Just finished season 1 of True Detective and I absolutely loved it

[frelling_tralk]

The cinematography and direction were just incredible, it was fascinating seeing a part of America that doesn’t normally get shown on tv, and of course the writing and acting was terrific as well. Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey played off one another perfectly as a couple of totally mismatched detectives who manage to form a partnership. I loved all of Rust’s monologuing and nihilism, but it wouldn’t have worked as well without Marty around to react to that, his reactions to his partner produced some really funny moments in spite of how dark the show was otherwise.

It was definitely extremely dark and harrowing in places though. I remember it stood out to me especially that episode five has Marty and Rust portrayed as heroes after they rescue the little girl, only for the flashforward to reveal that she has spend the 7 years since then in a catatonic state, still trapped and haunted by what she experienced back then, so it seems like they never could save her in the end after all :(

The ending confused me a bit after there had been so many hints about a larger conspiracy, but then in the end it was all just one man behind it all that his family were covering up for? It felt a bit more small-scale than I was expecting when we switched to seeing him and his half-sister (although his reveal at the end of episode 7 was certainly fantastic and chilling!) Idk it feels like a show that you need to rewatch a couple of times to take it all in maybe, as I’m still lost on a few points

Oh and sadly I did find myself liking Marty less and less as the series went on. At first it was like fine they’re showing him cheating on his wife to show that he’s a flawed character, but then when he was beating up the two young boys who slept with his daughter, when he started sleeping with the former young girl from the brothel, just urgh I really started to find him and his macho behaviour hard to take at around that time. I ended up liking him more though I guess after we caught up with him and Rust after the time-jump, I liked their partnership a lot, but I wouldn’t go crazy for his character otherwise


I’m not sure whether to watch any further seasons or not at the moment, I’ve heard a lot about the first season being the only outstanding one of the three, so I think I might just leave it here as a one-off mini series. Especially as it’s apparently an anthology series with all new characters each season, so I’m not sure that there’s any point in going on when the the response hasn’t been that positive to the later seasons, and the characters are going to be different anyway. Still the first season really was impressive television, I liked it a lot.

You could definitely tell that it was HBO quality, I noticed they made the same decision as Big Little Lies did to have the same writer and director throughout, and I wish that more shorter seasons of 6-8 seasons would take that path. I remember it standing out to me with The Handmaid’s Tale that there was a noticeable quality drop after the first three episodes when they switched their original director, whereas I think that Big Little Lies and True Detective really benefitted from having just one directors vision to oversee the entire project, it does feel more cinematic in that way

Comments

[lovepollution.livejournal.com]

The second series of True Detective was awful. I really tried because I liked the cast, but it was so slow and boring that I gave up 2 eps in. Series 3 that just aired was very enjoyable though; while it wasn't as good as series 1, it did have some good acting and a strong storyline, so I'd recommend giving it a go.

[rogueslayer452.livejournal.com]

I've had no inkling about watching True Detective, I only had brief interest in watching S2 for Colin Farrell, but mostly now I just want to watch a compilation of only his scenes or something. idk

[infinitewhale.livejournal.com]

It was a larger conspiracy. Childress was just sort of a rogue going nuts.

S2 isn't really all that bad. It did have some flaws in that it was much bigger than in needed to be and wondered in places. I think if they had edited out certain storylines, made it a bit tighter, it might have been better received. You really need to pay attention, though.

[ditzyfish.livejournal.com]

I think you'd be right to leave it at season 1. I didn't watch past two episodes of S2 - just didn't grab me at all. Thing is Matthew McConaughy is such a powerhouse actor in that I don't think True Detective would have made the impact it did without him. I found it hard to like the Marty character to...I just found him sleezy to be honest but I enjoyed his and Rust's relationship.

I absolutely loved Big Little Lies. I wish I could erase my memory and watch it all over again. Being a mum I've unfortunately had a run in with a Renata. I'm definately a Jane.

[sabotabby]

I loved the first series and hated the second; it was so completely pointless. Haven't seen the third yet, though I downloaded the first few episodes to watch later.

I hardly ever recommend fanfic unsolicited, but What We've Got is one of the best fanfics I've read in any fandom ever, and is a better idea than watching the second series.

[violateraindrop]

I could never really 'get' True Detective. I never loved the first season. In turn, I didn't hate the second season as much as everyone else which I watched because of Rachel McAdams and Colin Farrell. S3 is really high on my list right now, but I think I'll watch it eventually.
However, I do agree that S1 is visually stunning.

[haebin.livejournal.com]

I liked the first season a lot. Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey were amazing!
The second season was good, too. I've read that a lot of people didn't like it because the first one was so good.
I was fine with the second Season, liked it as well. It wasn't worse, it was just different. :)