Home » TRUE DETECTIVE Season 2 Premiere – “The Western Book of the Dead”

TRUE DETECTIVE Season 2 Premiere – “The Western Book of the Dead”

by Jef Dinsmore
7 comments 237 views

Try Max Now

TrueDetective_TitleShot

Honestly, it has been kind of hard starting off this review. We have already analyzed and pondered every frame of footage leading up to this premiere, so there is no need to speak volumes about the dark, brooding tone of this piece. It is the tone Nic Pizzolatto has set for this series and we go with it. There is also no need, at least for this writer, to reflect on or compare what we are about to witness to Season One. It has been established that this is an anthology series and we are starting from a clean slate with a new tale before us. All we can be sure of is that it will be more of a character study than a crime procedural and that the aforementioned tone will be present from beginning to conclusion.

[box] Here is something to note: There are two ways to watch TRUE DETECTIVE. Simply watch each episode and take what is simply presented on the surface or watch it delving into all the philosophies, hidden meanings and references that it is going to be padded with. I mean many enjoyed Season One without going down the road of exploring The Yellow King, right? So, take in Season Two at what level you want and we will just see how deep HBOWatch’s writers and those who comment take us.[/box]TrueDetective_CreditsPic-300x215

Well, I am going to eat my words and cite a similarity to Season One already. The title credits share the same stylized look, but in a different color palette and the title song is once again by T. Bone Burnett. I am sure as the eight episodes play out we will be engrossed by the imagery and analyzing the relevance of the lyrics as the titles play out. 

Now, let’s go to the specific episode at hand beginning with the title. “The Western Book of the Dead” is a play on the known work The Tibetan Book of the Dead which describes the Afterlife and the reincarnation of souls as written by the ancient monks. So, are we to say our main characters in Season Two are lost souls given up for dead and are on a journey to rebirth? You have to wonder, too, just what is the catalyst for this reincarnation? Will the crime that brings these players together change our players or will the solving of the crime after eight episodes alter their destinies? And don’t forget, just because you are reincarnated doesn’t mean the new life is a better one. Either way, I think we can count on all that becoming clear via Pizzolatto’s pen.    

Ray Velcoro (Colin Farrell) falls within the description right away as we learn he is not a free soul but a bought one. He has been in Frank Seymon’s back pocket for a while now because Seymon IDed the guy that attacked Ray V.’s now estranged wife. A swig from a booze bottle apparently turns Detective Velcoro into a mask wearing thug for the other side! Just how much Seymon and Velcoro are entwined in the main crime is left to be resolved. It seems city manager Ben Caspere, who was about to launch a proposal for a state-wide railways system is kidnapped. Ray V. and his partner Teague Dixon (W. Earl Brown) are on the case, but if Dec. V. is involved than he doesn’t want it solved now does he? As for Seymon, is he out to take the front seat on the high-speed rail line?     

As far as our other leads we have Ani ( it stands for Antigone and there is symbolism there for sure) Bezzerides (Rachel McAdams) and Paul Woodrugh (Taylor Kitsch). These two don’t appear to have souls as damaged as our other two players, at least not yet. Yeah, Ani has family issues with her sister and her father and Woodrugh has his PTSD or whatever going on, but they seem minor for now. They are both moving independently in their respective jobs, until the body of Caspere is found by Woodrugh and Velcoro & Bezzerides are called in. As far as my take on the characters I’d have to say Bezzderides is one to watch. Both she and her partner Det. Elvis IliTrueDetective_AniElvis-300x174nca (Michael Irby) are on top of their game, but she may just end up the most altered from this experience. Det. Velcoro is already tortured deep and Seymon’s actions will play out as more of a slow burn I think. Kitsch’s Woodrugh is the third wheel here. How involved should a Highway Patrol Cop be in this case? Yes, he found the body while off-duty, but that doesn’t mean he works on the case. We will have to see how he fits in. Can Pizzolatto’s writing cover exciting words for him as well? It is a lot to manage. My biggest whoa here is Taylor’s acting. Ouch. His performance and his character left me cold, but there is a lot more to reveal so all is not lost.     

