True Detective has been a rather unusual series from the get-go. More than just a detective series, it's been a show about the relationship between the characters of Cohle and Rust. The ending really shines through that point in my opinion and because of that, some people won't be happy with how it ends.
In the end, I liked the way things played out. It was intense without being too unrealistic (obviously not everything was 100% plausible, but that's to be expected), it was intense, and it featured the excellent performances from the 2 leads that we've come to be greatly acquainted with. It's hard to say more without spoiling it, but it's hard to picture Matthew McConaughey not winning outstanding lead actor in a miniseries at the Emmys this September. If Harrelson runs as a supporting actor, I think he'll win as well. Although they are essentially equals on the show.
The common complaint is that not everything is wrapped up. The storyline still has some loose ends for better or for worse. Whether this is good or bad will ultimately come down to personal taste, but I'm glad the show didn't wrap up everything perfectly. A little ambiguity never hurt in my opinion. A quote in the episode perfectly sums up why I think having some loose ends is OK.
The final scene is also unusual and one that I can't go into detail with. I certainly wasn't anticipating a scene like that and once again, it'll come down to the viewer on whether or not you "buy" into the final scene. But I enjoyed it. I thought it was effective and it's still playing in my head over and over again.
In the end, the True Detective finale may not be the best episode of the season, but it was still suspenseful and intriguing. I'm more than curious to see what season 2 will have for us and I think the first season of True Detective will go down as one of the best seasons on television. I was happy to have taken this journey with Rust and Marty.
Final rating 9/10
SPOILER REVIEW:
ONCE AGAIN, WARNING! This review contains spoilers!
Spoiler free review:
SPOILER REVIEW:
ONCE AGAIN, WARNING! This review contains spoilers!
True Detective has been a rather unusual series from the get-go. More than just a detective series, it's been a show about the relationship between the characters of Cohle and Rust. The ending really shines through that point in my opinion and because of that, some people won't be happy with how it ends.
In the end, I liked the way things played out. The final confrontation with Errol was intense without being too unrealistic (obviously not everything was 100% plausible, but that's to be expected) and it featured the excellent performances from the 2 leads that we've come to be greatly acquainted with. I'm glad that there wasn't any ridiculous shootout with Erroll. Just a quick chase and a quick fight. Simple but still exciting and suspenseful. As for the acting, well it's hard to picture Matthew McConaughey not winning outstanding lead actor in a miniseries at the Emmys this September. If Harrelson runs as a supporting actor, I think he'll win as well. Although they are essentially equals on the show. I despised the character of Marty. I saw him as a hypocrite, bad father, bad husband, and a bad partner (i.e. his impulsive murder of Ledoux), yet at the end, I was fearing for his life. In spite of everything, I didn't want him to die. Really says a lot about Harrelson's performance.
The common complaint is that not everything is wrapped up. There are many cultists that have yet to be caught. Part of me almost wishes to see season 2 tackle this storyline, even though I know it's an anthology series and we won't be seeing Rust or Marty again. Whether this is good or bad will ultimately come down to personal taste, but I'm glad the show didn't wrap up everything perfectly. A little ambiguity never hurt in my opinion. I thought the conversation in the hospital between McConaughey and Harrelson summed up why the ending worked.
Rust: We didn't get them all.
Marty: Yeah and we ain't gonna get them all. That ain't what kind of world it is, but we got ours.
Although the ending is more optimistic than I expected, if the show had ended with all the cultists getting arrested, that would have been a far too cliche happy ending. As Rust pointed out earlier in the season, the Tuttles are powerful people with a lot of connections. Powerful people with a lot of connections don't just get caught. "That ain't what kind of world it is."
Many also decried the lack of a twist, although creator Nic Pizzolato made it clear that there would be no twist. THat was fine with me. Not everything needs a twist. In fact, sometimes a twist can ruin a story rather than help it (*cough*, The Game, *cough). People thought Rust was the killer. People thought Marty was the killer. People thought Maggie was the killer or Gilbough or Papania. People thought Marty's father in law was involved or Marty's older daughter. All amusing theories, but I'm glad the show didn't go through with any of them. I liked that the finale was straight forward.
The final scene is also unusual and one that will divide viewers. Rust's newfound optimism definitely feels out of left field and strangely hopeful for such a bleak series. I certainly wasn't anticipating a scene like that and once again, it'll come down to the viewer on whether or not you "buy" into it, but I enjoyed it. I thought it was effective and it's still playing in my head over and over again. McConaughey's performance really sold it. Rust's dark nihilism was one of my favorite things about him and I'd be lying if I said I couldn't relate (I identify as an existential nihilist, it's even facebook official). That was the closest thing to a twist in the episode. I thought it worked because it wasn't too optimistic to the point of destroying the atmosphere. What would have really been a deal breaker would be if Rust and Cohle managed to arrest all the Tuttle cultists and Rust found some kind of meaning in his life. I don't get why people are claiming he found god or Jesus though. I'll have to rewatch it, but I don't remember the words "God", "Jesus", or "Christianity" being mentioned in the speech. All that I got was that Rust realized that there was more to life than just crappy crappiness.
In the end, the True Detective finale may not be the best episode of the season, but it was still suspenseful and intriguing. I'm more than curious to see what season 2 will have for us and I think the first season of True Detective will go down as one of the best seasons on television. I was happy to have taken this journey with Rust and Marty.
Final Rating 9/10
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