True Detective’s season two premiere might have introduced us to a show full of broken characters, but the American crime drama is as strong as it ever has been.
“The Western Book of the Dead” introduces the audience to Ray Velcoro (Colin Farrell), a talented but troubled detective stationed in Vinci, California. Ray’s had a rough past that has led him to alcoholism and has placed him in the back pocket of the city’s career criminal Frank Semyon (Vince Vaughn).
Frank is a casino owner with a shady past, but he’s hopeful that a land deal affiliated with California’s high speed railway will legitimize him as a real business man.
But then his business partner (and Vinci city manager) Ben Caspere goes missing, throwing a wrench in Frank’s plans.
Ani Bezzerides (Rachel McAdams) is a Ventura County Sheriff’s officer who also loves to drink alcohol and has a penchant for gambling.
She has strained relationships with Steve (the guy she’s hooking up with), her hippy father and her sister. It appears Ani was raised in a cult and her mother committed suicide, all of which make her a troubled individual.
Highway patrolman Paul Woodrugh (Taylor Kitsch) is put on administrative leave when a celebrity lied about him soliciting her during a routine traffic stop. He has mysterious scars all over his body, and he keeps his girlfriend at arm’s length.
Paul goes for a late-night bike ride with his headlights out, and when he swerves off the road, who should he find, but Ben, dead on the side of the highway.
He calls 9-1-1, which leads to us getting a closing shot of Ray, Ani and Paul huddled around the body, setting up the first meeting of our main characters as they attempt to solve this season’s murder.
Most of the show’s early criticism is unfounded. Some of the same people who praised season one are writing off season two because “too many of the characters are broken.” Rust Cohle and Marty Hart were far from happy, healthy individuals in the show’s debut season.
Broken characters make the Los Angeles underworld even more riveting and believable. Presenting the characters as happy, honest people would just feel inauthentic.
Episode one is anchored by strong performances from everyone involved. It leaves the audience wanting to know more about the characters and leaves it curious where the show is headed.
You can’t ask for much more from a premiere than that.
You can reach Jack Woods on Twitter @Jack_TDR.