Although the second season of True Detective may seem worlds apart from Season 1, there are actually quite a few similarities between the seasons. Although the setting and characters have changed, there are more similarities than differences when it comes to the themes and main story plot.
Apart from the changes in setting and characters, the second season is still a story about morally bankrupt men, complicated and tense relationships between women and men, and a great deal of graft. Of course, when you add in a great soundtrack, the time jumping, and the same opening credits, there are plenty of other ways that two seasons reflect each other.
One similarity is the fact that the criminals in Season 2 are still teaming up with the police. Although the first season only played around with this notion from time to time, the second season features it quite heavily. This is best witnessed through the interactions between Ray Velcoro (Colin Farrell) and gangster Frank Semyon (Vince Vaughn), who both have a working relationship with each other.
Another big theme with of True Detective that is consistent across the seasons is how the bad characters are used to keep more evil individuals at bay. These evil and amoral individuals, as seen with Rust and Marty in Season 1 and now with Ray, Ani, and Woodrough ( Taylor Kitsch ), eventually become the heroes in the series, despite the terrible things they do and have done in their past. Hopefully, like in Season 1, the characters this time around will also redeem themselves in the end.
Meanwhile, the element of the occult is another way in which the seasons are alike. Season 1 featured the occult quite heavily, and while Season 2 is still underway, the occult has already been introduced. When Ray visited Rick Springfield, there was a Raven deity painting in his office, and, later, Ray was shot by someone wearing a raven mask. The only question is which occult conspiracy Pizzolatto will draw on this season.
Although there may be many similarities, one major difference is how women are portrayed in Season 2. In the first season, women were only there for sex and really nothing else. Thankfully, this has changed this time around with Ani Bezzerides (Rachel McAdams) and Jordan Semyon (Kelly Reilly), who are both capable women who are able to carry their own weight and succeed.
As fans remain split on how they feel about Season 2 of True Detective , hopefully the similarities between the two seasons will continue to evolve and Season 2 becomes just as big a hit as the first.
Check out a preview for the next all-new episode , which airs Sunday on HBO.