Yeah, the show went up several notches for me when I heard the Cthulhu Mythos references. I'm interested to see where they go with that. I doubt they'll bring in any significant supernatural elements, but if it went full on Cthulhu I'd love it.
So can anyone give me a run down of what the show is about? I have seen commercials for it but that really has not told me much.
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But they're not broadcasting an episode opposite the Superbowl, so we'll have to wait an extra week. Well, at least no one tried to mow my lawn; I mow my own lawn.
Call me crazy, but I don't think they were arguing about the lawn there...might be some subtext or something I may have to ponder later.
So don't call this a spoiler, because I'm not revealing anything from the show itself, but I picked up August Derleth's Mask of Cthulhu the other day and was reading the story "The Return of Hastur." The family involved has the surname Tuttle, which is the same as the bigwig reverend in the show who pushed for the new task force.
There have been mentions of The Yellow King in the show...
I'm aware, I was just pointing out the possible Reverend Tuttle connection.
Ah. Yeah. Sorry. Thanks for that though! I've never read that particular story. I'll have to look for it.
Call me crazy, but I don't think they were arguing about the lawn there...might be some subtext or something I may have to ponder later.
So don't call this a spoiler, because I'm not revealing anything from the show itself, but I picked up August Derleth's Mask of Cthulhu the other day and was reading the story "The Return of Hastur." The family involved has the surname Tuttle, which is the same as the bigwig reverend in the show who pushed for the new task force.
Having watched the most recent episode, it does appear that there may have been no little subtext to issue of lawn mowing.
I'm very impressed with this series. Is anyone out there a fan of The Killing? I read that Nic Pizzolatto, the creator of True Detective worked as a staff writer on that show. Having watched the american version of The Killing, you can really see the influence. (Like, in a good-if-not-entirely-user-friendly sort of way.)
That has to have been the most disappointing ending to a series/season I've seen in a long time.
How so Greg? I found it perfectly in keeping with the previous 7 episodes.
How so Greg? I found it perfectly in keeping with the previous 7 episodes.
I realise we are supposed to assume that the Tuttles are prime movers here, but how can Marty and Rust even be remotely satisfied - and how can we even assume the story is over - if they are still out there doing what they are doing?
It was just deeply unsatisfying. He was "just" another serial killer.
I understand that the writer was probably wanting to write a character piece primarily, and while I appreciate well written characters (I loved Mcconaughey's 1997 Rust - amazing) I like stories. And as a story, this one just ended so flat to me. All build up and no pay off. Too many unanswered questions. Its like he drew out the story so he could have 8 episodes to show of the characters but in the end just didn't care about what he had built up.
At least thats what I saw. And I passed up the first episode of COSMOS for this (no PVR...)
Spoilered for the sake of those who do have a DVR:
As for Childress being just another serial killer, I guess that depends if you think that Rust's vision in the labyrinth was a hallucination, or something else. The two examples we have his hallucinations are vapor-trail psychedelic light effects, whereas the bird flock and the owl in the church in the same episode (episode 2 for sure this time), and the fourth dimensional view of of the universe at the center of the labyrinth didn't use that visual language, which I think should be considered in the King in Yellow/Carcosa/Weird Junk equation.
Spoilered again...
And since they talked about him still seeing things as they were on the way out to the house, I assumed the "wormhole" was Rust hallucinating.
. . . And again!
I wasn't trying to quibble with you over specific points, though. I just think the series requires a lot of viewing.
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It'll be interesting to see how Season 2 plays out - I had thought that the subsequent seasons would till tie to each other in some way or shape, which would serve to provide more info on the central case in this season. In other words, I don't think we've seen the last of (or possibly even scratched the surface of) the King in Yellow conspiracy.
But I could be making that up entirely.
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I read the post-mortem interview with the creator, and looks like I may be more wrong than right. However, there is this:
"What’s the update on season two?
I am still fleshing it out. The basic idea: Hard women, bad men, and the secret occult history of the U.S. transportation system. I was well on my way in the writing but there’s been a lot noise and work around the end of the first season that got in the way."
