Last night’s episode of True Detective, “Black Maps and Motel Rooms,†started to tie things together a bit more, but not all of its moments felt earned. This season has relied heavily on convenience, which can sometimes feel like contrivance — so much bad luck for our poor Paul! There’s only one way to sum up this season:
True Detective’s second season has been a tangle of ideas; some strong performances and interesting mystery arcs have had to battle off-putting acting choices and labored dialogue. (Tell us more about those contracts with signatures “all over them.â€) The tone has been inconsistent, the aesthetic sometimes precise and sometimes less so, and also there was a divisive freeze frame. What wonders might next week’s finale bring?