Dear Marisa,

I know we’ve been chatting about our TV viewing habits on our podcast, “TV Takeout,” but after watching the fifth episode of the “True Detective” Sunday night, I have to put something in writing. I know, I can’t help myself.

So, wow! What a story is unfolding. Our three sad-sack police officers — and they really are the most desperate, needy, damaged characters I’ve ever encountered on television — are starting to come out of individual fogs. After the blood-letting at the end of episode four, Velcoro, Bezzerides and Woodrugh are still reeling, but they are also beginning to see how they were used by those above them.

Velcoro apparently killed the man he thought raped his wife and now knows that Frank “don’t-call-me-a-gangster” Semyon set him up.

Woodrugh is settling the civilian complaint brought against him by a movie starlet trying to get out of a ticket and knows he was used. And how about that mother of his? If Velcoro is “father of the year” for the way he treats his red-headed son, then Woodrugh’s dancer mom is “mother of the year.’’ She basically told him she wished he hadn’t been born (“You could have been a scrape job”???) and stole his $20,000.

Bezzerides, the best character in the show in my humble opinion, is on to something. Blue diamonds? A sex ring? Was Det. Dixon, who appeared to the biggest schlub in TV detective land, uncover something he shouldn’t have? Appears he was set up too. And do you remember he was one of the first to die in the shoot-out? A single bullet to the head. Looked like an execution.

Whattaya got?

Yours in mystery,

Kathleen

***

Dearie,

I confess this writing thing of ours is really helpful in organizing one’s thoughts and understanding of this very dense show. I’ve been pretty candid about my frustration with season 2 so far, but we are agreed that Sunday’s episode was the best of the lot. If the story continues in this fashion — read: characters (mostly) speaking to one another like most of us do, sans non sequiturs about cavities, sins and water stains, and just living sadly human lives and doing actual police work — I will happily call “True Detective” vindicated.

As much as she’s annoyed me in the past, Jordan’s confrontation with Frank in the back room of his sketchy club finally rang like actual married (gangster) couples. She wants to spend more time together; adopt a kid so she and Frank can save one from the life of crime Frank says he “inherited”; she urges her man to not lose sight of who he’d been becoming before the commuter train deal went south. She says it’s not about money, but, essentially, character — the drive to go legit. I liked that, and that she wasn’t afraid to drop the hard truth on him: he’s now a pimp and a dealer, despite his assertion that his middle managers exonerate him from his growing pile of sin.

I’m wondering if perhaps Frank didn’t intend to set up Velcoro, but, indeed, just got bad intel, perhaps from someone even higher up on the evil food chain? The fact that the show cut to black right after we SEE Ray confronting Frank but BEFORE we could hear the contents of the confrontation at Frank’s house leads me to believe there’s going to be more to that terrible lack of communication than we might think.

As far as the most despicable character of episode 5, I have to throw in the starlet’s lawyer as another contender. He says something like, “Are we still talking? You know you’re going to take the deal…” in that hideous dismissive tone while starlet looks on with a cat-that-just-ate-the-canary grin. Totally gross.

And then there’s the mayor, who gets scummier by the episode. He’s essentially complicit in Frank’s girl-running operation? How else could he charge Frank a “penance” fee for doing it without telling him? And now we know the son is a guaranteed pimp thanks to Rick Springfield, another vile individual.

It’s truly bizarre when the moral compasses of a series are the Velcoros, Bezzerideses and Woodrughs of the world, ay?

Hardened,

M.

***

Oh Hardened One,

So much to digest, I’m getting indigestion thinking about it.

Yes, who knew a few episodes ago Velcoro, Bezzerides and Woodrugh would start becoming the moral centers of the story? But I think they are. And I think it’s possible Frank might join them on the right side? Like you said, Velcoro thinks Frank set him up, but maybe Frank himself was set up. Not really liking Frank. I think he is a gangster no matter how hard he tries not to be. But who knows at this point?

So Velcoro killed the wrong person, right, and told his wife he killed him? And she was mad because he killed someone and that’s what broke up their marriage? And now she’s mad because she thinks he lied to her about killing the rapist?

And what’s up with the little redhead? Whose kid is he? Maybe Frank will adopt him. Oh, wait. Maybe he’s Frank’s? Whatever.

