OT: True Detective and other winter TV distractions
I'm totally bored, totally sick of snow and totally into True Detective right now. Last drinking thread there appeared to be others into it.
What say you people of the MGoBoard? Who watched True Detective? Where do you see it going? Last night they set up the possibility that Cohle is behind some of the murderous happenings down in Louisiana. I'm not seeing it, but can't ignore the possibility.
Other winter distractions?
The Walking Dead has returned with its ever-slowing plots.
House of Cards Season 2 is out. I've never watched it, but I know its big.
We're just six-ish weeks from the return of Game of Thrones.
And, when all else fails, there's beer to discuss. I'm tipping back a Bell's Amber Ale at the moment.
SPOILER PROTOCOL: For the sake of everyone, I propose the following: Talking about anything that's happened in any of these shows, to date, is fair game. Talking about events/characters/plot points that have yet to occur in the shows (Walking Dead and GoT to be specific) should be verboten and considered dirty spoiling.
So, if you are not up to date on the TV shows, tread lightly. If you are a book/comic reader and know future plot happenings, those of us who just watch would appreciate your discretion.
February 17th, 2014 at 10:11 PM ^
February 17th, 2014 at 9:16 PM ^
February 17th, 2014 at 9:23 PM ^
For the first time, the Walking Dead mid-season premier had fewer viewers than the season premier.
Last night when I was deciding whether to watch True Detective or Walking Dead at 9pm, it wasn't even a choice. The Walking Dead could wait and it had nothing to do with commercials.
The ratings aren't in for last night's episode yet, but here's this season's ratings. Last night's ratings might be a big sign... if they're below 13, AMC better start re-thinking how badly they're milking the cow because they could be in store for a plummet:
| 36 | 1 | "30 Days Without an Accident" | October 13, 2013 | 16.11[50] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 37 | 2 | "Infected" | October 20, 2013 | 13.95[51] |
| 38 | 3 | "Isolation" | October 27, 2013 | 12.92[52] |
| 39 | 4 | "Indifference" | November 3, 2013 | 13.31[53] |
| 40 | 5 | "Internment" | November 10, 2013 | 12.20[54] |
| 41 | 6 | "Live Bait" | November 17, 2013 | 12.00[55] |
| 42 | 7 | "Dead Weight" | November 24, 2013 | 11.29[56] |
| 43 | 8 | "Too Far Gone" | December 1, 2013 | 12.05[57] |
| 44 | 9 | "After" | February 9, 2014 | 15.76[58] |
February 17th, 2014 at 9:34 PM ^
True Detective is easily the best new show I've seen this year. First couple of episodes may feel slow, but that's because they use investigative interviews with McConaughey and Harrelson as a plot device to relate details of a prior murder investigation.The acting in those scenes, particularly McConaughey, is riveting. As others have said, things do start to pick up. The closing sequence in Episode 4, six minutes filmed in a single, unbroken shot, will have your heart racing. Episode 5 which aired this past Sunday is the best yet. Plot moves quickly with some big reveals that set the stage for the final three episodes.
Another show that I really enjoyed was the BBC Sherlock series. I binge viewed three seasons in a couple of weeks. If you haven't seen the show, each season is only three episodes; however each one is about the length of a movie ~90 mins. The first two seasons are available on Netflix and you can stream Season 3 online or via the PBS app if you have Apple TV.
Have heard great things about Banshee so that might be next.
February 17th, 2014 at 9:36 PM ^
February 17th, 2014 at 9:38 PM ^
But last nights episode picked up steam and pushed the ball. The problem i have is with the speed. People running around only keeps me interested for so long. The plot, hopefully, will pick up now though.
Either way my sunday nights are a crap shoot where a certainty used to exist.
February 17th, 2014 at 9:42 PM ^
Workaholics and Moar Workaholics
Thats all we watch here in Darker Blue land
February 17th, 2014 at 9:49 PM ^
February 17th, 2014 at 9:51 PM ^
I started watching True Detective as something to bridge the gap until GoT. I didn't think it would it be nearly as good as it is. My theory is about Cohle and Hart is that they have been secretly investigating the murders/conspiracy surrounding the murders to present day. To go further, I think they never had a true falling out. It was merely staged for one reason or another, similar to the "firefight" that led to Reggie Ledoux being killed. Cohle and Hart have been secretly working together all along.
Regarding GoT, I have a theory that Jon Snow is the love child of Rhygar Targarian and Lyana Stark. The only reason Ned never revealed his identity, was that Robert would have had Jon killed out of spite. This is the "promise" that Ned made to Lyana on her deathbed.
February 17th, 2014 at 10:04 PM ^
you and every other person that's read the books
February 18th, 2014 at 9:10 AM ^
On your Jon Snow theory: Are you a book reader? (Rhetorical question, please don't answer, I'm going to assume you're not). Because I'm working my way through the HBO series for the third time (picking up S3 today!) and I don't remember anything that remotely suggests what you're talking about. So you possibly just revealed something. Maybe you're a book reader and you know you didn't. Maybe you're a non-book reader and just going out on the limb. Still..
I didn't neg you, but I'm sure that's the reason someone did.
As GoT's return gets closer, I worry more and more about spoilers. The great thing about MGoBlog is that were a small enough, and mature and educated enough community that can discuss the show devoid of significant worry for spoilers leaking out. Hopefully we can keep that up.
February 18th, 2014 at 9:29 AM ^
It's not a spoiler because Jon Snows lineage is never revelaed in the show or books. It is only speculation. The producers of the show once said that in speaking with Martin, they guessed Jon Snow's identity and he confirmed it was correct. However, they would not say what their theory was. Take that for what it's worth. I wouldn't intentionally spoil such an important part of the series.
