“The story’s told, with facts and lies, I had a name, but never mind”.
TV audiences can be a fickle bunch. This time last week, we were all lamenting the end of another wonderful season of Game of Thrones but the nice people at HBO have already softened the blow with the return of the sublime True Detective.
So, what did we make of the first episode of Season 2?
“I welcome judgement”
If the first season of the show was primarily focused on the occult and southern gothic, its follow-up has already broken the mould.
Out goes the haunting, ominous and rotting stench of the Louisiana swamp and in comes the vast, desolate and cold wasteland that is California.
This is the domain of Raymond Chandler and James Elroy – the freeways crossing each other look like open veins – murder and mystery belong here.
When watching the first season, I got the impression that Marty and Cohle could have easily passed themselves off as characters in the film Deliverance. The feeling is mutual for Farrell, McAdams, Vaughn and co. with the Jack Nicholson classic Chinatown.
Corruption seems as thick as the smog that’s emanating from the factories here.
Lies, murder and a seedy underbelly are lurking around the corner of every bend of the California highways and the questions have been asked, who killed Ben Caspar and what does it have to do with a $68 billion dollar railway that’s set to be built?
The case is open.
“My problems are really your f**king problems”
Three broken authority figures and a shady businessman that desperately needs them because they’re his only chance at salvation. That’s the core dynamic at work here but each character will undoubtedly bring their own complexities, scars and traumas to the case.
From her first scene – guns on the wall and kicking a man out of her bed- we instantly know that Rachel McAdams’ character, Ani Bezzerides is tough. The fact that her family seem more conflicted, troubled and volatile than even the Lannister’s are the reason why.
Taylor Kitsch’s traumatised war hero, Paul Woodrugh, has his own secrets that he probably wants to remain hidden. The final scene of him racing in the dark, a death wish on his mind, indicates that he might be the wildcard of the trio.
And now onto the men that seemed like they were taking the brunt of the expectation and groans. I’m happy to say that Farrell and Vaughn look like inspired pieces of casting.
Vaughn is obviously more well known for his goofy demeanour in the frat-pack comedies, but anyone that saw Domestic Disturbance or parts of Made, will know that there’s an edge, darkness and intensity to him that fills every inch of his intimidating 6ft 5 frame.
His character Frank seems like a desperate man that’s backed into a corner, a gangster that has been living in the gutter but dreams of the stars, “a chance for the grandkids to become part of those old California families”.
Right now, he’s restrained and calm but we can’t help but think that his criminal past and instincts will re-appear. Nothing stays buried in True Detective.
“I used to want to be an astronaut. But astronauts don’t even go to the moon anymore”
Colin Farrell’s unhinged, damaged and volatile cop Ray seems like it’s a part that’s tailor made for him.
Right from the opening sequence of him bonding with his son, you knew that something was not quite right. The fact that Vaughn’s character helped him find the man that killed his wife – Ray even acted outside of the law to exact his brutal revenge – was an indication of what’s coming.
Alcoholic, violent and in need of redemption, things all came to a head in that sequence when Ray beat up the father of the boy that was bullying his son. That threat he made to the kid that he’ll “butt f**k his father with your moms headless corpse” is a timely reminder that even the good guys in True Detective are bad.
Farrell went from being a caring dad to a deranged lunatic within a few minutes on screen. He’s a wreck of a man and an asshole’s asshole but yet he still remains sympathetic. How we missed this show.
Case notes
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