Score: 4.5/5
That time jump, though.
“Other Lives” picks up two months (give or take) after the deadly shootout with Ledo Amarilla’s crew… and all our characters are doing something different.
Ray (Colin Farrell) is no longer a detective. He quit and is working “security” for Frank (Vince Vaughn). In other words, he’s trying to act tough and provide muscle, but he still has a soft spot.
Ani (Rachel McAdams) is attending a sexual harassment class and has been demoted to working evidence.
Woodrugh (Taylor Kitsch), despite earning a medal of valor in the shootout, is working insurance fraud cases, and he hates it. He’s convinced he needs to be in the field.
Woodrugh and Ray are both in the midst of their legal battles. Ray is fighting a custody battle over his son. Woodrugh is still trying to bury the case the famous actress brought against him.
Nobody seems happy… and nobody seems to believe Amarilla is responsible for Ben Caspere’s murder.
Woodrugh and Ani are all aboard the “let’s go rogue and possibly neglect the law in pursuit of the killer” train, an option state attorney Katherine Davis (Michael Hyatt) is pushing.
Davis, who wanted to bring down Ray for corruption, promises she’ll now help Ray with his custody battle if he commits to the undercover cause, and that’s all it takes. The band of misfit detectives is ready for its under-the-radar investigation to find out what really happened in the Caspere case.
For the first time this season, “True Detective” has found its season one form. The unofficial search for the killer provides a more interesting dynamic for viewers.
There’s no more corruption case, and Ray isn’t being pushed to solve things quickly. In other words, the sole focus of the investigation is to actually figure out what happened (go figure), and all our characters are highly motivated to do just that.
The writing in “Other Lives” is noticeably sharper than it has been, more natural. Other than the ongoing Frank and Jordan (Kelly Reilly) will they/won’t they adopt a child drama, there’s little fluff to be found anywhere during the one hour time slot.
The performances are solid once again. Farrell is particularly fantastic, stealing just about every scene he’s in. He can perfectly convey an emotion and switch immediately to another with relative ease.
This season of “True Detective” has divided opinions, but Farrell’s performance is undeniable. He has been a constant, and he is worthy of awards consideration.
You can reach Jack on Twitter @Jack_TDR.