True Detective (TV Series) Other Lives (2015) User Reviews

Series picks up

[fabiogaucho · 9/10 · 20 July 2015]

Best episode so far. The season is really picking up in the second half.

We are getting less tedious stuff about land deals and getting more about the sinister habits of the powerful guys. Velcoro is getting out of the gutter his life was, though his nasty side is seen in all its brutality - only this time with a purpose. Ironically, life seems to be punishing him more.

I love the scenes where Ani is involved with sexual harassment accusations. They always strike me as funny and somehow Kafkian. I hope they also tie up with the main plot later, with someone on top being behind the attempt to take her down. Also, she and Paul stumble into something that brings us closer to the mood of the first season.

Paul continues to be somehow irrelevant and uninteresting, though. As for Frank, the ending of the episode promises more interaction and conflicts with the other characters.

The plot is getting less convoluted and boring, while the action is getting more intense and sinister. The season is definitely improving.

The best thing that can happen is some mind-bending plot twists in the end, something the first season sadly lacked. But I don't quite see where they would come from. We essentially can discard the idea that the four main characters are hiding anything, since we get so many scenes from their point of view. Maybe Pizzolato has something in store somehow - Ani's father, perhaps? But so far it seems that the mystery will turn out to have a solution very close to where the story is leading. Big guys doing sick things, etc.

Secrets & Lies

[lavatch · 7/10 · 20 February 2018]

In this episode, which passes the midpoint of the series, the motive for the killing of Ben Caspere is finally revealed. Caspere had surreptitious movies on his hard drive, which were filmed at swanky parties. Caspere was using those films as bait for blackmail. The question now is: Who has that hard drive?

The evidence collected by Ani, Velcoro, and Woodrugh point to Detective Dixon as being deep into the plot. Davis, the powerful state official places the three detectives in a top secret undercover sting operation.

The stakes are high, as the man running for governor may be part of the sordid deal of the California "corridor" land grab, in which the now defunct Archeron Waste Management operation planted some toxic materials to give the impression that the land is unusable. McCandless's shady Catalyist operation then buys the land up on the cheap. The odd man out of the deal is Frank Semyon, whose five million-dollar buy-in investment was in the possession of Caspere at the time of his death.

As the detectives search for the killer of Caspere, they become aware of the importance of the hard drive. In a parallel plot, Frank Semyon makes a bargain with the power broker McCandless: if Semyon finds the hard drive, he will be awarded five parcels in the "corridor" land deal.

In his troubled divorce proceedings, Velcoro is shocked to learn that the man who assaulted his wife has been found. This is bad news for Velcoro, who believed that he had killed that man, based on a tip from Semyon. In other words, Velcoro's fragile psyche must now deal with the reality that he killed an innocent man. In the program's closing scene, Velcoro pays a visit to Semyon at a time when the latter seems to have reconciled with his wife and a plan for adopting a child. A major confrontation appears in the offing.

I live among you, with no more stache

[quincytheodore · 7/10 · 19 July 2015]

In the spirit of True Detective tradition, the mid-season experiences a bit of time jump. After surviving shootout scene straight from Die Hard, one would think the leading characters would be appreciated or at least not reprimanded, but the random civilian death toll and their already piling issues bogged down their lives. They are either demoted of cut away entirely.

Ray Velcoro has the most drastic change after the few months aftermath. He is now without his shields, gone are the badge and mustache. As far as job goes he's a glorified bouncer for Frank, mostly drifting away doing illicit bidding. He is still somewhat invested in Caspere case, especially when someone pulls the son custody card. Colin Farrell looks more fragile as though in the verge of crumbling, but still volatile enough to be ominous.

Parental issue is used aplenty for this episode. Paul has severely dysfunctional relationship with his mother, this may be the most reaction we have from Taylor Kitsch so far. He's still mostly reserved, just showing twitches of discontent as he changes occupation. Both he and Frank are troubled by having kids, one way or another, but Frank has lesser spotlight aside from a couple of spouse squabble about their current life style.

In contrast with the other leads, Ani still keeps her law keeping job, though her career takes a hit. Rachel McAdams looks more masculine, perhaps because she settles more into the role or the character gradually becomes connected with others. There's a commanding air about her and not just skin deep for tough female aspect.

