Matthew McConaughey
Woody Harrelson
Michelle Monaghan
Michael Potts
Tory Kittles

Created by:
Nic Pizzolatto

TV Anthology
2014
Crime, Drama, Mystery
HBO
TV-MA

“True Detective” is a slooooowww burn. It earns its pace, though. If “Justified” featured detectives instead of marshals and if you slowed its pace to that of “The Killing,” then you might end up with something like this.

Really, it’s the lead performances that make “True Detective” worthwhile. Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson carry this show all the way. McConaughey, especially, does a wonderful job of portraying a man, Rust Cohle, who’s consumed by his own thoughts and haunted by his past. This is another performance of his that brings the creep factor (“Mud,” “Killer Joe,” and so on). He seems to have a knack for this kind of performance, and it’s a good thing that Hollywood has given him a chance to showcase those skills. Harrelson convincingly portrays a respected detective, Marty Hart, who can’t quite figure out his new partner (McConaughey) or find appropriate relief from his job. As actors, McConaughey and Harrelson work well together and do a great job of playing their characters during different time periods: The show shifts between their investigation, in 1995, of a strange murder in Louisiana and two other detectives’ interviews of them regarding that investigation in 2012. An initially unexplained rift between them occurred in 2002.

“True Detective” has a strong point-of-view and aesthetic, and Harrelson and McConaughey deliver their well-written lines in perfect rhythm (for this pace) and with depth of thought. If you don’t mind slow and enjoy patient character development, then this may be for you. …

By the end of the first season, “True Detective” accomplishes what it set out to accomplish. The first season’s finale capitalizes on the gradual buildup through the previous episodes. There’s lots of suspense, discomfort, character insights, and, at times, astonishing acting. Check out the final scene between Harrelson and McConaughey: McConaughey’s monologue is superb, and Harrelson is a great scene partner. These two should do something else together really soon. This isn’t the kind of show that you’ll likely want to watch again, because it’s a lot to take. But it’s certainly rewarding one-time viewing, if you have the stomach for it. I can’t say enough about the acting and the writing. This is strong, deliberate work.

Verdict: Very Good

About: (Source: TD1)

When a 1995 murder case is revisited in 2012, it opens the gate to old memories and wounds, bringing the two detectives involved in the case 17 years ago back to a world they thought they would never see again.