‘True Detective’ season 2, episode 7 debate: Could anyone die before finale?

Tonight, we finally are making it to the finale of “True Detective,” and let’s just hope that by the time this season wraps, we come away from this feeling very satisfied about the journey. We don’t necessarily think the whole “wait until the end before you make an overall assessment of the season” defense, which is what HBO gave of the season at TCA recently, is valid. You have to judge it based on what you’ve seen, and right now the show is in a position where it needs to really deliver the goods to win some people back over.

Is it in a position to do that going into these final episodes? It needs some sort of genuine shocker to make that happen. Not only that, but it needs to be something that has genuine consequences. That’s why we are looking at the four main characters and wondering if one of them could be gone come finale time.

Ray Velcoro – If we were to lose Ray, it would be difficult to swallow given that we had that terrible fake-out with this character earlier this season. To us, the show pulling the ol’ bait-and-switch is the most terrible thing that they’ve done. Season 2 has not been great, but its shortcomings have been grossly exaggerated elsewhere.

Ani Bezzerides – Given the role that she has played in the investigation, coupled with the fact that so many dangerous men have seen her face, it is fair to say that the target is on Ani. Losing her feels like a mistake, especially in the event that it happens without progressing the case forward.

Paul Woodrugh – If we lost Paul now, the entire story arc for this character would be a waste. We still know so very little about the guy that losing him now would feel almost like a waste of our time to even include him.

Frank Semyon – Meanwhile, Frank has to be the most likely candidate here given what we know about him at the moment. He has been very much cursed by his own past, and some of the people he is involved with probably would be thrilled to see him dead.

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