The episode has a lighter pace, though this keeps the investigation going as it takes a more sinister turn. Its human abuse issue definitely generates more interest than mere money scam.

The slow build-up in the first episodes is finally paying off!

[dmny92 · 10/10 · 20 July 2015]

When this season began I was hopeful but skeptical, seeing how slowly it started. However, this was by far the most enjoyable episode of the season, at least to date. The pacing, the mood, the use of music (Lera Lynn's songs create this eerie atmosphere during the bar scenes, which is so fitting for this show), the plot advancement, everything was done right. I also noticed the opening credits featured another verse of the hypnotizing "Nevermind" song performed by Leonard Cohen. His voice and lyrics fit the theme very well.

There was some great dialogue, very similar in tone with the first season's discussions between Rust and Marty. I've seen a lot of complaints about the dialogue being pretentious. Yes, average people might not talk like that in real life, but this is art and I absolutely love philosophical lines, it's where this series truly shines and it was the same in the first season.

Now that we know our characters' motivations and personalities, it's actually very enjoyable to watch the story unfold. Without spoiling the twist for the people who haven't watched the episode yet, I'm very interested in seeing how this power turn will impact the relationship between the two.

Here I am hoping for more of the same quality in the upcoming episodes. If it goes on like this, this season is going to be just as good, if not better than the first season, since people love to draw comparisons between the two, even though they're significantly different in many ways. But, as something Frank Semyon would say, the more things change, the more they stay the same.

66 days later

[raggedlyhandsome · 10/10 · 20 July 2015]

Excellent episode. This season gets better with each episode, and, after watching the promo for the next episode, I feel it's gonna be the same. Season one's quality kinda went down after episode 5, but it was still the best thing on television. I feel like this season is just the opposite. Don't get me wrong, I love the whole season, but for me it just keeps getting better. And now I can't wait for the next episode. The dialogue was great in this episode. On the contrary of the popular belief, I think Vince Vaughn is killing it. That line when Ray bangs on his door and he shouts: I'm f_cking coming! Shut the f_ck up! I laughed so hard. Taylor Kitsch's acting is improving, though I still feel like his acting is the weakest. Rachel McAdams and Colin Farrell are still amazing. And also, RIP the 'stache.

The plot really moved forward in this episode. We found out that Frank set up Ray, and that Ray's ex wife's rapist was found. We find out more about Dr. Pitlor, and how he was involved with Ben Caspere and The Mayor's son.

There's also a great scene when Ray beats up Dr. Pitlor.

All in all, an amazing episode. 10/10

Hope I wake before it dies...

[shesetsail · 8/10 · 26 July 2015]

Last episode was like watching Punxatawney Phil stick his head out on Groundhog Day Thank god, thank god, action at last, a shoot out, something, anything! Great action, great responses, excellent, and this episode is a solid follow-on. It still suffers from the fractured and stilted earlier episodes, but it's a definite improvement.

But for something that has been so repeatedly described as not like its predecessor, TD2 has a skeleton formula very similar to TD1; Our main protagonists follow leads/clues which end in a highly dramatic shoot-out and some perps to blame. Only problem is,it's a false trail. Time passes, the world thinks the whole thing is sorted, but our heroes know better; now they have to start again to find the real villain in a world of corrupt cops, big money and old secrets. Sound familiar?

Oh sure it's been tweaked - ineptly. 4 main characters not two, a division of 3 and 1 rather than 2 working together, and a truncated period of time. But that isn't enough to disguise the echoes of the earlier structure, so much more successful because of sharper writing and much better direction. Having 4 main characters meant there was a need for tighter discipline, not all this David Lynch meets James Elroy drool. I mean seriously, Frank Semyon talking about the watermark on the ceiling again? Only now the watermark has gone? Is this a symbol for the rebirth of his marriage? Who cares? There's nothing wrong with ordinary conversations in drama - except of course Frank Semyon never says anything ordinary. The man can't visit the john without ruminating on his past, his future, and the way things are. He suffers from chronic profundity, and unlike his co-sufferer, Rustin Cohle, it doesn't come across as real. It comes across like a man wearing someone else's teeth.

