Episode 1: The Western Book of the Dead

Episode 2: Night Finds You

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It’s Monday after July 4th weekend, so here’s the summary you guys get this week (courtesy of /u/LifeWillBeOkay & /u/namesrhardtothinkof):

Here are my questions/tidbits:

• Some kind of connection with the photographer at the movie set and Caspere’s secretary, who is there just “collecting tax papers” or something like that. They show a quick shot of the photog looking at her walking before the scene where Ray and Ani talk to her again:

(/u/oshitson)

This screen cap shows a mask similar to that worn by the car arsonist later in the episode & the photog:

He sort of reminds you of Errol when you first meet him in Season 1 in the sense that it’s a quick (and rather creepy) interaction with a main character that is not minor enough to be ignored but not major enough to be made a big deal of at the time. He’s also snapping pics of two girls when Ray initially strikes up the conversation, so there’s that. Plus he works for the movie studio who was clearly behind the burning of the car later…looks like he has the physique to outrun Ani if you ask me.

• The only interesting idea I’ve stumbled upon about Caspere’s safety deposit box is that maybe Ray’s money is tied up in those diamonds. Easier to carry and hide 5 million bucks in a few tiny rocks than bags and bags of cash.
• It was hard to catch at first but that was indeed Ray’s idiot partner Teague snapping photos of Paul during his little lovers’ tiff. Why he was is an interesting question, but it’s not feeling to me like anything more complicated than Vinci PD having him dig up some dirt as ammo for when the state inevitably blows up Velcoro’s spot. Could explain his lack of thoughtful input and general boredom with the whole investigation (he’s reading the paper most of the scenes in the warehouse).
• This one I got ALL ON MY OWN. And it probably means absolutely nothing. But during the latest meet up between Ray and Frank at the bar, one shot shows them sitting down at the table with the bar’s letter grade for sanitation from the Department of Health clearly visible. It’s a B. Now according to this article from 2014, if you walk into a restaurant in LA County there’s a 94% chance it has an A grade and less than a 1% chance it’s a C. Makes me think the B was a deliberate choice by Nic P, showing a little good and a little bad in both main characters that usually meet there in Frank and Ray. And even Ray’s dad in the opening dream sequence, who we learned was also a cop “back when you could do actual police work.” Or not, probably.
• Apparently it’s always sunny in Beverly Hills, too.

(/u/Guccillionaire)

• Looks like the douchebag director on the movie set was Pizzolatto taking a shot at the director of TD season 1 Cary Fukunaga.
• Two obvi’s – Paul had a three day fling with that guy when they were “soldiers”, so that compounded with whatever caused those scars is probably the root of his problems. And Frank’s dead henchman had something similar, if not identical, done to his eyes as Caspere.

(/u/_prawn_)

Reddit Theories:

• Why the Bohemian Grove could be the society that unlocks all of Season 2’s secrets
• Ray’s lieutenant got to the crime scene at Caspere’s house early…wonder who has that video tape footage 
• Why Ray’s dad saying he’s going to “run out of these giant trees and get shot” in the opening dream sequence makes sense
• A good summary of the respective agendas for Vinci, state and county authorities

Episode 1 – The Western Book of the Dead

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Last night’s episode seems to be getting a fair share of heat on the interwebs, and I think it’s somewhat justified. From Frank’s failed attempt at a Rust Cohle monologue to kick things off until right before that final scene I was in-and-out of it mentally. That being said, I think I felt the exact same way two episodes into season 1 so I’m not pressing the panic button just yet but really it’s because I smashed it watching the Indians yesterday.

Let’s get this out of the way right now though: Ray Velcoro is very much not dead. On one hand, you’d think Pizzolatto would be above the classic “is a main character really dead” TV cliffhanger. On the other, there are plenty of photos from promos and trailers that show Ray in scenes we haven’t seen yet. Now those could be flashbacks or something, as we all know this show isn’t afraid to use multiple timelines. But there wasn’t any blood. This same episode showed a girl watching DP porn and a dead body who had his goodies blown off by a shotgun but they wouldn’t show Velcoro quite literally being blown to bits from about three feet away? I don’t think so, people. Those were rubber bullets or rock salt and meant to be some sort of warning (although I’m pretty sure they’d still do some serious damage from that close).

EDIT: Yeah he’s alive.

(/u/OutspokenHindude and @jonathanesal)

Other bits I learned thanks to Reddit:

• The car they panned to right before Ray went inside the house was the same car that was transporting Caspere’s body in episode 1 (/u/lonesoldier4789)
• Artwork in the (creepy ass) therapist’s office showed a human body with bird head similar to Ray’s shooter

(/u/righteousloaf)

• Wall with animal masks hanging in the final scene was missing one (presumably the bird)

(/u/mstr_roboto)

• Lone Star sign in the bar 🙂

(/u/PraiseDarkGods)

Reddit theories:

Is Paul gay / why was his mom so touchy-feely in the trailer?

EDIT: Similar and darker Paul theory

Crazy theory that Ani’s hippie dad was part of the Jonestown cult

 

Frank having his men beat up that guy then “saving him” –> Frank having his men assault Velcoro’s wife then “saving him”? One of his henchmen is a red head…

Until next week.