Rent True Detective: Series 2 (2015)

After the brilliance of series 1, this is a massive let down - True Detective: Series 2 review by TB

The first series of True Detective has often been sighted as the time when major Hollywood A list talent went from working on films which tell a story in a (relatively short) space of time to long, detailed TV series where characters were able to be fleshed out and the tension slowly being allowed to build. The first series to me is perfection in every way: acting, directing, script, cinematography and soundtrack. Cari Joji Fukunaga deserves every single plaudit he has been given, as the whole series was in many ways shaped by him. The reason I mention him in this review is that, even though he is given an executive producing credit, he is on the record as saying that he had absolutely nothing to to with series 2 and boy does it show.

Series 2 has all the right elements: a talented cast, Nic Pizzolatto returns and writes or co-writes all the episodes, the budget is clearly substantial and T Bone Burnett returns to do the soundtrack. But none of it really works. It is all a mess of ideas and poor direction, with characters that you could be interested in, had they been written better. The only person who managed to me to really stand out and ironically take what is often a thankless role (a mobster’s wife) and turn it into a character who shines is Kelly Reilly as Jordan. Reilly is a very skilled actress (Eden Lake) and she brings an emotional punch to the scenes.

I have high hopes for season 3, as it stars Mahershala Ali (who after seeing him in Moonlight & Green Book, is a flawless actor) and Stephen Dorff, who has been great in everything I have seen him in. But as much as I’m glad I watched season 2 to continue the “world” the True Detective started, I cannot recommend it.  

Not up to the sum of its parts - True Detective: Series 2 review by AK

After a good season 1 was expecting similar in season 2 given the cast. Started off well seeming to present a more hard core-hard boiled tone. But as it went on the tone was all over the place and the post-noir dialogue put you to sleep, especially with the Vince Vaughn and wife tedious monologues. Often scenes were people stuck in rooms working out who was doing what to whom in a bizarre static non-emotive way with a hardcore industrial Lynchian soundtrack to try and make you feel uneasy.

After giving up trying to follow the plotline as EVERYBODY was corrupt or had personal psychological issues just waited for its end in the familiar dark post noir crime way.

The shootout was the highlight but after that was expecting a better bond to form between the three of them. Wasn't all bad but from the Sopranos opening title soundtrack to the Lynchian empty nightclub singer commentary lyrics of characters' inner thoughts and other surreal touches like the giant crow head., most were for effect and just seemed to be there to make a very boring series more interesting. Not sure if it was my player but doubt it as I tried on PC but the audio commentary on the disc doesn't work or isn't there.

Disappointing, Confusing, Confused, Flabby, Often Boring 2nd series - True Detective: Series 2 review by PV

The first series of True Detective was utterly superb - strong, believable characters and wonderfully written with lean efficiency and sharp focus.

By contract, this second series is flabby, confused and confusing, with a real lack of clarity and focus - why is this? Well there is no hypnotically strong character as Matthew M was in series one with his well-contrasted partner Woody H.

Instead we have a fragmented story and lone characters and cartoon character baddies with little in common with each other whose lives occasionally randomly interact. I suspect a real effort has been made for create main female characters and this seems very forced, as some just take up screen time for no real reason.

I let this all wash off me and made the effort to watch all episodes, but it did not grab me and I really was not sure what was going on at many points. The action sequences and violence are well done, at least.

Even the music is not up to the standard of series 1. What a shame.

2 stars