I'm a latecomer to this series. Having recently watched the first season, which I felt was excellent in every way, I then watched successive seasons to see how they compared. It seems to me that the quality of ideas and storylines declined in general as the seasons were rolled out. My star rating reflects the overall quality of all five seasons considered together. This review focuses on the fifth season, because I have strong feelings about it.
Overall, the production quality of the fifth season was high. The cinematography was also great, and at times mesmerizing. However, the storyline was a repeat of emphasizing the flaws in the two main detectives' personalities and histories. Their lives were in effect being investigated as much as the lives of the criminal perpetrators of the murders under investigation. That can be interesting, but it's been done many times by now, and it got tedious here.
More objectionable to me was the last episode and story resolution. It appears that the creators and producers believe that vigilante "justice" is an acceptable response to crimes, especially if the perpetrators of the crimes are of a certain gender and race. That is obviously a popular theme in movies and television these days, but it is a very bad idea - and an old one. I don't find it edifying or entertaining in any way.
I am hoping that there are quality fiction and non-fiction shows produced in the future that illustrate the many injustices perpetrated upon native peoples in Alaska and the arctic. I realize, however, that shows like True Detective Season Five are more likely, instead, because their sensationalism and star-studded casting bring more viewers and advertising dollars to the networks.
Overall, the production quality of the fifth season was high. The cinematography was also great, and at times mesmerizing. However, the storyline was a repeat of emphasizing the flaws in the two main detectives' personalities and histories. Their lives were in effect being investigated as much as the lives of the criminal perpetrators of the murders under investigation. That can be interesting, but it's been done many times by now, and it got tedious here.
More objectionable to me was the last episode and story resolution. It appears that the creators and producers believe that vigilante "justice" is an acceptable response to crimes, especially if the perpetrators of the crimes are of a certain gender and race. That is obviously a popular theme in movies and television these days, but it is a very bad idea - and an old one. I don't find it edifying or entertaining in any way.
I am hoping that there are quality fiction and non-fiction shows produced in the future that illustrate the many injustices perpetrated upon native peoples in Alaska and the arctic. I realize, however, that shows like True Detective Season Five are more likely, instead, because their sensationalism and star-studded casting bring more viewers and advertising dollars to the networks.
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