February 18th, 2014 at 9:43 AM ^
Yep, understood, I'm just reaaalllly defensive about GoT spoilers :)
Though, at some point one has to assume Snow's lineage will become known. However, now I know that it has yet to be revealed in the books. See what I mean? Saying something isn't a spoiler can, in fact, kinda be a spoiler.
Not a big deal, but still.
Makes me realize that when the next book comes out, I'm probably going to have to go on a hiatus from the Internet for a year or so.
February 17th, 2014 at 10:15 PM ^
February 17th, 2014 at 11:01 PM ^
February 17th, 2014 at 11:30 PM ^
February 18th, 2014 at 5:57 AM ^
February 17th, 2014 at 11:44 PM ^
February 18th, 2014 at 1:04 AM ^
February 18th, 2014 at 1:05 PM ^
February 18th, 2014 at 1:23 AM ^
February 18th, 2014 at 8:16 AM ^
True Detective had me hooked in episode 2 when woody's gf got naked. WOW words escape me in describing that scene
February 18th, 2014 at 10:08 AM ^
I think Cohle as the killer is the most obvious possible "twist," and so there's no reason to anticipate that being the case, particularly when considering that the signs are pointing that way this early with three episodes to go. If he in some way does prove to be the killer, then it must also come with an even bigger twist of some sort. It looks to me like someone in a very powerful position is responsible for the killings, whether it is a big time politician or religious figure or what have you.
In regards to GoT, it seems like they can milk two more seasons (including this one) out of the current book material before they either have to take the main plot in their own direction. My understanding is that the next book isn't even scheduled for release until next year (or was it the one after that?!) so I feel like there are going to be some big choices to make sometime soon.
Either way, Martin is supposedly writing three more books, I think it was? It doesn't seem possible for HBO to continue this series as a parallel to the books and yet release one new season per year plus also have the willingness to keep this series going for another decade or so (which would seemingly be necessitated by Martin's normal writing speed.) The overwhelming precedent is that HBO will drop or cut short an expensive series if the ratings don't stay extremely high, so if at any point the huge fanbase this show currently has wanes even slightly, I think the possibility of a satisfactory finish that parallels the books comes into a good deal of doubt. Hell, a lot of people don't believe Martin will ever even finish writing all of the books, much less do it fast enough for HBO. "If you want justice, you've come to the wrong place."
February 18th, 2014 at 10:28 AM ^
The good thing is that Martin has told Benioff and Weiss (exec producers) the conclusions of the major plot points.
There are two books remaining of seven total in A Song of Ice and Fire. The upcoming season roughly covers, I believe, the second half of the third book, A Storm of Swords. The next two books are written in parallel, covering the same sequence of time. The assumption has to be that the following seasons of the TV show will cover those books simultaneously.
How many seasons can they get out of those two books combined? Probably at least three?
By then, the penultimate book will be out. But you're right - unless something changes, the series will work through the penultimate book before the final is finish. Theoretically, the books could be written in time, but we all know Martin won't rush his baby, as history has proven.
February 18th, 2014 at 10:51 AM ^
I thought I read somewhere that they're going to have the remaining books be split amongst two seasons. So that gives us one season left for book 3 and then 4 seasons for book 4 and 5. So we have 5 years before the TV show gets to a point where it's ahead of the books.
February 19th, 2014 at 9:48 AM ^
If that's true, then book 6 should be done by the time the series catches book 5, right?
2014 - Storm of Swords
2015 - Feast of Crows/Dance of Dragons
2016 - Feast of Crows/Dance of Dragons
2017 - Feast of Crows/Dance of Dragons
2018 - Feast of Crows/Dance of Dragons
2019 - Winds of Winter
2020 - Winds of Winter
2021 - Dream of Spring
2022 - Dream of Spring
Note: Production/writing for a season takes place the entire year prior.
A - Damn, that's a long time. A lot can and will change. Martin would need to finish Winds of Winter by 2018 (maybe a little earlier) for the TV series to stay ahead of the books at that point. That seems plausible, if not probable.
B - Can Martin finish Dream of Spring by 2019? That's a resounding "NO" based on his past history, unless HBO can encourage him to pick up the pace.
C - Most likely, the TV schedule gets sped up. As much of a hit that GoT is, can the ratings be sustained for another nine years? Unlikely. Though, possible. However, would we want that? I don't know without reading the books, but from the TV world, dragging out plots has never turned out well (X-Files, Lost). However, GoT has shown that it can end plots (and lives) and start new ones that are rich and interesting.
However it all turns out, it will be a remarkable study of media in general.
I wonder if a possibility is for the show to go on hiatus for a year or two until the final book is published. That could create a huge buzz to drive ratings in the series' final season.
February 18th, 2014 at 1:04 PM ^
February 19th, 2014 at 6:09 PM ^
"Time is a flat circle."
TD is truly an amazing show. If you want more on Episode 5 (and the series in general), check out this article here:
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/02/16/true-detective-episode…
"Now, think about all the things Cohle is talking about," he said as he finished chewing. "Is he a man railing against an uncaring god? Or is he a character in a TV show railing against his audience? Aren't we the creatures of that higher dimension? The creatures who can see the totality of his world? After all, we get to see all eight episodes of his life. On a flat screen. And we can watch him live that same life over and over again, the exact same way."
Whoa.
As an obscure side-note: I formerly owned the same shirt (well, not the exact same one, but you know what I mean) that Marty has worn the last two episodes: the 1994 Pink Floyd "Division Bell tour" t-shirt. I wore the hell out of that before it basically turned to cotton dust and I had to dispose of its sad, although once glorious, remains. Nice to see the show's creators add that little touch. Now, what it signifies? Who knows. I could likely run with THAT theory for pages and pages, if I had time to think about it. ;-)