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Detect This!: A True Detective PodcastEpisode #19: Omega StationIt's over. After eight episodes of angst, corruption, and lots of head-scratching, the second season of True Detective has come to an end. But did it go out on a high note? This week, Charlie and Andrew discuss the second season finale, "Omega Station." Does it do a good job of setting up an engaging dynamic between the two central couples? Is the show racist, or just crafting a racist character? Does Ray's fate make any sense at all? Are the final moments emotionally manipulative? And did Pizzolatto succeed in going full Oedipus Rex? Tune in for a conversation about al...2015-08-131h 25Detect This!: A True Detective PodcastEpisode #18: Black Maps and Motel RoomsIn this episode, Andrew and Charlie discuss the penultimate episode of the second season of True Detective, "Black Maps and Motel Rooms." It's the episode in which answers are finally given, and the puzzle pieces finally start to be put together in a major way. But is it enough to save the season? Is the exposition dump intriguing, or just confusing? Who are Laura and Leonard, and how are they involved? What is Jordan's role in everything happening to Frank? Are the tender moments between Ani and Ray earned? And what about the death of a major character that happens at...2015-08-0757 minDetect This!: A True Detective PodcastEpisode #17: Church in Ruins (w/ Gwen Reyes)In this episode, Andrew and Charlie are joined by television critic and author Gwen Reyes to discuss the sixth episode of this season, "Church in Ruins." Did Pizzolatto go "too big" this season? Why do so many characters only exist to serve other characters? Is Frank an ethical guy, or just someone in denial about his actions? Was the much talked-about orgy scene effective? Is Ani feminine enough? Which character is probably going to die soon? And perhaps most importantly: who is Stan?! Plus, Andrew and Charlie go over some listener emails.
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0:25 - Intro...2015-07-281h 12Detect This!: A True Detective PodcastEpisode #16: Other Lives (w/ Todd VanDerWerff)Special guest Todd VanDerWerff from Vox joins Andrew and Charlie on this episode to talk about the transition into the second half of the season. Among the topics discussed:Is this season's main problem a structural one? What are the consequences of last week's Vinci Massacre? How does True Detective deal with "penis problems" and gender issues? How does this season compare to other California noir stories? And does there need to be a clear directorial "auteur" behind the camera? Plus, Andrew and Charlie go over some listener emails.
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0:25 - Intro and honorary members2015-07-221h 13Detect This!: A True Detective PodcastEpisode #15: Down Will ComeFor the second time, True Detective has ended the fourth episode of its season with an incredible action sequence. If it happens a third time, it might be a trend. Andrew and Charlie break it all down. What makes Frank the weakest character on the show? What's up with Ray acting all nice and stuff? Is Ani's suspension really a sign of institutional sexism? And how does that intense shootout communicate character visually? Plus, they induct a few honorary members onto the Detect This team and discusses listener feedback.
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0:25 - Intro and honorary members2015-07-141h 21Detect This!: A True Detective PodcastEpisode #14: Maybe TomorrowThe third episode of this season, "Maybe Tomorrow," is a bit of a let-down after the previous one. Andrew and Charlie disagree on just how disappointing it is, though. Is Ray's fate a literal cop-out? What's going on with the mayor's family? Do the scenes with Paul clarify anything about his character? How much of this season's "problems" are just tropes of the genre? And has Nic Pizzolatto become his own worst enemy? Plus, Andrew thinks he knows who is wearing the bird mask, and the gang inducts a few honorary members onto the Detect This team.
SHOW...2015-07-101h 22Detect This!: A True Detective PodcastEpisode #13: Night Finds YouThe second episode of True Detective might put naysayers to shame. "Night Finds You" is weird, quirky, and ends with one of the most memorable moments in the show's run. Before discussing the final scene, however, Charlie and Andrew go over some other important issues. Would this have been better as a two-hour premiere? What's up with the Lynchian vibe? What can we infer about the characters' psychosexual issues? And what exactly is going on there at the end? Plus, Charlie names his first official suspect, and the gang inducts a few honorary members onto the Detect This team.
