i really dont give a shit about frank and jordan and i'm not sure how i'm supposed to

this episode was the first one that i enjoyed, though. glad they're finally focusing on a narrative and i'm hoping encompassing half the show in development pays off big time.

Wikey @ 21/7/2015 5:13

Yeah I can't tell if it's intentional or not, but his lines are really awful. And I do at least agree about Velcoro. Dude's story is the shit. But for the past several episodes, I have become puzzled about why Frank and Paul are part of the main cast. I feel like this season would be way better if it had just focused on Ani and Ray. Easily the two strongest characters. It's almost as if they figured there would be no topping Rust and Marty so they decided to avoid the duo setup and try something different. And different is fine if it works. But from the very start of this season it hasn't for me. Can anybody give me a good reason why Paul is in the show? His story has existed on the periphery so far and he just feels tacked on. And what about Frank? I get that he is linked to the case, but why is he a main character, instead of somebody that shows up now and again to further the mystery? This is my theory...these four main characters are going to end up pitted against each other due to conflicting interests, all of which we can relate to, and we are going to be split between them. Given that the show has spent most of it's time humanizing them and giving them problems we can understand, I'm convinced that's what they are going for.

I've seen some suggest that Frank is given these pretentious lines because he's a gangster posing as a smart businessman, so he constantly feels like he needs to put on an act. Which I guess I could see, but if so they haven't made it very clear, so ultimately that feels like an excuse for bad writing

And yeah, I'm thinking the same about the 4. I still have enough faith in Pizzolatto that there's SOME point to all this build-up and seemingly unnecessary scenes with Frank/Paul

well, that ending was something

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I really liked the music they used there. Great direction too. That whole sequence felt very old-fashioned in a way Rest of the episode was pretty blah. The only scene that stands out to me at all is the one with Velcoro and his kid (and his breakdown after). Every time Frank came on screen I found myself tuning out. Even the confrontation at the beginning was anticlimactic

Awesome episode!

My gripes of the season hold that I don't really care about the case and even if I re-watch and read I can't bring myself to pay attention to the dynamics at play. They spend 45 minutes an episode throwing their personal stories down our throats then spend 5 seconds explaining who each antagonist is.

Boc @ 21/7/2015 18:02

Wikey @ 21/7/2015 5:13 Yeah I can't tell if it's intentional or not, but his lines are really awful. And I do at least agree about Velcoro. Dude's story is the shit. But for the past several episodes, I have become puzzled about why Frank and Paul are part of the main cast. I feel like this season would be way better if it had just focused on Ani and Ray. Easily the two strongest characters. It's almost as if they figured there would be no topping Rust and Marty so they decided to avoid the duo setup and try something different. And different is fine if it works. But from the very start of this season it hasn't for me. Can anybody give me a good reason why Paul is in the show? His story has existed on the periphery so far and he just feels tacked on. And what about Frank? I get that he is linked to the case, but why is he a main character, instead of somebody that shows up now and again to further the mystery? This is my theory...these four main characters are going to end up pitted against each other due to conflicting interests, all of which we can relate to, and we are going to be split between them. Given that the show has spent most of it's time humanizing them and giving them problems we can understand, I'm convinced that's what they are going for. I've seen some suggest that Frank is given these pretentious lines because he's a gangster posing as a smart businessman, so he constantly feels like he needs to put on an act. Which I guess I could see, but if so they haven't made it very clear, so ultimately that feels like an excuse for bad writing And yeah, I'm thinking the same about the 4. I still have enough faith in Pizzolatto that there's SOME point to all this build-up and seemingly unnecessary scenes with Frank/Paul

I think I agree with the theory about Frank's dialogue and that's because people have made fun of him for it (subtly) a few times in the show. I.e. Ray saying he's feeling "apoplectic". I also feel that they spent a fair amount of time specifically figuring out how Frank should talk.

He ultimately seems like a guy trying to get into a higher world but things keep following him behind which is reflected in the way he speaks. Like when he says "ain't" constantly.

