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True Detective

  • TV Series
  • 2014–
  • TV-MA
  • 1h
IMDb RATING
8.9/10
703K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
58
3
Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson in True Detective (2014)
Anthology series in which police investigations unearth the personal and professional secrets of those involved, both within and outside the law.
Play trailer0:46
57 Videos
99+ Photos
Cop DramaEpicHard-boiled DetectivePolice ProceduralPsychological DramaPsychological ThrillerSerial KillerSuspense MysteryWhodunnitCrime

Anthology series in which police investigations unearth the personal and professional secrets of those involved, both within and outside the law.Anthology series in which police investigations unearth the personal and professional secrets of those involved, both within and outside the law.Anthology series in which police investigations unearth the personal and professional secrets of those involved, both within and outside the law.

  • Creators
    • Nic Pizzolatto
    • Issa López
  • Stars
    • Vince Vaughn
    • Colin Farrell
    • Rachel McAdams
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    8.9/10
    703K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    58
    3
    • Creators
      • Nic Pizzolatto
      • Issa López
    • Stars
      • Vince Vaughn
      • Colin Farrell
      • Rachel McAdams
    • 1.4KUser reviews
    • 242Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Top rated TV #44
    • Won 6 Primetime Emmys
      • 43 wins & 173 nominations total

    Episodes31

    Browse episodes
    TopTop-rated

    Videos57

    Kali Reis Talks 'Rebuilding,' "True Detective," and Professional Wrestling
    Clip 5:46
    Kali Reis Talks 'Rebuilding,' "True Detective," and Professional Wrestling
    5 Unforgettable Jodie Foster Performances to Watch
    Clip 1:01
    5 Unforgettable Jodie Foster Performances to Watch
    5 Unforgettable Jodie Foster Performances to Watch
    Clip 1:01
    5 Unforgettable Jodie Foster Performances to Watch
    What Roles Has Colin Farrell Been Considered For?
    Clip 3:40
    What Roles Has Colin Farrell Been Considered For?
    A Guide to the Style of Cary Joji Fukunaga
    Clip 1:40
    A Guide to the Style of Cary Joji Fukunaga
    True Detective: BTS of The Final Country
    Clip 2:13
    True Detective: BTS of The Final Country
    True Detective: BTS Of Hunters In The Dark
    Clip 2:46
    True Detective: BTS Of Hunters In The Dark

    Photos1355

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    Top cast99+

    Edit
    Vince Vaughn
    Vince Vaughn
    • Frank Semyon
    • 2015
    Colin Farrell
    Colin Farrell
    • Detective Ray Velcoro
    • 2015
    Rachel McAdams
    Rachel McAdams
    • Detective Ani Bezzerides
    • 2015
    Taylor Kitsch
    Taylor Kitsch
    • Officer Paul Woodrugh
    • 2015
    Matthew McConaughey
    Matthew McConaughey
    • Detective Rust Cohle
    • 2014
    Mahershala Ali
    Mahershala Ali
    • Detective Wayne Hays
    • 2019
    Woody Harrelson
    Woody Harrelson
    • Detective Marty Hart
    • 2014
    Carmen Ejogo
    Carmen Ejogo
    • Amelia Reardon
    • 2019
    Michelle Monaghan
    Michelle Monaghan
    • Maggie Hart
    • 2014
    Stephen Dorff
    Stephen Dorff
    • Detective Roland West
    • 2019
    Michael Potts
    Michael Potts
    • Detective Maynard Gilbough
    • 2014
    Kelly Reilly
    Kelly Reilly
    • Jordan Semyon
    • 2015
    Scoot McNairy
    Scoot McNairy
    • Tom Purcell
    • 2019
    Tory Kittles
    Tory Kittles
    • Detective Thomas Papania
    • 2014
    Ray Fisher
    Ray Fisher
    • Henry Hays
    • 2019
    Chris Kerson
    Chris Kerson
    • Nails
    • 2015
    Ritchie Coster
    Ritchie Coster
    • Mayor Austin Chessani
    • 2015
    Sarah Gadon
    Sarah Gadon
    • Elisa Montgomery
    • 2019
    • Creators
      • Nic Pizzolatto
      • Issa López
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews1.4K

    8.9702.6K
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    Summary

    Reviewers say 'True Detective's' first season is acclaimed for its exceptional directing and writing. Cary Joji Fukunaga's atmospheric direction and Nic Pizzolatto's philosophical writing are highlighted. The collaboration between Fukunaga and Pizzolatto, along with stellar performances by Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson, is crucial to its success. The season is often hailed as a masterpiece, though some critics note pacing issues and complex themes may not appeal to all viewers.
    AI-generated from the text of user reviews

    Featured reviews

    9Supermanfan-13

    Great Crime Series

    True Detective is an absolutely incredible crime series. I've had to come back and revise my original comment because they just released season 4 so I had to include that in my comment. Like most others here have already said, Season 1 was on a different level. It was so good, so original and so incredibly acted, written, directed, etc that it was hard for the other seasons to live up to that first season. Season 2, even though it had an amazing cast, was not very good at all and easily the weakest of them. Season 3 was better and absolutely worth watching. Now, season 4 just ended and it was fantastic. I couldn't stop watching, I waited to the end of the season before I started it so I can binge it and I'm glad I did because that's the best way to watch it. Every season is different with a different story and a different cast so you don't have to watch in order. I absolutely recommend you watch season 1 and 4 though. If you have the time you can watch season 3 without being disappointed but skip season 2 all together.
    10Funkaairo

    Season 1 is a masterpiece

    Cohle and Hart play off eachother so amazingly well, and I was stunned by the constant wisdom on humanoids thrown out by Cohle constantly in the first episodes. I've never felt such a deep connection to a characters' thoughts ever and was taken aback by how deeply I could resonate to these thoughts on humanoids.