Anyway, all this sets up Season Two. We have a pretty good read on Ray V. already. More has too unfold about Ani B. and Paul W. and a slow unveiling of our evil Frank S. must happen. Or is there yet another unseen player? Is someone else behind the city manager’s death? We just got started and the mystery is set. It didn’t all fall into place until the last few minutes, but it is there now. Let’s see where it goes. Oh, and keep your eyes for clues like the books on Ani’s table and the name of the institute her father lectures at. I don’t know if they mean anything or not, but it could add another intriguing layer to it all.     

Naturally, the questions set up here are the particulars of the Caspere crime. We also need to delve into Paul W.’s journey and what happened to him in the desert at a young age and how all this matters in the story; how Ani B. gets past her woes and why they drag her down so; how Ray V. survives playing both sides and if he redeems himself or not and to learn just what Frank Seymon is responsible for and just how evil he and his wife (Kelly Reilly) are. Maybe, Episode Two’s trailer gives us a clue. It is called “Night Finds You.”

Try Max Now

Related Posts

7 comments

Jacob Klein June 27, 2015 - 8:14 am

My wife thought the first episode was confusing and I don’t blame her. There’s a lot going on and on two timelines. I thought it was a fine start but certainly different than season 1. Its tough to say whether it will be “better” than S1 but maybe that’s not the way to look at it. I think it will turn out VERY different and it probably won’t “pick up” until episode 4 or 5 just like season 1 (though most jumped on the bandwagon MUCH later according to the ratings)

Everyone acts like S1 was this smash hit from day 1. Pretty sure it was just me and Jef watching it from the beginning haha.

Reply
Eleonora Iafano June 27, 2015 - 1:09 pm

I agree with all your points. The first half was introducing all the characters and some of their background stories. To me, the story actually began to make sense and the plot really stood out the final 10 minutes of the episode. When watching Season one, it was a slow build up. Having all the action unfold in front of your right off the bat wouldn’t necessarily draw in a lot of fans (but that’s just my humble opinion). My husband and I got right into the first season….but I was really creeped out. EEEK!

Reply
Eleonora Iafano June 26, 2015 - 1:28 pm

I’ve heard a lot of talk about the season 2 premiere – most pointedly it’s been comparisons between last season and this one. I liked the season premiere: and people really need to understand and get it into their heads that an anthology series is just that: a collection of different storylines, different locales and different characters. To me, that’s what’s going to make TD riveting. As a TD fan, I want to see another location and get into another dark and gritty story. I liked that there was a variety of characters to identify with – all four of them are flawed in some way and I think we can all identify with one or more of the characters. My husband already likes Colin Farrell’s corrupt character. I’m not sure what to make of Taylor Kitsch’s character just yet. Rachel McAdams really plays a tough nut to crack – Ani is just seething with anger. Vince Vaughn’s character really intrigues me the most: he’s a mobster who is trying to go legit. So far, with the disappearance of a major player for his land deal, things don’t look so good. Hoping that TD season 2 is going to be another round of creative story telling. I am hooked. Just my humble opinion.

Reply
Ellie Wilkin June 25, 2015 - 2:06 pm

I absolutely LOVED the title credits, I had completely forgotten about how great they were in season one and I was just amazed at the effort for season two. I will most certainly enjoy watching those eight more times! I agree it’s futile to compare it to season one but its so hard not too isn’t it?! Loved episode one and cannot wait for episode two!

Reply
Jonas June 24, 2015 - 11:58 am

Seymon and Woodrugh are very believable characters, I wont judge their actors after the Pilot – especially Vaughn had a strong scene in the bar.

Colin was born to play corrupt, drunken police.
The character is interesting to watch, although I thought it was one layer to much that the kid was born exactly 9 month after the rape.
However Rust Cohle too had a “uncommon past”, but the aftermath for those characters are well-written and thats more important to me.

Making Antidote the manliest character of the main cast, doesn’t necessarily qualify for a strong female role- but again: I’ll just take those starting points of the characters and judge their developments!

Those many directors probably won’t tell such a coherent story with their images as Fukanaga did, but I’m completely satisfied with the angles and atmosphere Lin chosed and established in the pilot.

I won’t comment on the plot and possibly character developments yet.

P.S.: I disliked the intro song originally, but it somehow grew on me :D

Reply
Jonas June 24, 2015 - 1:54 pm

Oh @Jef
The intro is a Leonard Cohen tune, no Tbone involvement.

Reply

Leave a Comment


Adblock Detected

Please support us by disabling your Ad Blocker extension from your browsers for our website.