Idk doe maybe I'm just high

I don't know, that sounds like an excuse for shitty writing to me.

Anyway...

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Frank actually had some good moments in the latest episode. But that confrontation with Ray at the start felt like a bit of an anticlimax. Doesn't matter though, because that final sequence of the episode at the sex mansion was amazing. Best thing this season has had to offer so far. Also, this might be a little obvious, but...is anybody else thinking Paul might be the thin white cop?

@Aspen, I ain't totally dismissing that as a possibility though. You do have to wonder how lines like "Blue balls in your heart" and "Never do anything out of hunger, not even eating" made it to film.

But if it is intentional, it isn't working.

Vince Vaughn isn't selling it, but I'm not sure that anyone even could. I feel like the lines would need some sort of campiness to them to even play, like a relaxed, jokester character. If they were played with hints of sarcasm and less self-seriousness they could work.

I almost think Robin Williams could've killed this role? A humorous character sure would make the story more engaging, anyways.

I still think Vaughn's best scene by far has been the one in episode 2 (I think) where he's mocking/threatening the guy that his thugs just beat up. They should've wrote the character more smarmy like that considering it's pretty much Vaughn's specialty

Wikey @ 27/7/2015 16:16

@Aspen, I ain't totally dismissing that as a possibility though. You do have to wonder how lines like "Blue balls in your heart" and "Never do anything out of hunger, not even eating" made it to film. But if it is intentional, it isn't working.

I don't know man, it's not striking me as awful like awful things usually do. Maybe I'm just a cringey douchebag idk.

I think Vince Vaughn isn't really selling it though. He looks way too much like himself and that's killin it for me.

ALSO

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I hate that twice this season they've made us wonder if a character will end up dying in the first scene of the next episode. Both times the Comcast episode description spoiled it for me but still. I thought that party scene kinda blew. Like we all knew it was an orgy party, but that's it? Nothing darker? I didn't like Ani's flashbacks. I thought they were a little excessive. Glad they didn't last that long. What the FUCK was with the music? Unless I'm missing some hidden meaning I thought it was awful. How the shit did she not notice Vera (?) in the line to get on the bus. Or on the bus. Or when they were in line for druggz? Pure Molly spray must be the most disgusting tasting shit ever.

Definitely my least favorite episode this season but EP 7 is on now so PEACE BITCHES

Not gonna lie, I fuckin loved that episode.

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Frank burning down his assets at the end was dope. I just wish he had more properties and they had a nice wide shot of the carnage at the end. FUCK YEAH NAILS TRUE CREW TO THE FUCKIN END.

That was great. Why couldn't the rest of the season be more like that

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"Do you miss it?" "What?" "Anything" for some reason that might've been my favorite piece of dialogue from this season. It's such a simple yet profoundly sad line Frank finally got to let his inner gangster come out, so that was nice. Sure beats another monotone land deal monologue. Actually looking forward to see what happens with him in the finale I almost feel like that lingering shot at the end had to do with confirming that YES, HE'S DEAD unlike Velcoro's fakeout death earlier (:

90 minute finale apparently? yay

Aspen @ 2/8/2015 20:00

ALSO Spoiler + I hate that twice this season they've made us wonder if a character will end up dying in the first scene of the next episode. Both times the Comcast episode description spoiled it for me but still. I thought that party scene kinda blew. Like we all knew it was an orgy party, but that's it? Nothing darker? I didn't like Ani's flashbacks. I thought they were a little excessive. Glad they didn't last that long. What the FUCK was with the music? Unless I'm missing some hidden meaning I thought it was awful. How the shit did she not notice Vera (?) in the line to get on the bus. Or on the bus. Or when they were in line for druggz? Pure Molly spray must be the most disgusting tasting shit ever. Definitely my least favorite episode this season but EP 7 is on now so PEACE BITCHES

Spoiler	+
WHAT! The music was so good. I don't think there was really any hidden meaning, it was just meant as an homage to noirish music. Plus its contrast over the scene made it all the more unnerving rather than having the typical pumping soundtrack that almost any movie would have over a scene like that