Definitely, fiction gives you a shortcut to someone's attention, and allows you to make connections and bridge gaps in understanding.
I loved that quote - a monster recognizes another one of its kind. For me, proof that Rust had been taken over by the psychosphere is when he quotes the line "time is a flat circle". He is quoting a child abuser and killer.
they took evil into themselves and redeemed it
This is where things get complicated for me. The show gives us an ending and it is implied that their dark journey is over. My question is this: would the world have been better off had they decided, maybe in December 1994, to quit the job and focus on their inner demons, on building a better psychosphere from inside?
The whole True Detective storyline is basically 17 years of Rust's and Marty's demons spilling out into the world.
Thank you for an amazing comment, much appreciated!
- this reminds of of the Joker in the Dark Knight - "Don't talk like one of them. You're not! Even if you'd like to be.".
Perhaps it would have been better if they'd moved on and tried to change. After all Rust calls it a 'debt' rather than 'unfinished business', and the catalyst for them to re-engage is two other detectives picking up the pieces much later anyway. I'm just not sure it would've been easily possible given how much of the case, of the 'demons' they'd already absorbed.
The reason they halted the pursuit was due to personal issues anyway, caused by Maggie seeking revenge. It doesn't just stop the investigation, it causes Rust (the real powerhouse investigator) to give in to the nihilist impulse - "I quit. I'll send you a letter, yeah fuck this. Fuck this world man".
The loss of the notion of any kind of redemption following the death of his daughter causes him to give into the worst of his cynicism about reality, and lose motivation thus allowing the demons to keep spilling out. Marty even looks regretful when he does quit, as if he realises the level of impact that sequence of events has had.
I do think the storyline is a redemptive one ultimately, hence the line possibly lifted from Moores work about the light winning. Marty saves Rust absolving him from blowing up his marriage (and sequentially his most meaningful career partnership), Rust equalises his demons and is allowed a near death experience validating the supernatural (an arguably necessary component for a non-materialistic worldview to sustain itself).
Thank you for the positive response too! I also think this is the best single show I watched in a long while, not since The Wire had I wiped my eyes in disbelief at the intelligence with which a show treated its audience. Discussing it is an immense pleasure, and you have given me a very fresh perspective.
The fact that Rust felt his daughter's love in the "blackness" is an indication that you are right. And I did like that part, but on repeat viewings I think I became very nitpicky:)
The TDK reference is spot on - it's actually one of my all time favoites and I am considering doing an analysis of the trilogy - and I think this ending of Batman Begins signals who "created" the Joker. It was the Batman - Gotham had no need for a villain of his kind until the Batman appeared.
I love this quote!
TDK trilogy is a treasure trove of quotable material.