"True Detective" Finale: Your Thoughts

Self | March 9, 2014 | PJ-Comix

[PJ-Comix]

What are your thoughts on the final episode? I found the manhunt through Carcosa to be over the top INTENSE!!! I couldn't even sit through it. I had to stand and pace a bit with a lot of fidgeting.

Also of great interest was Rust Kohle's new attitude when he had what could be called a near death experience and sensed the presence of his daughter.

[Zeneta]

Thanks,

I tend to agree with you about the way the ending was handled.

The main reason I came to that conclusion was the fact that the series had left way to many loose ends for them to be resolved in an hour long final show.

They easily could have added 4 or 5 more episodes to address those loose ends.

[Cubs Fan]

I thought part of the ending was good—

Cohle’s transformation from cynical nihilist to someone well, at least open minded to the idea that we aren’t just meatpuppets randomly sprinkled here for no reason was good (although clumsy in depiction it would have been better if cohle had died on the floor of the sacrificial chamber, but before doing so telling marty about his daughter—a dark but hopeful ending, instead we got, well, see below)

I also thought the visit from hart’s family in the hospital was good. The camera pans to a shot of hart’s ex wife wearing a wedding ring. She cares about Marty, but they’re never going to be a couple again. This is consistent with the story.

I also thought the fortress and tunnels with bodies and clothes strewn about were very creepy, and consistent with the mood of the burnt out church and the abandoned school, nicely done.

But that’s where the good stuff ends.

Okay, It’s episode 8 of a drama about a satanic cult that murders and sexually abuses women and children. Yikes, it doesn’t get any darker than that. AND the POSSIBLE perpetrators are men of very high standing-a rich patriarch and father to a senator and famous well-to-do evangelist and of course these sons along with a sheriff. Wow, sounds like the makings of an Epic mystery. I wonder who the big baddie is (or baddies are?)

Roll finale—In walks Jethro, er Errol. Erroll Clampet...uh I mean childress. He’s a big fat retarded hillbilly who throws frying pans at his poor dog (one of ellie may’s critters perhaps?) and has sex with his sister. Okay, did I just accidentally change the station to “here come honey boo boo.” Cause I thought I was watching true detective. Where’s the satanic cult, where’s the conspirators? Nope not in this episode. Epic mystery 1 thru 7—episode 8 epic fail.

Another thing about the show that was cool for episode 1 thru 6 and sort of 7, was the dynamic of the two detectives. They’re completely different in nearly every way, with no chance of every becoming friends outside of their partnership, but they seem to have a grudging respect for each other’s abilities. Here comes episode 8. That’s over now. Welcome to marty and rusts odd-couple slash buddy picture. It comes Complete with enough syrupy sentimentality to send people into an instant diabetic coma. the final scene—marty pats cohle’s shoulder, “there there little’ fella” says marty. Cohle turns to hart and says through tears “I love you man”. Hart sobs back “I love you too rust”. Aww, big hug??? No Big fail.

Also what about all those pesky unanswered questions? like audrey hart’s apparent victimization by the cult. Nope, sorry if you were looking for answers, too bad. There are none here.

conclusion-episode 1 through 7 great stuff. episode 8, except for a short list of bright spots, massively disappointing.

[Cubs Fan]

Thanks, I tend to agree with you about the way the ending was handled. The main reason I came to that conclusion was the fact that the series had left way to many loose ends for them to be resolved in an hour long final show. They easily could have added 4 or 5 more episodes to address those loose ends.

Yeah My hope is that maybe someone will adapt the show into a book that answers the questions and thereby creates a better ending. Probably won't happen, but maybe.

[ItsOurTimeNow]

I get what you’re saying - but I think it comes down to expectations. I didn’t have an expectation of every loose end being wrapped up neatly, because the point of the 8-part story was the lives/personalities/relationships of the detectives, not the crime itself. The crime/conspiracy/cult was just the vehicle that served as a backdrop to the transformation of these men.

If you went into the show with the expectation of it being an Agatha Cristie murder mystery, then yes, I can see frustration over how it ended. But to me, that wasn’t the point of the show. We’re not meant to have every answer, because they weren’t questions that were meant to be asked in the first place.

I didn’t see Errol as a retarded hillbilly - I saw him as a deeply disturbed person who had a connection with true evil. He wasn’t stupid. He’d eluded discovery and capture for over 20 years.

WRT Audrey and the potential story line of her abuse (I’ll admit I thought she saw some of the cult’s actions and was stained by it) - I think Hart summed it up nicely early on in the show when he said his greatest sin as a father was being inattentive. The answer/solution to his problems were right under his nose the whole time.

I thought Rust and Hart’s interaction at the hospital was typical of their relationship. Even at the very end when Rust broke down. He experienced something that touched him greatly - it was a profound moment in his life. Having lost a child myself, I completely empathized with that scene.