The juxtaposition of the two main characters in this show is really the big selling point for me.
You can just feel Rust's exhaustion by being surrounded by people who fundamentally do not fucking get it.
And Marty is just trying to live his flawed life in opposition but also in tandem to this guy who is existing on an entirely different dimension.
Good stuff.
Aquielle
2025-03-26 13:21:36 +0000 UTC
It's so great you are doing this show in pairs of episodes, because the show runners have said its written in pairs. These first two episodes are a great example ...episode 1 is kind of the peek 'under the hood' at Rust, episode 2 is the real truth about Marty. And OMG I cannot wait for 3&4!!! πππ
ArcAngel
2025-03-25 19:49:52 +0000 UTC
And to build on this, I'd argue that it's a good deed done to make HIMSELF feel better, not because he is genuinely moved to help her. It reminds me a lot of "The Good Place" idea of if we're doing something good simply for the sake of wanting credit or praise, then is it really an altruistic act?
Melissa
2025-03-25 19:09:32 +0000 UTC
The bruises all over her legs makes my legs hurt! How did nobody ask "what the heck happened to your legs??" Or "is the rest of your body black and blue, too?" Damn...we're looking for 'rough trade'...I think you found some!
ArcAngel
2025-03-25 19:05:03 +0000 UTC
Preach!
ArcAngel
2025-03-25 18:55:22 +0000 UTC
On one hand you think maybe Marty wants to help the under age prostitute because he has daughters, etc. (at the bunny ranch). But on the other hand you kinda wonder if his conscience is getting to him (after the locker room confrontation, after we see him smelling his fingers in the car) and it motivates him to help a vulnerable woman. It's still a 'good deed' but the timing is interesting since we all can see Marty is currently not treating women very well.
ArcAngel
2025-03-25 18:52:42 +0000 UTC
The woman at the "ranch" is not wrong at all. Marty absolutely wants to own women -- he tells the girl he's sleeping around with (I can't recall her name) that she shouldn't go out b/c there's danger, but it's really that he doesn't want her finding another guy when she has every right to do so. He's such a hypocrite. He uses his position as a police officer to garner influence -- she's a court reporter. Then, he gives the young girl Beth money like he's some goddamn savior of women; then, a minute later condemns the police in that area for having a stake in the place. Ugh. Sorry. I had to rant on this a little bit.
Melissa
2025-03-25 18:34:53 +0000 UTC
I think this show really does a good job of selling the unusual bond between partners in this line of work. Marty and Rust are so at odds personality-wise but they spend tens of hours in the car together with nothing to do but talk, and you really see that by the way Marty gets frustrated by Rust's answers but keeps digging and trying to understand him.
Michael
2025-03-25 18:21:49 +0000 UTC
I think another thing I took from Marty's kids having the crime scene with the toys is that it is totally counter to the justification Marty uses for sleeping around and staying out drinking. He says that it keeps the shit away from the family, but obviously that's not true with his kids acting that way
Michael
2025-03-25 18:19:11 +0000 UTC
The childish decor in the hotel room where the sex worker stays makes my heart hurt.
Melissa
2025-03-25 18:02:12 +0000 UTC
π€£π€£
Raymond Walker
2025-03-25 17:33:55 +0000 UTC
Marty's face after Rust says "I don't sleep... I just dream.". π
ArcAngel
2025-03-25 17:21:14 +0000 UTC
Funniest Rust/Marty exchange in this episode:
Rust: "...smells like aluminum and ash...it's like I can smell the psychosphere..."
Later that day...
Marty: "stop saying odd shit like you can smell a psycho's fear"
π
Marty misunderstanding "psychosphere" as "psycho's fear" kinda perfectly sums up the general nature of their vibe.
ArcAngel
2025-03-25 17:13:04 +0000 UTC
Woohoo! Let's go, beloved FoxTaco!!
ArcAngel
2025-03-25 16:30:06 +0000 UTC
Rust Cohle is one of the most fascinating fictional characters written.