True Detective Season 2 Episode 2: Review

The episode that ended with a bang. This week we delved deeper into the story with some strong character performances. This time we experienced the characters’ perspectives and how their behaviour turned out to be so. Not just their backstories but their demeanour and more was explored about their relationships and the most unexpected twist in the series which came as a bang in the end.

The episode started with officials arguing about who should handle the case as the man, Caspere (the first corpse), was a resident of the city of Vinci but found by Woodrugh and was also a part of an ongoing state investigation. So it was decided that Detective Ani Bezzerides lead the investigation while being assisted by Detective Ray Velcoro and Paul Woodrugh. Appointing these people to this investigation raises the fundamental question that whether the state or the officials want this solved or not (as pointed out dubiously by Ray Velcoro). Really one can question the sincerity of the whole detail, if one carefully speculated that are these people even the right choice for the job? Paul Woodrugh, who isn’t even a detective and Ray Velcoro who accepts that dualities might be affected for public interests (in other words, he is compromised or bent to the other side of the law). Most people realise that Ray might be too inclined towards making everyone happy and have wobbly ideals and yet he’s assigned to investigate a murder with direct ties to underground dealings with some major developments projects. The murder of a man who was in hold of Frank Semyon’s money who is now pressing Ray to find the culprit. Ani Bezzerides is the only one in the whole bunch who’s got nothing to gain nor anything to lose from this investigation and is straight up and firm about it like any other case. She is quite unswerving from her beliefs and is candidly working to solve this thing despite being linked up with a corrupt officer and a rookie, though very enthusiastically participating Woodrugh (and also Ray’s lethargic partner who is not so much relevant as of now).

This time we had displayed to us the inner turmoil of our characters more vividly than the previous episode (except Ray Velcoro). Paul Woodrugh met with his creepy mother and most likely broke it off with his girlfriend as soon she discovered about his scandal and realised the emptiness and lack of communication and sharing in their relationship. So yeah one could say things are a little rocky for Paul but he’ll steer clear of it. He’s more of a lone ranger kind of a person. Independent, hardworking and not so much holding onto feelings. One could say he’s not bothered by the personal front and does his work faithfully. We also had a subtle insight into the brutality of the murder which is a core element of the show besides the emotional chaos of the characters and that one scene was turned out to be a powerful though short one. Ani along with Ray explored the victim’s lifestyle and became familiar with Caspere’s obsession with sex. Ani and ray visited the place where the victim was in therapy for dealing with his painful past and his addiction to escort services with a strong liking towards young women. There the therapist recognised Ani as he was once a friend of her father who as Ani revealed was apathetic and a miserable failure at parenting. From these visits and dialoguing we picked up on a strange but interesting chemistry between detectives Ray and Ani. They aren’t interested in each other, neither are they looking for some kind of a salvation with overlapping paths. What they want from each other is just complete transparency regarding the case and whether they accept it or not, there is a certain palpable trust present as Ani despite being told by people still asks to confirm from Ray where his heart lies and Ray knowing everything yet tries to steer clear of her suspicions. On the other hand, Frank Semyon is fighting tooth and nail to raise funds and trying to uncover the secret of the killer by helping Ray providing tips. As more of Frank is revealed, we are being familiarised with Frank’s own dark trade and a horrible past which is unsettling but a treat to watch as Semyon is working nice in giving the show another sinister angle besides the killer. One such tip though leads to the surprising attack on Ray scene. This was a nice play on the viewers. Was Colin Ferrel just cast to mislead us? That however was a very nice and audacious twist.

A still from "Night Finds You"

But at this point, there’s a fair chance we might be seeing the last of Ray due to the shocking scene at the end. One thing about the show mentioned even earlier by me is that the show is shot beautifully. The music, the cinematography is amazing, bringing a sense of mystical eeriness to the screen. The way Ray entered into the house, the way the attacker moved and the whole shot with props and all was quite impressive and terrifyingly exciting. Though the structure at points seem a little similar at times, like that flyover shot (the director might really love it), the meeting of Ray and Frank in that same bar towards the end of the episode with that girl's melancholic singing and a little more but avoidable stuff.

This show isn't what it had in its previous season, an edge of the seat thriller with everything surrounding the big mystery and the ambiance built around it with the quarrels and qualms of the leads. But slowly though, building on emotions and relationships rather than a straight “who did it” thing, the show is picking up pace with some serious suspense and intense situations with the cast doing a tremendous job playing characters with a gritty sense of reality which otherwise might seem impossible.