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How True Detective Finds Meaning in Suffering

Second Breakfast Thoughts

40,806 views

True Detective Season 1 is, in my opinion, one of the best standalone seasons of TV ever created. The story becomes much more than just a crime thriller; it turns into a reflection on suffering and the fight against it, a story of light vs. dark, and the eventual victory of the will to live.

In this essay, I examine some of my favourite themes through the philosophies of Arthur Schopenhauer and Friedrich Nietzsche, showing how even a pessimistic worldview can transform decay into something strangely beautiful.

If you enjoyed this take and want to see more videos about True Detective, philosophy, and movie/TV essays, consider subscribing — it really helps me create more.

Timestamps:
0:00 Introduction
1:15 The Secret Fate of All Life
5:02 What's the point of getting out of bed
8:32 The Long Bright Dark
13:30 Epilogue

#TrueDetective #VideoEssay #Philosophy #RustCohle

20 Comments

@CrispyBacon101 9 months ago Pinned

Thanks so much for sharing such engaging content for anyone wanting to dive into complex ideas! I really hope your channel becomes even more popular over time. The thought-provoking content you provide is a fantastic way to dive into various philosophical concepts and see how they connect to our modern lives. Keep up the great work!

@GrassesOn97 9 months ago

I find so many people relate to Rust. However, I think more of us are like Marty. A deep contradiction of a man who is both a good man who fights monsters but also has a dark shadow of cheating, rage, egoism. He is the “everyman” in the best and worst ways.

@DavidComebac 9 months ago

We are all Martys thinking we're Cohles

@thoroughlywithfoil 8 months ago

Alrigh, Alright, Alright!...I'll watch the whole series again, and again, and again, forever

@DudeNamedDude1776 8 months ago

"It's also a reminder, that the actions we make every day could have tremendous consequences beyond our comprehension at the moment." This is something the whole world struggles with. Many people are too stuck on the moment. Weigh every decision thoroughly.

@kenlangley2460 9 months ago

I have studied, and lived philosphy and psychology for more than 50 years. True Detective (first serries) is my all-time favorite drama. You have done a remarkable analysis and summary. I thank you.

@loyalcarlon 9 months ago

“The fight against it must be inevitable too.” 😭 beautifully said

@TheBananaCompany 9 months ago

Rust was probably a Marty once.

@MarthaisLoveMarthaisLife 6 months ago

i need to see Season 1 of this show Season 1 is a masterpiece.

@lostdawg67 9 months ago

I have had the notion pass through my mind more than once, that if I live long enough, all the stories I've loved will fade away, and only this story will remain, and as I die, I will hear Rustin and Martin whispering in my ear a conversation that has no end.

@NoIInYou-v7z 3 months ago

You don't know suffering until you go through it like I have and still do today

@tomassuchma2019 3 months ago

Some new points, thank you for that!!!!

@BuddhakkanHeadset 9 months ago

Absolutely brilliant.

Well edited, great audio, perfectly narrated, thoughtful, and well researched.

@krejziks3398 8 months ago

rust cohle is perfect embodiment of the dark night of the soul, if there ever was, in any media.

@GreasyP 8 months ago

Loved this specific season of true detective. It really stayed with me after witnessing this special season. Great video

@rationalmuscle 9 months ago

Brilliant video man. Keep up the good work - your channel is criminally undersubbed.

@WillBoli-s2m 9 months ago

What a beautiful essay, sir. I love how you turned to hope, but especially how you mentioned the system spawning these terrors and not nature. The nature of man nor the nature of the world. The point McCarthy doesn’t miss but the propaganda often does: that the violence modern westerns display is the inheritance of how the west was “won”, and what was done to “win” it. That in our current reality we are not reaping what we sowed, but that horror is simply the enduring way of the world, is the great lie of Western civilization. We will only continue to replay the nightmare as long as we continue to make deals with the devil.

@albertstrauss8287 3 months ago

Cohle never truly beleived himself. Even when he spoke of hopelessness and the futility of life, he was still determined to solve the case. Even in a so called "unsolvable" world, Rust kept going. When Marty basked in apraisal, Rust got straight back to work, determined to set things right, even when he said himself, it was all going to happen again.

@ssk18492 7 months ago

9:39
Hurts the most

@kellanity 9 months ago

I can't believe true detective name drops Nietzsche but not schopenhauer. Great video, I'm so glad this was recommended, I was just talking about schopenhauer today.