rachel McAdams. Her story is maybe nothing like you've heard before. An honest and hardworking sheriff with some family troubles. It looks normal on the surface though but the details are really uncommon almost funny in a way. Maybe its a joke, a frustrating and uncaring father and an immoral sister. These characters have some pretty serious issues but they all just manifest into Ani in the form of anger and scepticism. She is the tough nut in the ensemble cast and sometimes just annoying with the attitude. Maybe it'll look nice eventually, lets see. The we have suspended traffic cop, Paul Woodrugh played by a really neutral looking Taylor Kitsch. This is Mr. Sympathy. The guy works regularly, likes his job, is loyal, has a loving wife but still lives an unfulfilled life. As of now, that's all there is. Next we come to Frank Semyon, played by Vince Vaughn who more than suits the character. This guy is a developer with ties and earlier involvement also in the underworld. He knows Velcoro from the past and still employs him in odd jobs. He and Velcoro share a warm relationship, maybe the only person with whom Velcoro has cordial relations. That's his background and he fits in the story with a major project coming up and an important person involved with it missing. This person, Caprese, is the thread which ties all our so much self indulged characters together. (Spoiler Alert!) And also he's the first major death.

A still from "The Western Book Of The Dead"

So it should suffice to say that the first episode had too much in it with still a feeling of empty spaces. Too much emphasis on too many characters. Still I'm one of those people who enjoy 'too much'. It gives you something to think about while watching and restrains your mind from going in a completely relaxed state. But however it is written I have to say, the cinematography in this episode was really something. Nothing too subtle but all grim and noir type evoking a sense of superficial fantasy. Thus, to sum it all up we have ourselves, five intertwined emotionally draining & surrounded by mystery storylines that might not appeal to everyone but I really dig it.