It's not a general principle & even if it were (back when I wrote this), recent pieces have questioned such an idea and suggested the opposite; but a show must stay true to its premises & TDs02 is about traumatically broken people in an irredeemably corrupt world, ergo it must stick to that premise & allow it to develop as it needs to (be true to the characters), no matter how painful or "nihilistic" the outcome (which it did in the end).
I find your analysis and reaction absorbing, Jasun. Like you, I number among the small crowd who really like TD's second season. Like you, I found that it lodged in my psyche. I mean, so did season 1, which is its own masterpiece. But season 2 did it in a different way. And I appreciate your insightful reading of it.
The unspoken presupposition which seems to animate this essay (which to be fair is extremely well-written) is that the *bleaker* art is, the greater its veracity, and therefore the more worthy it is of praise; when art becomes *less* bleak, however, as Jasun observes to take place in eps 5 and 6 of S2 of True Detective, it then loses its power as bubblegum loses its flavor, since (again) he seems to think that art must be *bleak* to adequately reflect truth and thus be of value to the viewer.
I am nothing resembling a pollyannic optimist, but even I balk at such a presupposition, as it seems at least to flirt with sheer nihilism... I believe that the best art is nourishing to the soul, even when the subject matter is dark and disturbing. And I don't think that holding out hope is a "cope" or a cop-out, as seems to be suggested here.
I agree, e.g. sublime music. I note the author’s reply. I also want to acknowledge that the author’s review (this post) rises, itself, to art. There is such depth of attention and feeling. I don’t often anymore exercise that degree of painful attention. I’m glad to be reminded of a faculty that has been blunted over the years—for survival reasons, I suppose. It is still “in there.” I appreciate Pizzolatto’s—and Horsley’s—“call of the wild,” calling out of hiding those long lost feelings. It takes me back...
What did you think of Season 4? I've seen all four and can't recall much of Season 3 but I'd be interested re: S4.The very question may put some on tilt, or so it seems online from a cursory look.
Season 2 was better than most rated it, imo. I like that he didn't shy from all out tragedy. Gives a cautionary tale it's oomph imo. I guess McAdams slips through the cracks so not all of the proverbial hope is lost, as it were.
Words have power, cliche as that may be to say (I'm sure you've heard the connection b/t spelling, spells, etc.) so I find it interesting that I remark that 'not all proverbial hope is lost' above and you reply that you've 'abandoned hope.' Doubly notable to me b/c hope is a sync archetype which is one of the major themes for me personally speaking the last week? Few days for sure.
As for Season 4 a lot intentionally can be gleaned from the opening song they play over the credits. Even House of Dragon is getting a little wokeishly on the nose.
It's not a general principle & even if it were (back when I wrote this), recent pieces have questioned such an idea and suggested the opposite; but a show must stay true to its premises & TDs02 is about traumatically broken people in an irredeemably corrupt world, ergo it must stick to that premise & allow it to develop as it needs to (be true to the characters), no matter how painful or "nihilistic" the outcome (which it did in the end).
I find your analysis and reaction absorbing, Jasun. Like you, I number among the small crowd who really like TD's second season. Like you, I found that it lodged in my psyche. I mean, so did season 1, which is its own masterpiece. But season 2 did it in a different way. And I appreciate your insightful reading of it.
The unspoken presupposition which seems to animate this essay (which to be fair is extremely well-written) is that the *bleaker* art is, the greater its veracity, and therefore the more worthy it is of praise; when art becomes *less* bleak, however, as Jasun observes to take place in eps 5 and 6 of S2 of True Detective, it then loses its power as bubblegum loses its flavor, since (again) he seems to think that art must be *bleak* to adequately reflect truth and thus be of value to the viewer.
I am nothing resembling a pollyannic optimist, but even I balk at such a presupposition, as it seems at least to flirt with sheer nihilism... I believe that the best art is nourishing to the soul, even when the subject matter is dark and disturbing. And I don't think that holding out hope is a "cope" or a cop-out, as seems to be suggested here.
I agree, e.g. sublime music. I note the author’s reply. I also want to acknowledge that the author’s review (this post) rises, itself, to art. There is such depth of attention and feeling. I don’t often anymore exercise that degree of painful attention. I’m glad to be reminded of a faculty that has been blunted over the years—for survival reasons, I suppose. It is still “in there.” I appreciate Pizzolatto’s—and Horsley’s—“call of the wild,” calling out of hiding those long lost feelings. It takes me back...
What did you think of Season 4? I've seen all four and can't recall much of Season 3 but I'd be interested re: S4.The very question may put some on tilt, or so it seems online from a cursory look.
Season 2 was better than most rated it, imo. I like that he didn't shy from all out tragedy. Gives a cautionary tale it's oomph imo. I guess McAdams slips through the cracks so not all of the proverbial hope is lost, as it were.
Got half an episode in & abandoned hope
Words have power, cliche as that may be to say (I'm sure you've heard the connection b/t spelling, spells, etc.) so I find it interesting that I remark that 'not all proverbial hope is lost' above and you reply that you've 'abandoned hope.' Doubly notable to me b/c hope is a sync archetype which is one of the major themes for me personally speaking the last week? Few days for sure.
As for Season 4 a lot intentionally can be gleaned from the opening song they play over the credits. Even House of Dragon is getting a little wokeishly on the nose.
abandoned hope in order not to enter, i shd add