Ep 1. The Western Book of the Dead

The second season of True Detective gets off to a roaring start in episode 1 titled "The Western Book of the Dead." The show hits the ground running with a sharp and grisly crime scene that appears to be the result of a shotgun massacre. The scene teases the potential for a much darker and more complex mystery than the previous season, more akin to a bleak David Lynchian nightmare.

The new season takes place in California and centers around three detectives - the deeply flawed and troubled Ray Velcoro (Colin Farrell), the stoic and stern Ani Bezzerides (Rachel McAdams), and the young and ambitious Paul Woodrugh (Taylor Kitsch) - who are all somehow connected to a grisly crime that has taken place in the fictional city of Vinci. The crime involves the death of a high-profile businessman and the disappearance of his business partner during a deal that was supposed to transform a long-downtrodden industrial area into a bustling railway hub.

The show quickly establishes the three detectives and their individual struggles. Ray is an alcoholic who is battling for custody of his son after his wife falsely accused him of domestic abuse, leading to a violent altercation that scarred him for life. Ray is also one of two detectives working for corrupt mayor Chessani (Ritchie Coster), who is looking to sweep the case under the rug as it could derail his political career. Ani is a troubled young woman who is dealing with the aftermath of a traumatic childhood and struggles to find meaning in her job as a detective. Meanwhile, Paul is grappling with his own demons as a former soldier who is desperate to find a purpose in life and is struggling with his identity and his sexuality.

The first episode is beautifully shot and expertly paced, with the show moving back and forth between the present-day investigation and flashbacks to the night of the crime. The atmosphere is oppressive and bleak, with the Californian landscape depicted as a twisted, almost gothic wasteland that is at odds with the glamor of Los Angeles and Hollywood.

The Western Book of the Dead quickly sets up a gripping, intricate case with multiple suspects and motives, all while laying the groundwork for the personal struggles of the three lead characters. Each detective is grappling with their own unique burdens and the complexity of the case is further muddied by the corrupt institutions that are trying to bury the case and preserve their own interests.

It's clear from the first episode that True Detective is looking to dive deeper into the messy, unhinged world of crime and psychology that it so deftly explored in its first season. The Western Book of the Dead is a gruesome, intense opener that sets the stage for an ambitious and deeply compelling follow-up that is sure to keep audiences guessing until the very end.