Likewise, no-one cares about bicycle boy's Mama, and if she is supposed to be interesting, we should be finding out while he weaves his way through clues and the plot. Same with all their lives. It's to Colin Farrell's credit that he carries this episode with a lot of charisma and ability, in fact all the actors seems more comfortable and confident in their roles - probably stems from finally getting to play detectives in what was meant to be a season of True Detective, not Mooching Detective or Frustrated Detective, or Daddy Detective or whatever it nearly turned into.

It finally feels as though the story has begun. It's taken a long time, and a little lustre has dimmed - we know now that TD can fail, that it can be tedious and overly self involved. Hopefully these are lessons that can be remembered for season 3.

Best episode of the series so far.. Incredible plot advancement

[shweta-51657 · 8/10 · 30 November 2020]

Very surprised this episode is rated so low..!

While it is still an overall slow episode, some previously subtly hinted at revelations are starting to come to the forefront, and if you figure it out before they explicitly tell you, hats off to you for paying attention right from the start.

The previous episode ends on a high point, and this episode is still much better than the previous, which should tell you just what an excellently written episode this. The episode picks up six months down the line, with the viewers being introduced to the outcome of the shootout for each of the police investigators and how none of them were particularly satisfied at how the aftermath was handled. We also see that things have taken a downturn for Frank Semyon, played by a very gritty Vince Vaughn.

The series on a whole is a very slow burn, but the story has finally started getting going for real now.

I am hooked, line and sinker and I cant wait to keep watching the rest of the series. Shout out to the music and excellent writing and top notch lead actors.

Vince Vaughn

[BigSoulDiva · 6/10 · 10 June 2021]

I'm still engrossed, but it is very compelling how miscast Vince Vaughn is in this. He is so dry and flat. There is nothing going on behind his eyes. He doesn't convey menace nor brooding, just a dullard reading off pretentious lies. And the scripting has really taken a turn this year. Lazy and snobby: the worst.

Film noir into a Suburban Flight

[BirdmanT7 · 9/10 · 23 July 2015]

I think every show should be judged based on its own merits and not to be compared with its original. So far most of the reviews I have read here people keep bashing this show and comparing it to the first season. Yes the first season was undeniably an outstanding; it was among the most compelling drama we had seen on any Cable TV show maybe. Nic Pizzolatto is probably one of the most creative intelligent writers that we have seen in a very long time. I don't think if he is a type of writer who is trying to compete with himself or the first season either.

This second season is set in a different location, its not about some hidden cult or ritual crime that has a religious root in the south. This time we are in California, in a major metropolis city of Los Angeles, where we have a larger more affluent crowd that deal with a lot of real estate and movie deals. Yes I agree with the fact that this season's direction maybe a little less coherent at times, as it was in the first season. Maybe somewhat slow and stagnant at times, but I remember the same criticism was made about the first 3 or 4 episodes of first season too; but this is this writer's style of writing and requires a little patient.

I do agree that casting "Rachel McAdams" as one of the detectives is just does not seem to work, both her acting and her physic for that role just does not seem to be right. I was very surprised to see "Vince Vaughn" in a show like this too?!, I have never taken his acting that seriously, its probably his best work to date. I do like the rest of the cast like "Colin Farrol" and "Taylor Kitch". some of the dialogue is as rich as last season; a signature of this writer that maybe a little more heavy at times for a type of characters like "Frank Semyon", a mobster to sound intellectual, but the scenes between Farrol and Vaughn are probably the most interesting and kind of intense.

The action scene on the 4th episode was interesting but I thought it was a little unrealistic; where you have a bunch cops walking with guns so casually in downtown LA crossing the street going on a bust. "Rachel Adams running after a SUV with a guy who has a machine gun, who just shot a lot of people already but some how missed her, really??. Again, I blame the people who directed that episode; something just not right. I saw "Justin Lin"'s name on the first episode; I was really surprised why he got to be selected to direct this kind of drama?..his work is always about Fast and Furious and appealing to a much younger audience.

I had to go back and see each episode twice, because I refused to fall victim to comparing the first season to this season. I wanted to see why Pizzolatto is taking his time in telling this story this way. This is less about the lives of these detectives as it was in the first season focused on the two. Again, we are in a different City, a city that is known for its fickleness, corrupt cops, a city that had "Rodney King" riots, which is kind of part of this story in relations to the diamonds. The city where there is less depth for those type of characters such as "Rust Cohle" as in the South. "Velcoro" has his own demons and yes he drinks like Cohle in one way to medicate the pain, but Cohle had sense of integrity to himself. One thing both first and second season share is that they are both dealing with a cold case, its a pattern forming in this series where all cops unit to solve a cold case.

