It was never going to be like season one. Before the episode aired we knew that we would be getting four brand new leads in Colin Farrell, Vince Vaughn, Rachel McAdams and Taylor Kitsch and a brand new setting, being the streets of Los Angeles.

We had reason to be skeptical, especially given the fact that season one featured two of the most authentic performances on television in recent times.

This time round we're treated to Colin Farrell from the off. A divorced, alcoholic cop who has a son that may or may not be his own because his wife was sexually abused around the time they were trying to conceive. His character's past seems like creator Nic Pizzolatto just clicked and dragged bad things in.

In any case, Farrell's complexities and failings are blatantly obvious throughout. This was far removed from the gradual reveals surrounding Rust Cohle's (season one's Matthew McConaughey) past, which were shrouded throughout, affording us the liberty to think for ourselves about what could have gone wrong.

The one consistent theme in True Detective season two was that it smacked of well, boredom. If they didn't want it compared to the original then it shouldn't be called True Detective. Season one set a scene, an exact plot and a significantly sombre tone. In episode one of season two we have pretty much none of those elements, even the streets of Los Angeles aren't made overly obvious - apart from a few panning shots of highways that could be anywhere.

Elsewhere we have glimpses into the lives of the other leads. Vince Vaughn was a good cast and will prove to be the more he grows into the show. Despite his comedy background he sheds all humour as he embodies Frank Semyon, a casino owner who is on the brink of a significant land deal.

Vaughn's stature in the opening episode is impressive and gives a taste of what's to come in the rest of the series from him. While his role was minor it's with him wherein lies the potential for a truly standout performance.

Outside of Vaughn and Farrell we have Rachel McAdams and Taylor Kitsch. McAdams plays another cop who's dealing with a bad family situation and looks as though she has little to nothing under control outside of her work life. She did well with what she was given but her character seems to be littered with tropes.

The scene of her rushing the house in suspicion of prostitution was filled with adrenaline and gave her an excellent start and the promise of a strong female lead. But literally minutes after we're thrown into a heart to heart with her sister who's really messed up. The whole interaction would make anyone's eyes roll with familiarity.

Finally there's Taylor Kitsch, who is someone I didn't realise would have such a significant role. Nonetheless he does and believe it or not, he too is troubled in this dark and gloomy world. After being put on paid vacation for refusing a bribe in the form of a sexual favour, Kitcsh then goes home to his scantily clad girlfriend eager to make him feel better.

He plays a former soldier who's now a motorway cop called Paul Woodrugh. Out of all four he perhaps provides the most intense scene. He takes to his motorbike in the middle of the night and then kills the lights. While we had only been introduced to the character it looked as though we were about to see our first protagonist perish.

All in all, the show has moved away from what made it great. Subtlety seems to have been thrown out the window and replaced with more to-the-point obviousness. However, one episode in there is still plenty of time to return to its Lousiana-based roots.

You can watch the trailer for next week's episode below: