'True Detective' goes boom


"Sometimes your worst self is your best self." — Frank Semyon, "True Detective"

The second season of "True Detective" has been uneven, and quite possibly coasting on the reputation of the first season. That's funny because, as an anthology series, the stories and characters are totally different.

The other thing to remember is that the original "True Detective" had a weird, fascinating vibe, but it didn't start like gangbusters. In fact, it didn't really take off until a shootout — featuring a fantastic singular tracking shot — that concluded the fourth episode. Obviously "True Detective" creator/writer Nic Pizzolatto felt the same way.

The fourth episode of the second season again featured a shoot out. This was, naturally, radically different in tone and result. But the structure feels similar, and it feels like "True Detective" is repeating on itself despite new characters and a new location.

A shootout alone can't save a flagging narrative. The biggest issue through four episodes is that it's unclear what the point of "True Detective's" second season is supposed to be. What is this case supposed to be? What is this story supposed to be?

My take is that, like the first round, it's a chance for redemption for these detectives. Ray Velcoro (Colin Farrell) needed redemption before last night, but with how badly the shootout went, Paul (Taylor Kitsch) and Ani (Rachel McAdams) will likely need some as well.

These are broken people trying to navigate a broken system. It feels like the show wants to be a referendum on how broken the world is. The tagline for the second season is "We Get the World We Deserve." That's kind of a dark take on the world. It's perhaps apt, but is it the kind of thing you want to spend your free time investing in? That's not totally clear.

Where the first season felt like something different and engrossing that featured some fascinating characters and world views, the second season feels a bit like recycled ideas. The shootout in episode four is just the latest symptom.

There is talent in the cast and potential in the story, but half way through this second season hasn't materialized.

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