Detect This!: A True Detective Podcast

It's over. After eight episodes of angst, corruption, and lots of head-scratching, the second season of True Detective has come to an end. But did it go out on a high note? This week, Charlie and Andrew discuss the second season finale, "Omega Station." Does it do a good job of setting up an engaging dynamic between the two central couples? Is the show racist, or just crafting a racist character? Does Ray's fate make any sense at all? Are the final moments emotionally manipulative? And did Pizzolatto succeed in going full Oedipus Rex? Tune in for a conversation about all that and more, plus listener feedback. SHOW NOTES: 0:25 - Intro 4:10 - Overall thoughts on the episode 8:35 - The opening scene with Ray and Ani 15:25 - The Frank/Jordan dynamic 23:55 - Leonard, Erica, and going full Oedipus 38:30 - Is this show racist? 42:05 - Stealing the money 44:30 - Ray's demise and why it's stupid 53:24 - Frank's fatal flaw 1:01:10 - The paternity test and emotional manipulation 1:07:00 - The final scene, Nails, and more on Ray 1:13:15 - Felicia has stuff to do 1:18:15 - Listener feedback 1:22:08 - Show close DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing detectthis@filmgeekradio.com or leaving a voicemail at 336-793-2509. Thanks for listening!

In this episode, Andrew and Charlie discuss the penultimate episode of the second season of True Detective, "Black Maps and Motel Rooms." It's the episode in which answers are finally given, and the puzzle pieces finally start to be put together in a major way. But is it enough to save the season? Is the exposition dump intriguing, or just confusing? Who are Laura and Leonard, and how are they involved? What is Jordan's role in everything happening to Frank? Are the tender moments between Ani and Ray earned? And what about the death of a major character that happens at the end? Tune in to hear a discussion of all these questions and many more. SHOW NOTES: 0:25 - Intro 3:28 - Overall thoughts on the episode 6:25 - Confusing exposition; what we know and what we don't 13:45 - Laura and Leonard 18:32 - Frank confronts Blake 21:50 - Jordan's role 26:00 - Who will die? 30:03 - Ray and Ani are a couple 37:10 - Miguel's betrayal 48:09 - Other stray thoughts 56:00 - Show close DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing detectthis@filmgeekradio.com or leaving a voicemail at 336-793-2509. Thanks for listening!

In this episode, Andrew and Charlie are joined by television critic and author Gwen Reyes to discuss the sixth episode of this season, "Church in Ruins." Did Pizzolatto go "too big" this season? Why do so many characters only exist to serve other characters? Is Frank an ethical guy, or just someone in denial about his actions? Was the much talked-about orgy scene effective? Is Ani feminine enough? Which character is probably going to die soon? And perhaps most importantly: who is Stan?! Plus, Andrew and Charlie go over some listener emails. SHOW NOTES: 0:25 - Intro and honorary members 5:00 - Overall thoughts on the episode 12:30 - Who is Stan?! 15:25 - Characters who exist to serve other characters 18:50 - New questions 25:00 - Frank's ethics 32:48 - The "colossal" orgy, Ani's backstory and knife skills 43:33 - Ray's violence, the details of the Catalyst deal, predictions 49:11 - Listener feedback 1:08:45 - Show close DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing detectthis@filmgeekradio.com or leaving a voicemail at 336-793-2509. Thanks for listening!

Special guest Todd VanDerWerff from Vox joins Andrew and Charlie on this episode to talk about the transition into the second half of the season. Among the topics discussed:Is this season's main problem a structural one? What are the consequences of last week's Vinci Massacre? How does True Detective deal with "penis problems" and gender issues? How does this season compare to other California noir stories? And does there need to be a clear directorial "auteur" behind the camera? Plus, Andrew and Charlie go over some listener emails. SHOW NOTES: 0:25 - Intro and honorary members 5:25 - Listener feedback 14:16 - General thoughts on Season 2's structure 21:15 - The fallout of the Vinci Massacre, lack of consequences 26:40 - The themes of masculinity and femininity 34:24 - Paul and his mother 38:44 - Pulpy dialogue, Vince Vaughn as Frank 47:35 - Comparisons with other California noir stories 55:25 - Directorial auteurism and True Detective 1:01:05 - "Hooker parties" and narrative coincidences 1:07:40 - David Lynch and Twin Peaks homages 1:11:06 - Show close DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing detectthis@filmgeekradio.com or leaving a voicemail at 336-793-2509. Thanks for listening!