Of course, given the newscasters voice-over, there's some evidence that the YK conspiracy has been totally outed.
Edit: Oops, spoilered just in case.
Some Rust Cohle/True Detective humor:
http://www.someecards.com/2014/02/28/true-detective-hbo-rust-cohle-matthew- mcconaughey-pickup-lines
So many nods to Alan Moore's work in this excellent show, including Rust's final philosophical grace note, a straight lift from the Top Ten comic.
For those of you who think the finale was disappointingly mundane...go back and have a look at Childress's "father's" corpse, chained up in that hellish abbatoir. I think...I think that's Rust. That poor bastard. That's what you get when you interfere with hypertemporal evil avatars of Hastur.
Speaking of mythos tropes, I'm expecting Marty to go insane after repeated exposures to things that should not be seen.
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I for one though the ending was pretty good. it left lot to interpretation which I like although I understand it's not for everyone, especially in modern TV where everything is explained. I hope that he uses more mythos stuff in the next season it would be cool if he used each season to tell a story about characters and the whole series to tell a story about the yellow king.
I suspect the Yellow King plot thread might be one and done for this season. My guess would be next season we will get some thing else with nods to cosmic horror but not specifically the Yellow King. Lots of other material to draw inspiration from.
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Next season is supposed to deal with the US transportation system and the occult. That's the rumor - may have a female lead.
If this is true it could cover any number of strange things tied to the US Transportation System (highway system or rail system, don't know).
This could also be tied to the Freeway Killer(s) that killed over a 100 people in California during the 70's. Three unrelated killers (one had cohorts, but all three core killers had no contact with each other).
I know another killer who actually worked on some freeways was hiding bodies of his victims during their construction - which can also lead to some occult overtones (sacrifices for buildings or bridges).
or something else entirely....
Seems like a strange topic - Idk if that is still going to be the premise but that was the last I checked on season 2.
The above material is just me making guesses at the final potential content.
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So season 2 is underway and the first episode is very mixed. I can really appreciate what they attempted though I think the showrunners stumbled a little in execution. The next few episodes will determine where this goes from here.
I think it was brilliant to try and develop characters before plot. Many folks were complaining about too many stories to follow. I found this odd since really there are only four characters of note so far. I like the chance to tie the story together on my own, and that is exactly what the writers are allowing. I understand that is a departure from traditional screenwriting so I understand the criticism. There certainly were a few spots I feel the writers stumbled and criticism is due.
I understand that Vaughn and Ferrel are the star power here, but I think Mcadams and Kitsch did an excellent job with their characters. McAdams character Bezzerdies is interesting because she certainly has her own baggage but tends to questions the morality of those around her. It will be interesting when that lens is finally turned inwards. Kitsch is playing the boyscout with PTSD and provides an interesting contrast to the other officers. Kitsch's character Woodrugh's rage has turned inward and his journey will be interesting.
None of these ideas are exactly original, but I think TD has a chance to do something fresh with them. Well, then there is Ray...I think they really horsed Ferrel's character and his scenes have some of the worst writing yet on the show. Ray is typical detective cliche wrapped up in one big let down. I am hoping they stray far from the beaten path with Ray but I dont have my hopes up. If anything Bezzerdies will have a fun time working with Ray.
I'm curious about Vaughn's character Semyon. There is an interesting dynamic between him and his wife played by Reilly. I look forward to seeing that fleshed out more. Vaughn though really didnt show any range as crime boss Semyon. I mean even when he lost his cool and shattered his glass he didnt look terribly upset about it. In the much derided bar scene he seems to be trying to console his associate Ray and once again it felt flat. Even though I eye-rolled through Ferrel's characters development, at least Ferrel is doing the best with what he has to work with. I am hoping Vaughn isnt going to mope his way through this season.
Right now I see highs and lows and I am hoping it pays off ahead. The season seems to be more focused on the characters themselves than the plot and I think that is of most interest. A questionable start with potential for a big pay off. I'm cautiously optimistic about the rest of the season.