    These constant spurts of wisdom sold me on S1 from the first episode. It was amazingly depicted and I had to calm down through the dialogue and replay some bits because there was just so much stuff being said which required processing. I'll return to S1 in a couple of years to understand the wisdom bits deeper, and enjoy this masterfully created piece again.

    There was not a single dull moment in this series, despite being a slow-burner if that's what you want to call it. I'd say it's similar to mindhunter S1 but they're not really comparable in that way. You'll understand once you see it.

    Hart and Cohle played their characters ridiculously well and built this incredible depth to their stories and personalities that I have never seen before in TV. It made the series feel extremely mature in a sense that only people with proper understanding of their own emotions could understand the thought processes depicted in the series. Maggie was such a perfect character to make sure these thought processes were fished out. Amazing performance! I really have nothing but praise for S1.

    Just like Maggie said, Hart did not know what he wanted, and Cohle knew what he wanted. It is such a small line but it says so incredibly much. This world is divided like this and you can see it in all adults of all ages. Some people know who they are and therefore content with themselves, with integrity (just like Cohle) and some people are figuring things out at their own pace, but never really reaching the destination in terms of self actualization (Hart). Maggie was much more similar to Cohle and it was depicted masterfully.

    Either way I'm just going off on nothing here. Best Series I've watched and I feel like I evolved as a person after S1. Thank you!

    I'm not mentioning S2 and S3 and will not watch them as other reviews have made it clear I shouldn't. Haha.
    10normaxjean-23753

    Season 1 = Masterpiece

    Season 1 still remains the greatest television I've ever seen. McConaughey's best performance to date and Harrelson goes toe-to-toe with him. Everything from the acting (including every minor character) to the writing to the cinematography to the score is phenomenal.
    9Rob1331

    Season one is brilliant!

    The first season of True Detective is among the best television I've ever seen. Just read through the reviews to see how loved that first season was. This show is an anthology series and every season is different in quality. Season 1 is BY FAR the best and again some of the best tv of all-time, Season 2 was not good despite a great cast and Season 3 was back to be watchable again. Now about that first season...it sucks you into the story from the beginning of the first episode and holds onto you throughout the season until that phenomenal ending. Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson are so amazing in this that you forget that they're A-list actors and actually become the characters they are playing. Both of their performances are as good as anything you'll see from a television show. They're about to start filming season 4 and it should be out some time in late 2023. If you haven't seen this series yet then make time as soon as you can (except you can skip Season 2).
    10ksgillihan

    Season 1 is as close to perfect as you can get

    Before season one aired I had never seen anything so compelling in storytelling or filmmaking in my entire life. The following two seasons are watchable and well-made but nowhere near as phenomenal as season one. This is a paint-by-numbers example of how to do a gripping and unique story. There is nothing negative I can say about season one. Everything is top-notch. The acting, the story, the camera work, the music, the mood, everything.

    We see through the relationship of the two main characters a complicated and sometimes volatile relationship. They aren't enemies but they aren't exactly friends either. The dialogues they share together are some of the most interesting filmmaking I've ever seen. They aren't good men or bad men either. They exist in the grey area. They are just good enough to not be bad but bad enough to not be good. They are stark contrasts of one another as well. The relationship Rust and Marty have evolves constantly throughout the series and is the highlight of the entire show. I cannot recommend this season enough.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      To prepare, Matthew McConaughey created a four hundred fifty-page analysis, the "Four Stages of Rustin Cohle," to study his character's evolution over the course of the story.
    • Goofs
      Detective Rust Cohle is seen looking at his watch as it beeps. His watch is a mechanical dive watch without any digital components, and is unable to beep.
    • Quotes

      Detective Rust Cohle: Life's barely long enough to get good at one thing. So be careful what you get good at.

    • Connections
      Featured in Chelsea Lately: Episode #8.19 (2014)
    • Soundtracks
      Far From Any Road
      By The Handsome Family

      Written by Brett Sparks, Rennie Sparks

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    FAQ24

    • How many seasons does True Detective have?Powered by Alexa
    • Will there be a season 4?
    • What is the name and the lyrics to the True Detective theme song?
    • Do I need to see Season One before starting Season Two?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 12, 2014 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Official Instagram
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • True Detective: Night Country
    • Filming locations
      • Arkansas, USA(Season 3)
    • Production companies
      • Anonymous Content
      • HBO Entertainment
      • Passenger
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.78 : 1

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