^ No problem. Read a bit about the King in Yellow, if not the first couple stories in the book. When watching True Detective it is important to understand, in my opinion, that some scenes are for your benefit and don't necessarily mean much in the context of the mystery Rust and Marty are trying to solve, but instead make a more broad, philosophical point to you, the viewer. Read about Cosmicism/cosmic horror and H.P. Lovecraft, Carcosa, the King in Yellow and the black stars. You are really missing out on some of the astounding depth of this series if you don't. I consider myself somewhat of a literature-buff and this show put me on my ass. The writing [along with everything else] is truly awesome.
Thanks.
I was just sent
this link from a friend. A terrible surface review from an author pandering to her feminist readers. Really annoyed the shit out of me so I had to go somewhere to write out my take on the series.
Here's my take on a sum up of the series core story and message. Two main characters, one dealing with an existential crisis, the other dealing with a middle age/mortality crisis. These two character types bounce off each other well. One is sure of their existential beliefs and the other is accepting and almost even welcoming of death. This causes them to both rub on each other's weak spots and create the deep dialogue which is the center of the show while the two hunt down the villian.
The case pits Rust up against a character who is the embodiment of the worst form of his dark existentialism, the Yellow King. This character brings Rust face to face with his dark existentialism brought to its ultimate conclusions. Rust wrestles with these conclusions ultimately climaxing in a light vs evil battle and Rust's near death experience.
Martin's character ends with a big release. He finally just breaks down and lets go, he has what he wants and he lets the fear of death/mortality lose it's hold on him.
Rust's character is lost at first, remorsing over the sweet release of death being taken from him and not having been able to bring judgement upon all those involved in the murders. But, at the very end, we are given the first shred of light from Rust's character. Marty asks Rust about the stories he's seen in the stars lately. Rust responds with "the oldest story of all, light vs darkness". Marty looks to the stars and remarks that there is a whole lot of darkness. Rust a bit later responds with "You're looking at it wrong, the sky thing" "Once there was only dark, if you ask me, the light is winning.".
Here we are given the conclusion. The wrap up to Rust's existential battle.
This sum up is just at the basic surface and doesn't go into the literary characters used like Cassius notes or the philosophical arguments the characters are based on like Nietzsche. It's the base attraction and message of the show. What these two characters wrestle with in their dialogues, death and ultimate purpose, are the main questions many of us wrestle with today. These two characters bring these questions to their absolute extremes, play out the variables and then end with a parting message -- the light is winning.
Whether you take or leave the message, the characters are very real, the acting performances were amazing and the writing told the story it aimed for in a very captivating way. It was a very well done series.