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I suspect the Yellow King plot thread might be one and done for this season. My guess would be next season we will get some thing else with nods to cosmic horror but not specifically the Yellow King. Lots of other material to draw inspiration from.
Paizo.com devoured my post, bleah..
I think this is going to be tied to a sex-cult, possibly mythos related. Possibly Shub-Niggurath. Soon there will be whispers around the water cooler about who or what is the Dark Goat of the Wood with a Thousand Young, just like they did with the Yellow King....maybe not, but possibly. Lemme esplain...
So my theory on the Shub-Niggurath cult angle -
Each of the characters have a sex/relationship issue - Ani, can't be or stay in a relationship. Ray doesn't want one anymore and shows no interest. Also, he was "trying" to have a kid when the incident with his wife occurred. The CHP guy has some functional issues and Semyon is trying IVF treatments to have a kid...more on him in a moment. So I think it could be a factor or underlying theme with the GOO.
The crime and the icon plus some peripheral players (the Russians) made me think of the Skoptsi -as written up for Delta Green but could be based off of the real thing, and then the black idol in the car with Caspere made me again think of the Skoptsi and their black icons (and their search for them/importance). So Caspere may have been part of this cult and had his bits and pieces removed because in some way he offended the cult or put a resource at risk. Maybe a track of land? Maybe he found an icon?
Santa Muerte can also be considered an avatar of the Dark Goat - all those found bodies in the field with markers in the opening shot. Missing women, and no doubt they may play up missing children/adoptions from Russia. So this can go a 100 ways. Or maybe a 1000 - Young.
The monk's name who started the Skoptsi - Semyon. Maybe a coincidence with our underworld character in TD2, but the whole thing seems suspect.
Skoptsi/Shub-Niggurath FTW. I'm sticking with that theory until at least the next episode.
So.....how much xp do I get for cracking this thing wide open?
Anyone?
.... Good stuff
*...
I missed the idol in the car. Gonna have to go back and watch. Like your theory!
Seems like scarification might be symbolic/important in this one.
That said, I wasn't knocked out by the first episode. There's a lot missing, visually and script-wise, compared to Season 1.
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I read some reviews before I saw the season premier, and was completely unconfused when I watched it, despite having heard only that it was too fragmented and nihilistic for the human consciousness to comprehend. This one has me just as intrigued as the first did, but I think it's important to remember how little the first season premier (that is, just the first hour of season 1) defined. I think the lackluster reviews are a result of reviewers comparing the emotional-closure-gestalt-experience of having seen the entire first season with the vast, open-ended WTF?! of having watched only the first episode of either.
it was a lot slower start, that is for sure.
As for theories, we get a lot of large overview shots of the highway grid. I am wondering if the layout of the roads is suppose to be some sort of occult symbol? And if murdering the major force behind rail project isn't some attempt to preserve the symbol?
As for mythos connections...I think its going to be super super lightly touched upon. I don't expect any name check of any mythos dieties, although I would love to be surprised.
I just can't get into it. I don't know why.
This season or the show in general?
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it was a lot slower start, that is for sure.
As for theories, we get a lot of large overview shots of the highway grid. I am wondering if the layout of the roads is suppose to be some sort of occult symbol?
Ah, like the M25 London orbital motorway then? I hadn't realized Crowley had made it over to the States. :)
Definitely an improvement over last episode.
Based on the body in the morgue, I think...
Damn ** spoiler omitted **
I wasn't expecting that. On the other hand, at this point I don't have any actual actual care or emotional investment in that particular character, so if I was suppose to feel anything more than "huh" than the show has failed in that regard.
** spoiler omitted **
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OR
Its loaded with rock salt, or some sort of similar non lethal ordinance
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Well, some things were explained and...
And I wonder if the animal masks on Caspere's wall have any connection to the criminal cult associated with the Yellow King in TD season 1?
So - some other weird conspiracy related facts and info for those inquiring minds that want to know.
The Red Dragon Detective agency realized last night that the town of Guerneville is right next to Monte Rio, which is where something really nutty occurs.
Again, I ask you to delve into the madness at your own risk.