For the second time, True Detective has ended the fourth episode of its season with an incredible action sequence. If it happens a third time, it might be a trend. Andrew and Charlie break it all down. What makes Frank the weakest character on the show? What's up with Ray acting all nice and stuff? Is Ani's suspension really a sign of institutional sexism? And how does that intense shootout communicate character visually? Plus, they induct a few honorary members onto the Detect This team and discusses listener feedback. SHOW NOTES: 0:25 - Intro and honorary members 8:50 - General thoughts 11:09 - Frank is stuck 19:03 - Paul's happiness (or lack thereof) 24:45 - Ray is nice now! 30:36 - Ani and sexism 34:00 - Pizzo-WHAT?!-tos 37:40 - David Morse and Dr. Pitlor 42:04 - Ray and his kid 44:20 - That shootout, tho 56:43 - Communicating character through action 1:03:35 - Listener feedback 1:08:09 - Is Pizzolatto the problem? 1:10:35 - Listener feedback 1:19:27 - Show close DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing detectthis@filmgeekradio.com or leaving a voicemail at 336-793-2509. Thanks for listening!

The third episode of this season, "Maybe Tomorrow," is a bit of a let-down after the previous one. Andrew and Charlie disagree on just how disappointing it is, though. Is Ray's fate a literal cop-out? What's going on with the mayor's family? Do the scenes with Paul clarify anything about his character? How much of this season's "problems" are just tropes of the genre? And has Nic Pizzolatto become his own worst enemy? Plus, Andrew thinks he knows who is wearing the bird mask, and the gang inducts a few honorary members onto the Detect This team. SHOW NOTES: 0:25 - Intro and honorary members 5:15 - Thoughts on Ray's fate 10:43 - David Lynch-lite 14:14 - This week's Pizzo-WHAT?!-os 24:00 - The mayor's family 29:20 - Paul and Miguel 35:50 - Frank's issues and noir structure 49:57 - Predictions, diamonds, direction 56:12 - Petty jabs at Fukunaga 1:02:38 - Ray's personal life 1:08:09 - Is Pizzolatto the problem? 1:10:35 - Listener feedback 1:20:30 - Show close DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing detectthis@filmgeekradio.com or leaving a voicemail at 336-793-2509. Thanks for listening!

The second episode of True Detective might put naysayers to shame. "Night Finds You" is weird, quirky, and ends with one of the most memorable moments in the show's run. Before discussing the final scene, however, Charlie and Andrew go over some other important issues. Would this have been better as a two-hour premiere? What's up with the Lynchian vibe? What can we infer about the characters' psychosexual issues? And what exactly is going on there at the end? Plus, Charlie names his first official suspect, and the gang inducts a few honorary members onto the Detect This team. SHOW NOTES: 0:25 - Intro and honorary members 6:55 - Overall thoughts 9:15 - Pizzo-WHAT?!-tos, Lynchian vibes, Lera Lynn 17:40 - Better as a two-hour premiere? 19:27 - Editing in the morgue 22:50 - Clarifying the corruption 27:00 - The first suspect 32:00 - Competing police organizations, hidden sexual kinks 44:05 - Abigail Spencer as Ray's ex 47:10 - The final scene; is he really dead? 55:57 - Listener feedback 1:07:05 - Show close DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing detectthis@filmgeekradio.com or leaving a voicemail at 336-793-2509. Thanks for listening!

It's finally here! In this episode, Andrew and Charlie discuss the season premiere of True Detective. The show seems to be tackling a new subgenre of crime thriller, with mixed results. How does focusing on city-wide corruption inherently impact the structure of the season? Are the actors good, or is Nic Pizzolatto's dialogue just too weird for them to handle? What themes does the season already seem intent on exploring? And what's up with Justin Lin's mediocre direction? Tune in to find out. SHOW NOTES: 0:25 - Intro 3:35 - Overall thoughts, a new subgenre 12:32 - The opening credits 14:20 - Justin Lin's direction 25:45 - Colin Farrell as Ray Velcoro 29:12 - Vince Vaughn as Frank Semyon 35:25 - "Pizzolattos" 37:14 - Kelly Reilly as Frank's wife 39:30 - Rachel McAdams as Antigone Bezzerides 45:00 - David Morse and misogyny 49:45 - Themes of masculinity, trauma, and sex 55:50 - Listener feedback 59:32 - Show close DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing detectthis@filmgeekradio.com or leaving a voicemail at 336-793-2509. Thanks for listening!

After a year and a half between seasons, True Detective is returning this weekend, and so is Detect This! Join Andrew and Charlie once again as they dive into the mysteries of Season 2. In this episode, our dynamic duo review the format of the show and preview the second season of the hit HBO show. What do we know about Season 2? How might the change in directors affect things? Is Vince Vaughn a good actor? What are some concerns moving forward? And just how badass is Rachel McAdams, anyway? Tune in to find out, and be sure to subscribe for our weekly analysis of the upcoming season! SHOW NOTES: 1:16 - How we got here 4:07 - Podcast format 6:00 - People like us for some reason 7:20 - What we know about Season 2 10:48 - Vince Vaughn in a serious role 12:44 - Dramatic staring, early reviews 15:12 - Female roles 17:53 - Re-watching Season 1 (or not) 20:35 - Concerns about Season 2 26:15 - We we want to see 30:50 - Show close DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing detectthis@filmgeekradio.com or leaving a voicemail at 336-793-2509. Thanks for listening!

