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True Detective - 1x05, “The Secret Fate of All Life” - Early Review

Feb 16, 2014

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“Y’all never caught the man who did that. He’s been out there, killing…”

After four episodes spent primarily focusing on the hunt for Dora Lange’s killer in 1995, tonight’s new True Detective begins to spread our focus a bit more, moving frequently into 2002 and 2012. “The Secret Fate of All Life” is another incredibly strong installment in what has become easily my favorite new show of the year - the scripts, cast, direction, everything is on point. There isn’t a single weak link here, and as we near the single-season arcs conclusions (next year will focus on a completely different case & cast of characters) the urgency is picking up pace.

We open tonight pretty much exactly where we left off, with Cohle and Hart using Ginger to lead them to Reggie Ledoux. Remember that glimpse we got of Lange’s supposed killer two weeks ago wandering his compound & wielding a machete? That’s exactly where intel leads our detectives tonight and the extended scene that takes place there is, like much of the series, an awesome mix of chilling, darkly funny and thematically complex. Rust Cohle, of course, is the one who speaks the episodes title as part of one of his nihilistic ramblings to detectives in 2012. With the story of Reggie Ledoux seemingly wrapped up, Papania and Gilbough reapproach the question presented in the premiere - if the man responsible for these murders was found, then how are they continuing into present day? It’s a question posed both to Hart and Cohle as well as the audience. Papania and Gilbough believe they already know the answer.

Hart walks us through parts of what came after Ledoux’s apprehension as the story begins to shift attention to 2002. While we don’t yet see what exactly caused the rift between our protagonists that year, we do get a good idea of where things were at with them individually. Hart’s creepy daughters (sorry, they are) have grown up, and so have their problems. Watching Harrelson play the conflicted father to two teenage girls is fantastic, and I can't help but be amazed at how precisely fleshed out our main characters have become in just five episodes. I’m also not ready to say goodbye to them in three weeks.

“The Secret Fate of All Life” provides many more questions than answers, but in doing so also propels the series into new territory. With only three episodes to go this season the most compelling mysteries are heading to the forefront - what happened to cause a rift between Hart and Cohle? Who is “The Yellow King” (lots of mention of him tonight) and could Rust possibly have something to do with the murders he's been trying to solve? Evidence provided tonight may make you believe he does. The tone of the series remains darkly unique, and creator / sole writer Nic Pizzolatto has done an incredible job of keeping audiences totally immersed in this world. The dialogue is so great I often find myself rewinding scenes to listen closer and take more away. This series, certainly, is one that will benefit from repeated viewing. Hit the comments to let us know what you’re most excited for about tonight and visit again after the show to share your thoughts. This one is a doozy.


Excerpts from tonight's episode:

“You know the good years when you’re in ‘em. Or you just wait for ‘em until you get ass cancer and realize the good years came and went.”

“This is a world where nothing is solved.”

“I cleaned up, but maybe I didn’t change. Not the way I needed to.”

“I know what happens next. I saw you in my dream. You’re in Carcosa now. With me. He sees you.”

True Detective airs Sunday nights at 9 on HBO and “The Secret Fate of All Life” premieres tonight. Follow me on Twitter for updates on True Detective & all my other SpoilerTV work.

16 comments:

  1. My favorite ep so far!
    This show just keeps getting better and better.

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  2. Didn't read all of this because I don't want to be spoiled but I am glad we are seeing more of 2012 and also delving in 2002, I was hoping they would go there.

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  3. Understandable - would love to hear your thoughts afterwards. It's a great episode.

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  4. Oh I'm sure I will have lots of thoughts afterwards and will read your review properly then. I love this show.

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  5. I look forward to this episode. I have been harboring the suspicion that Hart may be the one involved in these murders and not Cohle which the other detectives think is involved. I think Cohle learned about this or suspected it which is what caused the rift between him and Hart. I find the show's approach to focusing on a different case and different characters every season very interesting and similar to that of American Horror Story.

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  6. Nice preview Max. Thanks for getting the preview out this week.

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  7. Interesting theory about Hart

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  8. Review makes me super excited for tonight's episode !!!

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  9. I thought the killer was Martin, but now I think the killer is the guy at the abandoned school from the first episode, or Billie Lee Tuttle, maybe Billie is the yellow king.

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  10. After watching Ep. 5 its apparent to me Cohle realizes he cannot find the killer within the confines of wearing a badge. Episode 5 leaves us at the school where Cohle begins to realize this. He must work outside the law to catch him (or her). He becomes like Batman, a Dark Knight of sorts. So he leaves the police force and continues investigating this case. Hence the name of the show True Detective.

    Now as to how much Hart is involved in this continuing off-the-books investigation we have yet to find out. I think Cohle hit a road block and he wanted to have a look at the info the current detectives have on recent killings. That is why he shows up at the 5 crime scenes in a months time. He sets himself up as a suspect in order to find what the other cops know. Which is eluded to when Hart tells them Cohle was getting a read on them.

    The next episodes will delve into how Cohle intends to leave the police force without raising suspicions to his true intentions. He may even let Hart in on it because he feels he can trust Hart since he helped him cover up how he murdered LeDoux. Thats how I see it at this point but can't wait until the next episode.

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  11. I think we have yet to meet the killer(s) but I do think the killer is associated with the Rev. Tuttle.

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  12. I'm just about to screen episode 6, can't wait. And I think you're right - many are quick to jump on the 'it was obviously Cohle' train, though I'm thinking the same as you. It seems a red herring, when in actuality I also believe he's just bringing the investigation off the grind. Part of me thinks Hart is involved somehow, but I'm not totally convinced. I definitely think Tuttle will have a bigger part in the final 3 episodes.

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  13. Do you remember the picture in the house of an old lady? There were five knights or something like that.
    Tuttle family owns the school, so I'm sure ... Billie and his cousin are involved.

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  14. agree, but remember this story is about Cohle the "True Detective" and maybe Hart too. in fact now that I think more about it both Hart and Cohle are on the same page. both have removed the constraints of the badge to catch the killer. both are convinced that "higher ups" are involved. maybe Tuttle, maybe not. but the story is the "True Detectives" not the villain. Youre not going slap together a couple big name actors and have a run of the mill detective story and expect it to get ratings. there has to be something more and I think the more is these guys going off-grid to catch the killer and maybe something else yet, possibly something that wont be revealed until Season 2.

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  15. Hart saw something more than those two kids in that shed that gave him a reason blow LeBeoux's head off. So you may be correct.

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  16. Joel, priest from episode 3, now I think he is the yellow king! And Tutlle family are involved too

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