2015-06-301h 08Detect This!: A True Detective PodcastEpisode #12: The Western Book of the DeadIt's finally here! In this episode, Andrew and Charlie discuss the season premiere of True Detective. The show seems to be tackling a new subgenre of crime thriller, with mixed results. How does focusing on city-wide corruption inherently impact the structure of the season? Are the actors good, or is Nic Pizzolatto's dialogue just too weird for them to handle? What themes does the season already seem intent on exploring? And what's up with Justin Lin's mediocre direction? Tune in to find out.
SHOW NOTES:
0:25 - Intro
3:35 - Overall thoughts, a new subgenre
12:32...2015-06-241h 02Detect This!: A True Detective PodcastEpisode #11: The Detectives ReturnAfter a year and a half between seasons, True Detective is returning this weekend, and so is Detect This! Join Andrew and Charlie once again as they dive into the mysteries of Season 2. In this episode, our dynamic duo review the format of the show and preview the second season of the hit HBO show. What do we know about Season 2? How might the change in directors affect things? Is Vince Vaughn a good actor? What are some concerns moving forward? And just how badass is Rachel McAdams, anyway? Tune in to find out, and be sure to subscribe for...2015-06-1832 minDetect This!: A True Detective PodcastEpisode #10: Season 1 Wrap-Up With Mo RyanWe hope you’ve all had fun Detecting This! Before Andrew and Charlie bow out until next season (or perhaps a summer podcast), they decided to record a special bonus episode to wrap-up the season. The fantastic Maureen "Mo" Ryan from The Huffington Post joins them for a conversation about what worked and what didn’t in True Detective, and how the show fits in the grander scheme of television. How does the reaction to the show reveal its true priorities? How is the controversy about its representation of women related to institutional factors at HBO? Did the show take a de...2014-03-241h 23Detect This!: A True Detective PodcastEpisode #9: Form And VoidThis is the end, but it's not the end. There will be one more episode of Detect This! to wrap up the first season, but before then, Blair Marnell comes on to talk with Andrew about the Season 1 finale. Was prioritizing theme and character over plot a good choice this late in the mystery? Why might some viewers be disappointed? What are the show's award chances? And is this the most moving ending since Lost? Tune in to find out. Plus, listener emails.
SHOW NOTES:
0:25 - Intro and honorary members
4:38 - General thoughts
8:40 - The survivors, Cohle's hallucinations
14:50 - Solving...2014-03-1653 minDetect This!: A True Detective PodcastEpisode #8: After You've GoneThe end is nigh! In this episode, Andrew and Charlie discuss the problematic nature of "After You've Gone." Is this actually a bad episode of television, or just a weak episode of a great show? Cohle and Hart seem to have switched places, but have they really changed? Does the reveal at the end ruin a lot of the suspense, or is it leading to an ambiguous and subversive finale? What exactly do people think is going to happen in the final episode? They dive into a few listener emails and voicemails to see who has the most compelling theory.2014-03-091h 12Detect This!: A True Detective PodcastEpisode #7: Haunted HousesIn this episode, special guest Gwen Reyes joins Andrew and Charlie to discuss "Haunted Houses," the sixth episode of True Detective. This episode deals a lot with power dynamics and how people manipulate each other. What does Beth reveal about Hart's hypocrisy? Where does Cohle's investigation seem to be leading? Is this show going to make viewers go crazy? And is the backlash against Maggie really fair, or is it just another example of viewer misogyny? Plus, listener emails and voicemails.
SHOW NOTES:
0:25 - Intro and honorary members
9:48 - General thoughts
22:26 - Beth the...2014-03-041h 10Detect This!: A True Detective PodcastEpisode #6: The Secret Fate Of All LifeThings start to get really complicated in "The Secret Fate Of All Life," especially when it comes to figuring out the truth. Can Hart and Cohle be trusted in the present day? To what extent are the filmmakers and editors obligated to present an objective reality? Why is Hart's daughter acting so strange? And is Cohle really a viable suspect, or is this just a red herring? Tune in to find out. Plus, Andrew and Charlie go over listener emails.
