TRUE DETECTIVE returns in it's second season blues: a plea against early judgement...

I can't say I'm alone in saying that the first True Detective was an unexpected delight, taking actors not known for their dramatic gravitas and putting them in just that - a fascinating character study between Rust Cohle and Martin Hart, Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson, the latter set of names eventually forgotten as you, or I at least, came to love their fictional counter parts in all their fatal flaws.

Past the acclaim of the first, in comes the second. Troubled from the beginning, the fledgling second season had big shoes to fill after the news of it becoming an anthology. A clean slate for another story to be told - daring to say the least. The hype was and still is insurmountable for the second after the first, which seems to be deeply disappointing fans and critics alike. With only the first episode aired as of this writing, the picture hasn't been fully painted yet; this is the pilot, our introduction into the world that is far too early to be properly judged, a point that some publications don't seem to understand.

You look through any articles relating to the return of True Detective and you will only find the words "bad" and "disappointing" scattered through each piece, and this to a certain degree is true, but as aforementioned, it is far too early to tell.

From my perspective, this second coming is promising. It struggles to find footing, each of the characters flailing for a plot point to grasp onto which was finally answered by the four star-studded and solidly acted vignettes intertwining by the episode's end. The mutual connection to one Ben Casper. The atmosphere and look is as thick and enriched as ever, from the second the entrancing riff of Leonard Cohen's "Nevermind" kicks in, you know you're in for a ride, regardless of it's prioritisation of style over substance. This is Nic Pizzolatto's show through and through, it's made clear that this is exactly what he wanted, even from this first vertical slice, and that is admirable to say the least.

Retreating back past my potential hypocrisy to my previous ham-fisted moral: reserve your full judgement until the story is told, yes, do have your opinions and thoughts on each of the episodes as they come, but don't treat them as if it is representative for the entire season until the entire season is here. TV critics prove to be frustrating, putting their foot down before the picture is present - colouring the minds of viewers before the viewers themselves get a chance to form their own opinion on the basis of a three episode head start.

The blame is not on the critics to be perfectly honest, as while aggregate review scores on sites such as Metacritic or Rotten Tomatoes have their place, they are taken far too seriously by some.

After all, it's not about what others think including myself. It's about what you think. However, consider this: give the second a chance, and for the love of god, don't compare it to the first, as it's not trying to be what it was before, but what it is now.

"I was not caught, I crossed the line..."

Check back for more thoughts about the second True Detective past it's finale on August 9. Then a conclusive tale can be told...