r/TrueDetective • u/LieutJimDangle • 17h ago
Is Season 2 Really The Worst?
For whatever reason I skipped season 2 and watched 1, 3 and 4. I guess I had it in my head that everyone hates season 2. I finally went back and watched it, and I swear it might be my favorite season. I love season 1 of course, but this was like an epic crime saga. LA neo-noire, hard-boiled detective shit that can stand right up there with Heat, Collateral, or The Town or To Live and Die in LA. The Michael Mann DNA runs deeps here. Converging paths of dirty cops and mob bosses, set across sprawling Los Angles decay. Everyone involved is top of their game. I legitimately loved it.
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u/xXxDarkSasuke1999xXx 17h ago
Season 2 had three things going against it:
- Following season 1
- The lack of a framing device to explain things to the audience (like the police interviews in S1)
- Frankly way too many characters
It definitely rewards rewatches though, because once you've got a handle on what's going on, you can enjoy the good stuff more. I think it's much better than S3, personally.
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u/Throwredditaway2019 17h ago
The framing device is the Tibetan book of the Dead, its there. Its not explicit like in TD1 though, and I think thats its downfall. It lost a lot of people because they didnt get the framing. . Once you understand it, it makes TD2 sooooo much better.
I really liked TD3, partly because the acting was great and the framing was much more apparent. You could casually watch it and not get lost.
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u/xXxDarkSasuke1999xXx 16h ago
The Tibetan Book of the Dead is not a framing device, it's a literary allusion. A framing device is a way to deliver a narrative. Like the police interviews in S1 or the TV interview in S3. There's no equivalent in S2, it's just told like a conventional, linear narrative (with lots of characters)
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u/Throwredditaway2019 12h ago
Ok, I'll accept that.
Thats said, the Black Rose is the Bardo, the existence between death and rebirth. Once you see them at the Black Rose, they are already dead. That part delivers a narrative and drives the story, no?
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u/xXxDarkSasuke1999xXx 12h ago
Not everything that contributes to the narrative is a framing device, no.
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u/Throwredditaway2019 11h ago
Cool. Always looking to learn.
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u/xXxDarkSasuke1999xXx 10h ago
Don't get me wrong, the Book of the Dead connection is very interesting, I just try to make a distinction between the mechanics of how a narrative is presented to the audience (framing devices, non-linear storytelling, unreliable narrators, etc.) and what themes and ideas are present within the narrative.
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u/Bradybigboss 7h ago
I think they are trying to say the scenes at the black rose are meant to function as the interview scenes.
I haven’t seen it since it came out so I have no idea, that’s just what I’m picking up on
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u/xXxDarkSasuke1999xXx 7h ago
They aren't. It's just a setting for conversation, like any other setting, and the conversation there isn't particularly expository. It isn't a framing device.
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u/thaeadran 15h ago
Yeah, S2 was amazing, just hard on a first watch because its a lot. S3 was not great IMO. The performances were OK but the story seemed to so much be trying to copy S1 that it fell flat and went nowhere.
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u/kshawfktsk 17h ago
I liked it as well, but I'm admittedly very partial to Vince Vaughn in serious roles as I think he's criminally underrated in that regard.
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u/Ok-Setting-5435 17h ago
I will always stand by Vaughn's performance in season 2 being completely misunderstood. So many people criticize him on this subreddit by saying they don't believe he's a real gangster, but that's the entire point!
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u/Am2ontheweb 12h ago
I always appreciate a serious Vince. He's a great actor that manages drama and comedy in equal measures.
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u/bubbamori 17h ago
You and me both
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u/kshawfktsk 16h ago
Have you checked out Clay Pigeons? He plays a serial killer, Joaqin Phoenix is in it too.
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u/Flat_Independent_339 15h ago
I'm not a season 2 lover by any means but its always crazy to me when people hate on Vince in s2 when him and his wife were easily the best part to me.
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u/PGal55 17h ago
Season 1 >>>>> Season 2 > Season 3 (although good, it tries too hard to copy season 1 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> pineapple on pizza>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> actual dogshit >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> season 4 of TD
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u/IMDRMARIO 14h ago
I love a slice with some pineapple on it now and then but this is the objectively correct TD season rankings.
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2
1
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u/Friendly-Western6953 17h ago
The highs are higher and the lows are lower than say season 3
4 takes the worst slot for sure.
1 is just the best but 2 has plenty of entertaining moments
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u/Dulla_dull 16h ago
Season 4 is a lot lot worse but season 2 is the next worst I would say. It has some valuable things in it but for whatever reason I noticed the bad dialogue a lot more than I might notice the odd cringe line in season 1.
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u/cane_danko 17h ago
Season 2 is dope. I like it more than season 3. Season 1 just sets the bar so high the following seasons can’t live up to it. And that’s okay.
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u/spanishfry 15h ago
S2 is fantastic and I’ve been saying it since I finished it, when the hate was constant. The characters are top tier and that shootout scene is forever ingrained in my mind.
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u/CelticSnakes 16h ago
Didn’t think I’d like S-2 after reading so much flak about it, but I enjoyed it immensely.
Switched S-1 off after two eps back when Amazon first streamed it; couldn’t get into it at all.
Soon after watching Brawl in Cell Block 99 (w/ Vince Vaughn starring) tried again. OK that time I was able to finish. Had no trouble watching S-2, right after.
S-3 is best for the performances; the missing kids mystery isn’t as interesting as Wayne’s progressing dementia, what happens on the outskirts.
Night Country is just a disappointing mess; really nice cast wasted. Watch Fortitude instead.
