I read somewhere that he based Series 1 in Louisiana,as he grew up there. He now lives in the west coast, hence Season 2. Some commentators are sceptical as to whether he’d feel comfortable setting a third series in a location he doesn’t know intimately. That could be bullshit, mind you.
Grantland had a reasonably interesting take on this. I think there are a couple of factors:
If you take away the absolutely ridiculous storyline it had the potential to be reasonable. The characters weren’t bad, their backgrounds were relatively interesting. The location was decent. The concept of political corruption, a rogue cop, a semi-heroic criminal, all pursuing personal grievances but coming up against a brick wall from those in power also having personal goals (greed) isn’t dreadful. And it could be a decent story.
But the execution of it was clearly rushed and the story tried to be far too big and complex. Last season had 2 big creators in Pizzolato and Fukunaga. Because Fukunaga directed the whole season you got some directing styles that tied the whole story together much better. Plus Fukunaga would have been in the editing process because he was the series director.
This year it was a series of directors who were all individually competent but none of them challenged Pizzolato’s vision for the story (because they were all hired guns) and they weren’t able to shoot it in anything other than a very basic style. So Pizzolatto’s diagloue scenes from last season now looked and seemed far-fetched because there was just a static camera looking at two people in bed or in a train station talking bullshit. The first season had plenty of dialogues that might have sounded equally ridiculous if there weren’t inventive shots of Lousiana or a preacher or something in the dialogue.
I haven’t made this point very well, so to summarise:
- It wasn’t a dreadful idea. Just a standard idea dreadfully done
- Pizzolatto had far too much control
- It was all rushed and needed an editor
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When she said to Vince Vaughan you can’t act 
moment of the season for me anyway.
The story was way too big and far fetched and unnecessary. Take the gay lad out of it and the Mexicans out of it. No need whatsoever for either. It was complex to the point of I don’t really care because this probably means nothing. So many storylines that never went anywhere. No point to them at all. I mean your man the psychiatrist at the end. Who gives a fuck? The mayor dead. I had to think for a minute who the cunt even was. I can’t even remember most of the stuff that happened in the story. It didn’t develop the plot at all
A storyline of the two fucked up cops, investigating your mans murder. Leads them all the way to the top of mayor etc. Old conspiracy that brought them to prominence. After the murder all the people involved start freaking out. Start covering tracks etc. Thats plenty with a bit of the other stuff thrown in, to make it work.
In a massive twist at the end your man was murdered by the jewellers kids not by any of the conspirators everyone thought it was all along.
Apart from the unnecessarily complex storyline though it was the fucking plot holes. Reckless. Ok I’ve whatever 3+ million in the bag, home and hosed so I go back and see the kid. Fair enough you thick cunt. Then I find a transponder on the car. Do I take the money and run? Do I run without the money? Do I drive into the city and ditch the car? No, out to the fucking forest. 
Not once did they ditch their fucking mobiles then and they on the fucking run. 
Thank fuck its over
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+1 to all that. There was just so much wrong with it. The clichés, ridiculous situations, it was awful. There was no need to show anymore of Farrell once he got off the motorway to go see the kid. It was done then, nothing else was going to happen but what happened. Even having the jeweller’s son sit behind Farrell while he took the confession in the train station - what the Fuckety Fuck? Now I know you’re unhinged and a murderer but do you promise to sit still while I get this lad to tell me how he killed your parents? A promise is a promise now you little scallywag!
Fuck right off.
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The nadir of the whole series was the Mexican lad asking Vince Vaughn for his suit. Ffs.
Just so bad. Had the potential to be pretty good but far too complex and intricate. Or just plain muck.
And Vince deciding he had a sporting chance of taking out 5 gunmen with a surprise punch.
That whole scene was just ridiculous. He’d be doing well to get out of there alive but then decides, in an isolated area miles from anywhere, to headbutt one of the hench men.
The main characters themselves were interesting enough, all fighting their own demons, but the plot line was pathetic.
And Osip in the cabin in the forest. Like Jack Bauer mixed with the keystone cops.
I’m angry at myself for sticking with the series when it was obvious after two episodes it was dire and never going to miraculously improve.
It was bizarre that after Farrell telling them he had the hard drive and a backup to send the info to the authorities they blew him away without getting the whereabouts of McAdam’s character, or the files or hard drive.
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Eh I’ve just read there was an orgy in one of the episodes you recommended I dont both bother watching, what gives mate?!
Just watch a porno if you are looking for an orgy. Probably be a better plot.
Wait, so McAdams doesn’t get the kit off? Fuck that so.
Ah I’m still angry. That thing in the house makes even less sense now. They could have just climbed in the window stolen the documents covered in signatures and left.
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As I said at the time, think Eyes Wide Shut meets Beverly Hills Cop. Stick on Bang Babes for 10 minutes then go watch something decent.
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These contracts…they’ve got signatures all over them. Dum dum dum!!! 
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The whole point of TD seems to be that generally corruption wins and continues. Some guy stands up., gets his head cut off, another guy takes his place and so on. There was nothing new.
The season 1 plot had a uniqueness to it and Excellent acting. Season 2 didn’t. Only Darrell comes out with credit.
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Looks good. Damian Lewis is a very underrated actor.
That’s Emmy and Golden Globe winning actor Damien Lewis you’re on about right? Or have you mixed him up with some other one?
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Yeah, that’s the fella.
He’s very underrated.
More fantastic stupidity. And what’s brilliant about it is your stubborn ability to compound that stupidity even further