Andrew has an update on what's going on at Film Geek Radio this summer.

We hope you’ve all had fun Detecting This! Before Andrew and Charlie bow out until next season (or perhaps a summer podcast), they decided to record a special bonus episode to wrap-up the season. The fantastic Maureen "Mo" Ryan from The Huffington Post joins them for a conversation about what worked and what didn’t in True Detective, and how the show fits in the grander scheme of television. How does the reaction to the show reveal its true priorities? How is the controversy about its representation of women related to institutional factors at HBO? Did the show take a definitive stance on religion with its depiction of Rust as risen Christ-figure? What are the benefits of the single director production model, and what will we take away from the show overall? Tune in for all that and a whole lot more. SHOW NOTES: 4:25 - General thoughts on the finale and season as a whole 19:22 - The online reaction, "solving" television series 28:05 - Institutional problems with representation 35:04 - Finding the right balance between meta-commentary and gratuitous spectacle 53:03 - Listener email: things that weren’t clarified, Hart’s daughters 59:50 - Listener email: religious imagery, supernatural elements 1:05:13 - What we’ll take away from True Detective 1:12:40 - One writer and director, benefits of different production models 1:18:45 - Show close DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing detectthis@filmgeekradio.com or leaving a voicemail at 336-793-2509. Thanks for listening!

This is the end, but it's not the end. There will be one more episode of Detect This! to wrap up the first season, but before then, Blair Marnell comes on to talk with Andrew about the Season 1 finale. Was prioritizing theme and character over plot a good choice this late in the mystery? Why might some viewers be disappointed? What are the show's award chances? And is this the most moving ending since Lost? Tune in to find out. Plus, listener emails. SHOW NOTES: 0:25 - Intro and honorary members 4:38 - General thoughts 8:40 - The survivors, Cohle's hallucinations 14:50 - Solving the mystery 18:40 - McConaughey's Emmy chances 23:22 - What's up with Errol? What about Audrey? 32:10 - Steve Geraci, the "chain of command," free will 37:20 - Listener emails 51:56 - Show close DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing detectthis@filmgeekradio.com or leaving a voicemail at 336-793-2509. Thanks for listening!

The end is nigh! In this episode, Andrew and Charlie discuss the problematic nature of "After You've Gone." Is this actually a bad episode of television, or just a weak episode of a great show? Cohle and Hart seem to have switched places, but have they really changed? Does the reveal at the end ruin a lot of the suspense, or is it leading to an ambiguous and subversive finale? What exactly do people think is going to happen in the final episode? They dive into a few listener emails and voicemails to see who has the most compelling theory. SHOW NOTES: 0:25 - Intro and honorary members 6:15 - General thoughts 9:50 - Too complicated for weekly viewing? 16:50 - Cohle and Marty switching places 24:48 - Graphic violence and the videotape 30:40 - The reveal at the end 40:41 - What we want from the finale 51:02 - Listener voicemails and emails 1:09:02 - Show close DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing detectthis@filmgeekradio.com or leaving a voicemail at 336-793-2509. Thanks for listening!

In this episode, special guest Gwen Reyes joins Andrew and Charlie to discuss "Haunted Houses," the sixth episode of True Detective. This episode deals a lot with power dynamics and how people manipulate each other. What does Beth reveal about Hart's hypocrisy? Where does Cohle's investigation seem to be leading? Is this show going to make viewers go crazy? And is the backlash against Maggie really fair, or is it just another example of viewer misogyny? Plus, listener emails and voicemails. SHOW NOTES: 0:25 - Intro and honorary members 9:48 - General thoughts 22:26 - Beth the underage prostitute 29:50 - Cohle's investigation 38:58 - Broken taillight 40:52 - Listener voicemails and emails 1:07:44 - Show close DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing detectthis@filmgeekradio.com or leaving a voicemail at 336-793-2509. Thanks for listening!

Things start to get really complicated in "The Secret Fate Of All Life," especially when it comes to figuring out the truth. Can Hart and Cohle be trusted in the present day? To what extent are the filmmakers and editors obligated to present an objective reality? Why is Hart's daughter acting so strange? And is Cohle really a viable suspect, or is this just a red herring? Tune in to find out. Plus, Andrew and Charlie go over listener emails. SHOW NOTES: 0:25 - Intro and honorary members 10:29 - General thoughts, unreliable narrators 13:50 - Trusting the filmmakers' account of what went down 23:43 - Is Cohle the killer? 35:20 - What's up with Hart's daughter 44:10 - Do people change? 48:00 - Where's Ginger? 56:53 - Listener emails 1:15:15 - Show close DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing detectthis@filmgeekradio.com or leaving a voicemail at 336-793-2509. Thanks for listening!