Overall having watched up to the 5th episode, I like this season very much but for different reasons. Partially because of its film noir style of using LA and these characters like the crooked mayor, city manager, senators and a mobster all fit into the puzzle of these crimes of selling a poisoned land at any cost. You can read these kind of tabloid stories about land deals in the LA Times randomly that become another huge scam. Sketchy characters like "Caspere", "Frank Semyon" and "Chessani" seem to be the architects of such land deal scams that somehow involve sex parties, drugs, hookers; powerful men, such are the scum that run LA, hence, this show's story fits the city like a glove. There is a sense of apathy that runs through each episode. Lets not forget that classic film "China Town" that was also about LA and land; this story kind of reminds me of the similar corruption, but more contemporary that really relates to the present when it comes to land in California, its another film Noir about capitalist greed into a suburban flight.

I remember years ago there was a Polish director "Krzysztof Kieslowski " that made 3 films in the 90's called: three colors: "Blue", "White" and "Red", when people saw "Blue", they loved it because it was so different in its narrative, but "White" was the complete opposite in its narrative, it was simple, linear and boring to many, but "Red" took everyone by surprise and many film critics say it broke grounds. I think there was a reason that "Kieslowski" directed each film's narrative different. Here we have the same kind of thing, if we keep comparing last season to this season and finding more faults, you will only disappoint yourself and really miss to see the merits of this season.

Pain is Inexhaustible

[ThomasDrufke · 6/10 · 20 July 2015]

So after the insane ending to last weeks episode, the crew took the failed mission pretty hard. Valcoro quit, Bezzerides cant stop thinking about it at her demoted job, and Woodrugh took an insurance fraud job. So it's safe to say they were trying to take it easy after a life threatening altercation. Tonight once again had interesting scenes but failed to get its feet off the ground. It attempted and failed to pull off the detective hangover that shaped the entire first season of this show. Because after everybody couldn't get their life together, it was a matter of a few days before they were all back on the case. It just didn't feel necessary to have the characters go through that progression (or lack there of).

While I have been an avid complainer of Vince Vaughn's character, I really enjoyed his scenes tonight. I think it was more so because I have accepted his presence in a detective based story. I still don't understand exactly why he needs to have so many scenes about having a child, but the acting of both him and Kelly Reilly was impressive. I also came to the realization that this show really misses Cary Fukunaga's directing style. That season 1 aesthetic was unlike anything I have seen before, and this season has failed to ever recapture that magic. I also think it has become evident to me that all the individual stories are becoming more interesting, but I don't think they all work as one cohesive narrative.

It's just one of those frustrating episodes where I enjoyed the individual segments, but realized that the season itself just isn't all that great. I will obviously stick with the rest of the season but I don't see it making any improvements. Plus, the actual detective side of the story just isn't as interesting as Farrell's adoption segments or even Woodrugh's new marriage and family issues. Here's hoping for the best.

+Vaughn

+Farrell's arc

+Individual segments

-Nothing is cohesive

-Where is the detective story

6.8/10

Ray is angry...

[jasperan · 9/10 · 31 July 2018]

The build-up is real. I also really like the direction Frank's story is taking. Much better than episode three and four.

Slowly getting better

[pushingpixels-00364 · 6/10 · 23 July 2015]

This weeks episode finally felt like it was moving in a positive direction rather than wandering around blindly. But that was only half the show, the soap opera half - again we have scenes going on far too long and story that feels irrelevant.

for example, Frank finally sorts his stuff out with his wife and suddenly we're more sympathetic for him so, in Game of Thrones style, we can feel more shocked and sad if/when Ray kills him? We really needed 5 episodes to build all that up? Because I don't see any part of his character which has been particularly relevant to the investigation.

It feels like the season has started now. The case is actually moving on, we understand the significance of Casper and his death (aside from rich guy dies, other rich guys lose money). There is a lot of making up to do, but hopefully we will get a strong finish.

66 days later...