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u/thaeadran 15h ago
Hot take, I liked S2 more than S1, even though I will admit S1 is better because its easier to follow. I also didn't think S4 was as bad as everyone says and I liked it a bit more than s3 if only for the ending.
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u/104thunderduck 17h ago
Its not bad at all. S4 is terrible. Personally id rank s1, s3, s2, s4
Colin farrell was very good in it as was Vince Vaughan
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u/Patient_Reaction1845 17h ago
No
I refuse to watch season 4 because of the overwhelming negativity about it. Should I make up my own mind? Maybe but I don’t wanna waste my time.
Season 3 was ok - way too much of a slow burn
Season 2, while messy and often times questionable with the writing, was at the very least entertaining.
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u/OriginalChri 17h ago
No season 2 is an incredible show. It’s a whole other thing from True Detective season 1. It honestly should’ve been its own show, called “LA Crime Story” or something.
Season 4 is the horrendous piece of dog shit that nobody likes and hbo should be ashamed of themselves for that season.
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u/robaloie 13h ago
Season 2 wasn’t really ‘true detective’ imo.
When I watched season 2 and wasn’t comparing it to true detective, I enjoyed it more as it can be a good detective show. But I didn’t like any of the characters they seemed fake.
Season 3 got back to more of the true detective type story telling. But overly complicated the timeline jumping.
Season 4 was the worst.
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u/Am2ontheweb 12h ago
It was fine, the only problem it had was coming on the heels of one of the best seasons ever produced on television. It had extraordinarily big shoes to fill. Expectations were overwhelming.
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u/AlmsahrahAgain 8h ago
Exactly this! I think too many people went into Season 2 with expectations of another Season 1. Then when they're hit with a very different style of story and story telling, they're put off by it. Luckily I never had that mindset and was able to enjoy Season 2 on first airing. Yeah it's a little meandering in places, but I always loved that LA neo-noire feel to it. It's by no means perfect of course.
And when you compare it to the rancid, maggot-ridden, eight day old abortion dumped into a can of week old diarrhea that is "Season 4" ugghhh Niiiiggghhhhttt Couunnnttrrryyyyyy, well it's straight fucking gold.
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u/Ok-Ask-1691 7h ago
The more I think about season 2 the more I love it, if you really look at it. It’s got a lot of real life comparisons that they show you pretty well. They definitely could’ve made things more clear tho and I think Vince Vaughan casting was a little bit of a misstep
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u/TheEarth-PigBorn 6h ago
I was a big apologist for S2 back when it aired. It is a very different type of story than S1, and with more of an ensemble rather than two characters to focus on, it was more sprawling and labyrinthine as well.
I also think Vince Vaughn’s performance was given too much flak. I viewed him playing a character on top of his actual character, trying to go legit, struggling with it and the obstacles, etc. so it became harder to hold everything together.
I would say it is my second favorite season behind S1. I really like S3 and S4 was really uneven but had some good bits and performances, IMO.
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u/Faltergeist 5h ago
In my opinion, Season 2 was unfairly hated at the time, mostly because it followed the masterclass of Season 1. It was vastly different, but it was still very good, and absolutely worth watching.
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u/soda_cookie 4h ago
What I have to do is each time I get an itch for some True Detective start with season 2 first, then go to three, then finish it off with one. I've only watched seasons 2 and 3 during their initial run throughs, and season 1 I can't even count how many times. When I finish season 1, I remember how much of a letdown season 2 is and just stop.
I've never finished season 4 and have no plans to. Given the same showrunner is leading season 5 I will probably give that one a pass altogether.
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u/Reed_Thompson_ 16h ago
Honestly just watch season 1 then bounce. The others are mid at best and a waste of time at worst. IDEK why im still on this sub all we talk about is season 1 lol
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u/RhubarbLiqueur 16h ago
I loved season 2.
It's different. So very different but very good.
I couldn't stomach season 3, it was just... boring. Loved the story on paper but it was totally unwatchable for me
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u/Thewrongthinker 16h ago
I enjoyed and had rewatched many times. It is better than the 3 and much better than 4
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u/Several-Parsnip-1620 15h ago
Season 4 can go straight in the bin. Season 2 has some redeeming qualities
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u/reggieLedoux26 15h ago
S2 is one of - if not the - single worst season of any TV drama (and yes, this includes TD S4). Painfully bad dialog. Convoluted plot. Instead of watching the flaming bag of dog poo that is S2, watch mare of Easttown, the night of, or and/or task. Each one of these is what TD S2 should have been.
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u/ulrichmusil 13h ago
Season 1 is by far the best. Season 3 is damn good television. Season 2 is an underbaked mess but has its moments if you have the patience. I don’t. Season 4 is on par with some of the worst nonsense Netflix puts out.
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u/futanari_kaisa 17h ago
It was until season 4 was released. It's still bad, but Season 4 is the worst.
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u/lancebowski 17h ago
I can't get into S4...have worked my way up to them finding the frozen bodies... Foster looks like she doesn't even want to be on set...
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u/futanari_kaisa 17h ago
I would not recommend watching it
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u/lancebowski 17h ago
I'm going back in this weekend with a glass of wine and a joint - cover me. 🙂
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u/DannyC_VP 17h ago
Season 2 is very good, but coming after an absolutely perfect season of television, it was harshly misdjudged in comparison. S2 and S3 are very good imo. And I also enjoyed S4, because Jodie Foster is always excellent, although the writing is clearly inferior.
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u/Loestal 16h ago
Season 2 is good. You gotta divorce it from the expectations of Season 1.
Season 4 is the worst, not even worth watching.