from typing import Optional
import json


def _try_parse_json(json_string: str, ref_val=None) -> Optional[dict]:
    """
    Return whether the string can be interpreted as json.
    :param json_string: str, string to check for json
    :param ref_val: any, not used, interface design requirement
    :return None if not parseable, otherwise the parsed json object
    """
    parsed = None
    try:
        parsed = json.loads(json_string)
    except (ValueError, TypeError):
        pass
    return parsed