Just watched the third episode. I mean despite the story seemingly going into a million ambiguous directions, I'm sure by season's end we will have some cohesive directional plot lines. I dig the very film noir vibe and enjoying it.

Soooo Lynch! Reminded me of Blue Velvet too.

Definitely a pretty lackluster episode in regards to the first two but I think it was needed to slow the pace down a bit, it feels more happened in the first two episodes than in the entire past first season so I'm ok with it. Our suspicions about Woodrugh seem to have come to fruition this episode and I'm glad Frank stood up for himself, looks like hes going back to his roots!

His whole locked in the basement abuse story has been the weakest moment of the season so far imo. I thought he pulled off the beating this last ep though.

Yeah that whole pitiful scene when his lady was asking if he wanted to talk about it pretty much destroyed the prior tough guy act. I like Vince Vaughn but I'm not convinced yet that he was a good choice for this role. Way to emo for me

Gah. The scene that would just not end. He could definitely do with some toughening up character-wise, not to mention the acting; but I guess they are going for a more 'realistic' baddie.

I didn't find episode three particularly slower than the others, though not much has progressed, as we just get more alternate plotlines thrown at the viewer. It is still too over-the-top with the whole anti-hero routine. I think they have established that and need to move on. The dream sequence was definitlely a high point for me so far, if a complete cop-out on the "riot control" shells. Also, some young guy in a hoodie and mask? No other clichés they could pull out? I want to see where this is going, and am giving them a long leash, but they are developing this all over the place in terms of sophistication levels. I don't think the show really knows what it wants to be yet.

^^^^^^^^ well put

This season has felt very disjointed and the acting comes off VERY dry...to the point that you have almost no empathy for any one of the characters. It comes off as a high school version of Twin Peaks. The bar scenes are getting old and your take on the stale anti-hero as well established is spot on...WE GET IT ALREADY.

Giving it one more episode before my wife and I let it go.
Trying, but not into it at all.

I was happy to see Sgt. Hoke Mosley (Fred Ward) the "strange ranger" from Miami Blues make an appearance!

Some of the stuff is just too far out there....the reporter being assaulted to stop the corruption story....the attack on the bully's dad.....both with no repercussions. Even drinking a giant bottle of Johnnie Walker and still functioning....I like it well enough though.

The only character I'm finding myself drawn to at the moment is Delcoro. Seems like his near-death experience is beginning to make him second-guess his life choices. I have a feeling he's realized that he's not a... Har har... TRUE DETECTIVE.

I'm still waiting for this season to have a clear direction. The first season had me already interested in seeing the investigation unfold. I really don't CARE about Caspere and we have no idea why the killer/killers/whatever want people dead. It's hard to actually give a hoot at this point.

Rachel McAdams, wow that was insane. Even more respect for her. Im enjoying the season thus far, even with all the
complaints I've been hearing. Last nights episode I feel makes up for it.

The nod to the very first prestige drama that I ever watched, from the mouth of Drunky McMayor no less, made me very happy.

That was one hell of an exciting shoot-out, Bezzerides got her knife out but did'nt need to use it.
I'm still not buying VV as a gangster . . . .

Enjoying this season very much, its completely different to season one - but thats OK.

How many bets Bezzerides hippy dad was involved in something shady?
How many bets something heinous happens to her sister?

Ehhhh I wasn't all that impressed by the shooutout this season. I actually forgot we were in episode 4 and something like this would be coming but that tracking shot from season 1's episode 4 was way better:



I mean compare and decide for yourself but I like season 1's shootout more. Season 2 shooutout:



Explosion and headshot = bad CGI

I've got $10 on both.

It seems from next weeks trailer that this shoot-out "closes" the case, probably due to the insane amount on casualties and pressure from the State to capture the culprit. If so, Im looking forward to them becoming obsessed with the case being left un-settled and doing some "true" detective work for the rest of the season!

So this whole shootout wasn't a setup to get rid of some, if not all three, of those left standing?

I'm guessing that it was.

I was pretty bored this last episode. So far everything has been done so heavy-handedly that nothing is a surprise. The clunky exposition is just too much to take... The first scene with Velcoro and Bezerides when he says her name for no reason half way through the dialogue, I was distracted the rest of the scene wondering why the hell they wrote that. It was worse than the "Apoplectic" thing last episode. I will admit I am somehow enjoying the show more than the sum of it's parts, for whatever reason, and am especially looking forward to Bezz killing some dudes with her knives, which I am assuming will happen given how predictable everything else has been.

I'd like to see how long each episode would be if someone edited out the overhead highway shots and the staring

Haha!! the shootout- it bothered me that they could hide behind some sheet metal and be safe from AK47 rounds, which would go through an entire car except the engine.

^^ I'm no expert but i think Colin Farrell's mustache is near-enough bullet proof

Haha! That or a moody hair flip... I'd like to see him use the bar scene singer as a human shield next time

If that was his shield from the bullets flying this episode then he really screwed up, seeing as previews show him without it for ep5

Speaking of the bar singer, anyone notice her knees were all scuffed and bloody up this past episode? Im not sure what part she plays quite yet but definitely seems important.

I agree, I have a feeling that both the bar singer and the bar woman with the scarred-up face will play some kind of role in this season, or at least will later be revealed to mean something symbolically.
We seem to have something going on with the theme of scars. In the first season, we had a man with a scarred face. Motorcycle cop is all scarred up. Bar lady is scarred up. I would hate to think that the writers just said "let's give them scars for no reason lols"

Any thoughts on motorcycle cop's marriage proposal? It's clear that he's in the closet... But jeez dude, why is he trying so hard to fake being straight? He just comes off as being an angsty idiot. There has to be some reason behind it, perhaps religious?
I dunno. I still feel like he's the weakest character of the three. That's probably why I can't even remember his name.

I think a big part of Moto Cop's problem is his mom. I would say their relationship is unconventional at best. In the preview he makes a big point of telling her he's, "making a family."

I really hope the barmaid and bar singer play into this all somehow as well. I keep wondering how that girl ended up singing those dreary ass songs in a bar where no one ever goes.

As much as the shootout may have added something to the show (an overly long and improbable action sequence) I wasn't that impressed with it. It was just too much and out of place, particularly in a show that has been trying so hard to impress on the viewers its moods, character development, and noire atmosphere. Suddenly we are thrown in to a typical action flic? It didn't really bother me, except that it was so heavy handed and excessive, especially with all of the deaths involved - what was that 38/42 people shown got killed by accident or intentionally? I don't think it was a set up for the team necessarily, but definitely provides cause to get rid of them all now [which they had already for each character].

I can't help but keep counting down the episodes when I am watching this show. Such a limited time span, but each one never seems to advance the case/story much, if at all. If you were playing the long game, and had a few seasons ot tie up all these random loose ends, sure. But I foresee either one final episode of giving us the foie gras throat threatment or just a million unanswered questions and red herrings. Ha ha, we fooled you.

Come on TD, pull it togther.