[alwaysdewright · 1/10 · 28 July 2015]

If only so lucky, it would be 66 days later and this terrible season would finally be over. But once again we're stuck in the same place (albeit not the same place, but essentially the same situation). Last episode ends with a horrible shoot out where everyone dies, yet our main characters miraculously make it out alive (again). There's no real backlash or national media attention, just more mumbling and brooding conversations about nothing (again). Vince Vaughn and his wife are still trying to make a baby, and even with all their agonizing dialogue, they can't seem to communicate with one another (again). More lukewarm twists and turns with peripheral characters that don't seem to add much to the story (again). And then the build up to the final scene, where OMG something crazy might happen! Will one of our main characters die?? Tune in next week, I guarantee you won't be disappointed (again).

The Worst

[onion_bums · 7/10 · 2 August 2015]

I can no longer deny the fact that this season of True Detective is as horrible as can be. Even if I forget about the glorious first season for the time being and look at this season as a new show in itself, it still sucks.

Colin Farrell's acting is the only thing I like. He's really very good. The plot progress is so slow that you can doze off for 30 minutes and still be able to follow the story.

All in all, this season is horrible. The acting is quite good but the script is just trash. A 10 year old kid could probably do better than this.

It's gotten horrible

[glddraco-56203 · 1/10 · 22 July 2015]

I just can't excuse the sloppy writing anymore. I feel like this season has failed in every possible way to deliver to their audience the sort of story people want to see come to life. Instead we're getting a very flat and blah story that has made me fall asleep more often than not.

In season one we had a strong story line with an enriched plot and great character development. In season 2 at the end of too many episodes we get this woman singing in the end that is mediocre music in a dull setting. I am so disappointed. This episode has cemented my commitment of giving up on the show. What a shame because so many things in this show could have worked well. Good acting but unfortunately even great acting cannot save a show with a horrible script.

This season is very underrated

[gedikreverdi · 29 November 2021]

There's a girl missing from the escort parties and blue diamonds are missing, too. The three will secretly find out who killed Caspere. Ray accepted it for his son's custody. And his ex wife's rapist was arrested. He hurt te wrong guy. Frank the mob leader must have something to do with all this because otherwise why would we need his boring story? Ray beat up the doctor who's an old friend of the mayor and the dead man. They blackmailed each other with photos taken at the party. So this might also about the horrible family of that heinous mayor. They found a torture shed in the woods. It's a bit too complex but not convoluted.

Moar Girth?

[greenwhich · 20 July 2015]

I found myself rewinding several points for the jokes and dialogue used. A good thing, as with a lesser show I would have been fast forwarding.

Obviously the song and dance is for the 99% who shout hoarse, but the 1% who would actually enjoy it, although in that situation probably only wanted a parade. HAHA

The baby, happy families, is becoming quite annoying. It is everywhere on this show, and I don't know what the responsible message is? We need to move past some of that psychology. The humane choice is to be responsible. Without whatever other influences affect logical thought, possibly like this show. I find that this situation, however interwoven to be quite irresponsible in the message offered. I agree it shows both sides, but any justification seems to be swayed by some opinions. The XYZ of life's equation. Science has often proved much of religion wrong. Today the amount of CFC's generated should be a concern, as well as every other thought and future. I found it more promoting, to be shown for the demographics here. Maybe just me, I could specify, but I don't want to influence opinion, because it isn't my choice.

As usual an explanation. Few have understood the numbers demographic, or quite what supposedly captures the other half. Realtionship, babbies and families, like bunnies, maybe with a song, or some tears. Sarcasm and humour! However in this show we have been bombarded, up to the point, that there hasn't been much other interaction when showing that coupling. A forced baby, a religious baby, x3 abortions no baby, and a bigger family from a commune. I agree there has been some of the flip side of the coin, although lacking by comparisons seen. Do I need to see this in a cop, gangster and noir TV show? Anything happening within parts of America currently as some clinics are closing, obviously because America is such a godly nation and that Anti structure is often so ingrained into common thought. Any numbers generated becoming part of the demographics. If dressing plastic upon any larger length, or any fatter girth it becomes a case of working for her, that pleasure for him might be gone, limited positions, slower, more goo, etc, but can possibly lead to conception. The religious baby shown was in middle of a break up, tightened into a family when the pill didn't work. There I have just gone and influenced, damn it. I wanted responsibility shown, which meant not seeing it, to any of those extents seen here today.

Good episode, seemingly a few motives built into this plot. Entertainment!