SHOW NOTES:
0:25 - Intro and honorary members
10:29 - General thoughts, unreliable narrators
13:50 - Trusting...2014-02-231h 17Detect This!: A True Detective PodcastEpisode #5: Who Goes ThereDetect This is finally back! In this episode, Andrew and Charlie discuss "Who Goes There" and that crazy final shot. How does the cinematography relate to the mood and themes of the show? What do we start to learn about Cohle's past? Will the disintegration of Hart's marriage make him a better cop? And just what's up between Cohle and Ginger, anyway? Tune in to find out. Plus, listener voicemails and emails.
SHOW NOTES:
0:25 - Intro and honorary members
10:07 - General thoughts, the final shot
18:42 - Cohle's dark past, he and Hart throwing themselves...2014-02-2353 minDetect This!: A True Detective PodcastEpisode #4: Bonus Feedback EpisodeIn this special bonus episode, Andrew and Charlie dive into some listener voicemails and emails to discuss True Detective so far. What is the show really trying to get at in its depiction of religion? How come people are connecting so personally with its bleak themes? How does this season seem to be structured? What do we think will happen next? And is Nic Pizzolatto correct when he talks about modern television shows abusing the audience? Tune in to find out.
SHOW NOTES:
0:25 - Intro and honorary members
9:10 - The manipulation of religion
16:00 - Conn...2014-02-1657 minDetect This!: A True Detective PodcastEpisode #3: The Locked RoomIn this episode, Andrew and Charlie turn their attention to True Detective's depiction of religion. Does the show sympathize with Cohle's absolute atheism? Is this unique for HBO, or television in general? What does Hart's confrontation with Lisa reveal about his attitudes towards women? What made Cohle such a pessimist? And what is the title referring to, exactly? Plus, they induct some honorary members into the Detect This! team and discuss some fascinating listener feedback. Tune in to find out.
SHOW NOTES:
0:25 - Intro and honorary members
10:25 - The treatment of religion, comparing HBO to...2014-02-031h 16Detect This!: A True Detective PodcastEpisode #2: Seeing ThingsIn the second episode of True Detective, we learn a few more intriguing details about Cohle and Hart, and Andrew and Charlie discuss how HBO's treatment of sex and nudity. What are the main differences between the two of them? How do they (and the show) treat women? What do the reveals about Cohle's past suggest about the show's priorities? How does the show depict Cohle's hallucinations? To what extent are the characters dependent on the actors portraying them? Tune in to find out.
SHOW NOTES:
0:25 - Intro
1:42 - Listener feedback
5:04 - General thoughts...2014-01-2445 minDetect This!: A True Detective PodcastEpisode #1: The Long Bright DarkIn the first "real" episode of Detect This, Andrew and Charlie turn their detective skills on the premiere episode of True Detective. Is this a solid start to the show? What role does religion play in the themes and characterization we've seen so far? How do the different worldviews of Cohle and Hart affect their respective approaches to the murder investigation? Is the show's depiction of women sexist? Tune in to find out. Plus, Andrew throws out a couple of crazy theories about who the killer could be.
SHOW NOTES:
0:25 - Intro
11:30 - A theory...2014-01-2053 minDetect This!: A True Detective PodcastEpisode #0: Opening The Case FileWelcome to Detect This!, Film Geek Radio's new seasonal weekly podcast about the HBO series True Detective. Podcasting duo Andrew Johnson and Charlie Nash are back to discuss another series brimming with crime, secrets and probably an anti-hero or two. The show will be an anthology series, and the first season stars Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson as two homicide detectives trying to track down a serial killer. In this introductory episode of the podcast, Charlie and Andrew briefly discuss what they're looking forward to about the show. Is this a new great HBO drama? You'll have to tune in...2014-01-1317 min