Sifting through the internet last week, I came across an ample amount of hate for Season 2, which takes place in Los Angeles and, I admit, only barely manages to feel like it sort of relates to Season 1, set in the Louisiana bayou. When considering an anthologized series, we must ask ourselves what characteristics hold the show together, and apparently, in regards to True Detective, this presented a problem for many viewers and critics. Throw in a movie-star status cast, a truly disturbing violently sexualized story-line (in other words, how HBO do), and intentionally deep, metaphysical ruminations about life, unfilled dreams, and the evil lurking within mankind, and voila, you have True Detective! This involves many interspersed bird’s eye view shots above a sinister skyline, imbued with emotionally-inspiring color schemes and an ominous soundtrack adding to the series’ overall atmosphere. The second is that the setting, a strictly geographic American setting, must be personified as a character in and of itself. The first thing I figured is that the anthology features detectives. It hasn’t quite left me since: What makes True Detective True Detective? After watching the Season 2 pilot of True Detective last night, the following question popped into my head.