Monday, August 4, 2014

A Critique

I've said it before, I'll say it again. True Detective is the single best piece of work HBO has put out since The Wire. For those who haven't had the pleasure of viewing, it is a visual crime novel, a modern detective murder mystery. It takes place in the deep swamps of southern Louisiana, one of the more fascinating places, in my opinion, in Americana. Almost jungle-like, with looming oil rigs sucking the life blood of our economy from the Gulf in the distance, it is almost Apocalyptic. It is dark, gritty, mysterious. It is, the perfect geographic setting for this story. If you haven't seen it, binge watch the 8 episode first season. Now.

Compared to my current show, also on HBO, The Leftovers, well, let's just say it still remains the best since The Wire. Without spoiling, The Leftovers is simply about a random day in which 2% of the world's population simply vanishes into thin air at the same time, and how those left behind are dealing with it. Some believe it's the rapture, others believe it's simply a scientific mystery. And although it's dark, depressing, and strange, and although I can already tell it will never reign among the Kings of HBO (The Wire, The Sopranos, True Detective), it might just be exactly what we need to see right now, in A.D. 2014.

We are living in uncertain times, no doubt. A large plane just recently disappeared off the radar, carrying hundreds of people, without even a trace.

And they say, at least about a democracy, that the people get the government they deserve.

Well, I believe that rule applies to television as well.

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