There were a few funny moments too, like when Bezzerideses was at her sexual harassment group. She was being so sarcastic describing what she “likes” and most of them didn’t even get it.

So much, so soon,

K 

***

Asker of many questions,

Based on the zillion faces Ray made when Gena told him that the real rapist had been caught in recent weeks, I got the feeling Ray had told her something like the police nabbed the rapist all those years ago while he kept her in the dark (to protect her?) about what REALLY happened to the crumb he believed to be his wife’s rapist. I mean, no one has ever said he killed the guy; we just presumed it. (I think.) As you say, who knows at this point?

As for the kid, Chad, he is such an interesting non-character (not unlike the scarred barmaid at the Purgatory Bar). He’s Ray’s world and not Ray’s at all. Chad handles his crazy, brass-knuckle-wearing father more calmly than most adults. Very zen. It’s almost like he knows his provenance was one of scandal and just wants to apologize his way through life. I wonder if his true parentage will be some sort of bombshell that we didn’t expect.

Yeah, Ani at group therapy was pretty great. As the group leader tries to shut her down, the other dudes suddenly get supportive: “hey, let her share!”

All that aside, how about the huge dose of political intrigue that got injected into the episode? We have a state senator caught on film at what looks like a girl-ridden party; the attorney general, Richard Geldof (who I have a hard time taking seriously, because the actor, C.S. Lee, was such a goofball on “Dexter”), launching a campaign for governor after conveniently blaming “the Mexicans” for the “Vinci massacre”; and the world’s greatest power play by state attorney Katherine Davis. I LOVE how she pulled out a guaranteed custody win for Ray when he initially refused her request to join a confidential special investigation squad. Everybody wants a piece!

Of course, I’ll bet this barely shocks a seasoned reporter such as yourself. Do you think this level of collusion is far-fetched? Discuss. 

-M.

***

Dear M,

After covering City Hall politics for oh so many years, and looking back on our greater political history, I have to say nothing surprises me. Oh, there’s collusion among the power brokers, but my guess is our bruised and battered threesome, along with an equally needed former gangster and his why-can’t-we-be-normal wife, will join forces and break open the whole thing. (I guess?)

And so the state’s attorney, Katherine Davis, just wants to get ahead? And the mayor is just a big drunk? Or has he done such terrible things he can’t live with himself anymore? And the doctor, (Rick Springfield) will now need another face lift? He just makes the call girls beautiful? And I still can’t get over Woodrugh’s mother. And is Bezzerides sending her sister back to porn? I know she said she was going to reach out to some of the girls (And that dialogue … who says ‘reach out’? Wouldn’t you say ‘I’ll call them’?) I fear our budding artist sister is not going to fare well.

As the Bullseye on the last page of Entertainment Weekly says, “Does anyone know what’s going on?”

Can’t wait until it all comes together.

K.

***

K,

I think you hit it right on the head regarding the mayor, who apparently is never without a chilled shaker of something on-hand. This show is hardly a comedy, so, to have his intoxication such a constant character trait must be meaningful in some way. He drinks more than Ray ever did!

And yeah, all of our detectives and Frank hold such vital pieces of the puzzle in such weird ways that it does appear they’ll have to engage in their own brand of collusion to crack this case. But here’s the thing: even if they crack it, what becomes of them? Vinci and environs would be even more hostile to them. If the politicians don’t screw them out of an enjoyable future of any kind, the criminals might snip those loose ends instead. I’m guessing the ambitious Katherine would be able to shield them a bit, but then again, doesn’t that just start a whole new cycle of intrigue? I mean, she’s already working all the angles just drafting the detectives to her cause.

It would seem the best course for anyone we moderately care about is to get the hell out of Dodge as soon as possible.

I, too, worry about Athena. Ani said she just wants the info about where the next party will be so SHE can get inside, but we know we’re dealing with some dangerous pimps who probably won’t take kindly to infiltration by the cops and/or their helpers. But, the Athena of myth is the goddess of war and wisdom. Maybe our girl will be OK.

Some random predictions before I sign off: Woodrugh’s mother will somehow hamper the case; the mayor will end up dead, too; Ani will successfully quit smoking again; and when we next see Rick Springfield, he’ll be gingerly wearing a neck brace, milking every last drop of sympathy he can get (which will be none).

You? Go!

-M.

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