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True Detective

  • TV Series
  • 2014–20192014–2019
  • TV-MATV-MA
  • 55m
IMDb RATING
8.9/10
546K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
107
7
Episode guide
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson in True Detective (2014)
"True Detective" returns January 13, 2019 on HBO.  The third season, starring Mahershala Ali and Stephen Dorff, sees detectives investigating a grisly crime involving two missing children in the heart of the Ozarks.
Play trailer2:02
41 Videos
99+ Photos
CrimeDramaMystery

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

IMDb RATING
8.9/10
546K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
107
7
  • Creator
    • Nic Pizzolatto
  • Stars
    • Vince Vaughn
    • Colin Farrell
    • Rachel McAdams
Top credits
  • Creator
    • Nic Pizzolatto
  • Stars
    • Vince Vaughn
    • Colin Farrell
    • Rachel McAdams
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 1KUser reviews
    • 164Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Top rated TV #33
    • Won 5 Primetime Emmys
      • 30 wins & 93 nominations total

    Episodes25

    Browse episodes
    TopTop-rated

    Videos41

    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
    True Detective: Share When You Want
    Clip 3:18
    True Detective: Share When You Want
    Mahershala Ali of 'Green Book': "No Small Parts"
    Clip 3:58
    Mahershala Ali of 'Green Book': "No Small Parts"
    Official Trailer #2
    Trailer 2:02
    Official Trailer #2
    Season 3 Trailer
    Trailer 1:57
    Season 3 Trailer
    Season 3 Teaser Trailer
    Trailer 1:01
    Season 3 Teaser Trailer
    True Detective Season 2 | Stand
    Trailer 0:31
    True Detective Season 2 | Stand
    True Detective Season 2 | Chaos
    Trailer 0:31
    True Detective Season 2 | Chaos
    Season 2 Trailer
    Trailer 1:01
    Season 2 Trailer

    Photos1188

    Stephen Dorff, Brett Cullen, and Mahershala Ali in True Detective (2014)
    Stephen Dorff and Mahershala Ali in True Detective (2014)
    Carmen Ejogo in True Detective (2014)
    Mahershala Ali in True Detective (2014)
    Mahershala Ali in True Detective (2014)
    Rachel McAdams and Taylor Kitsch in True Detective (2014)
    True Detective (2014)
    Colin Farrell in True Detective (2014)
    Vince Vaughn in True Detective (2014)
    Colin Farrell in True Detective (2014)
    Colin Farrell and Rachel McAdams in True Detective (2014)
    Vince Vaughn in True Detective (2014)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Vince Vaughn
    Vince Vaughn
    • Frank Semyonas Frank Semyon
    8 episodes8 eps • 2015
    Colin Farrell
    Colin Farrell
    • Detective Ray Velcoroas Detective Ray Velcoro
    8 episodes8 eps • 2015
    Rachel McAdams
    Rachel McAdams
    • Detective Ani Bezzeridesas Detective Ani Bezzerides
    8 episodes8 eps • 2015
    Taylor Kitsch
    Taylor Kitsch
    • Officer Paul Woodrughas Officer Paul Woodrugh
    8 episodes8 eps • 2015
    Matthew McConaughey
    Matthew McConaughey
    • Detective Rust Cohleas Detective Rust Cohle
    8 episodes8 eps • 2014
    Mahershala Ali
    Mahershala Ali
    • Wayne Haysas Wayne Hays
    8 episodes8 eps • 2019
    Woody Harrelson
    Woody Harrelson
    • Detective Marty Hartas Detective Marty Hart
    8 episodes8 eps • 2014
    Carmen Ejogo
    Carmen Ejogo
    • Amelia Reardonas Amelia Reardon
    8 episodes8 eps • 2019
    Michelle Monaghan
    Michelle Monaghan
    • Maggie Hartas Maggie Hart
    8 episodes8 eps • 2014
    Stephen Dorff
    Stephen Dorff
    • Roland Westas Roland West…
    8 episodes8 eps • 2019
    Michael Potts
    Michael Potts
    • Detective Maynard Gilboughas Detective Maynard Gilbough
    8 episodes8 eps • 2014
    Kelly Reilly
    Kelly Reilly
    • Jordan Semyonas Jordan Semyon
    8 episodes8 eps • 2015
    Scoot McNairy
    Scoot McNairy
    • Tom Purcellas Tom Purcell
    8 episodes8 eps • 2019
    Tory Kittles
    Tory Kittles
    • Detective Thomas Papaniaas Detective Thomas Papania
    8 episodes8 eps • 2014
    Ray Fisher
    Ray Fisher
    • Henry Haysas Henry Hays
    8 episodes8 eps • 2019
    Chris Kerson
    Chris Kerson
    • Nailsas Nails
    8 episodes8 eps • 2015
    Ritchie Coster
    Ritchie Coster
    • Mayor Austin Chessanias Mayor Austin Chessani
    7 episodes7 eps • 2015
    Sarah Gadon
    Sarah Gadon
    • Elisa Montgomeryas Elisa Montgomery
    7 episodes7 eps • 2019
    • Creator
      • Nic Pizzolatto
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

    "True Detective" Returns to Form With Mahershala Ali

    "True Detective" Returns to Form With Mahershala Ali

    Looking for something to watch? Check out "True Detective." Season 3 is betting on an Oscar winner and a disturbing mystery to recapture the success of its first installment.
    Watch our video
    Image caption not available
    0:53

    Storyline

    Edit
    In 2012, Louisiana State Police Detectives Rust Cohle and Martin Hart are brought in to revisit a homicide case they worked in 1995. As the inquiry unfolds in present day through separate interrogations, the two former detectives narrate the story of their investigation, reopening unhealed wounds, and drawing into question their supposed solving of a bizarre ritualistic murder in 1995. The timelines braid and converge in 2012 as each man is pulled back into a world they believed they'd left behind. In learning about each other and their killer, it becomes clear that darkness lives on both sides of the law. —Rich28
    police investigationpolice detectivesouthern gothicmurderanthology40 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Man is the cruelest animal. (Season 1)
    • Genres
      • Crime
      • Drama
      • Mystery
      • Thriller
    • Certificate
      • TV-MA
    • Parents guide

    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

    User reviews1K

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    Dark, brooding cinema - outstanding, but probably not for action fans
    Right when the opening credits start and you hear that morbidly beautiful song 'Far From Any Road' by 'The Handsome Family', you know that this isn't going to be your usual cop show. Now, if you're more into action films, avoid this at all costs - but if you like amazing performances and dark, brooding cinema peppered with some black humour and a slight psychedelic touch, you're going to love this. The atmosphere and the southern ambiance of this show are so rich and the cinematography is so beautiful, I can hardly think of anything in recent TV-history that compares to this. To make a musical analogy: if the crazy, creative energy of 'Breaking Bad' felt like 'Led Zeppelin', this feels more like 'The Doors'. The slow, bluesy, hypnotic pulse of this show draws you in and hooks you - and then it doesn't let go. By the way, the original music is also excellent (T-Bone Burnett) and fits the mood perfectly.

    As far as the actors are concerned, there's nothing but great performances. Even the smaller parts are perfectly cast and the two leads: wow, just - wow! Harrelson (freshly returned from 'The Hunger Games'), plays the "normal", more down to earth character, while McConaughey (still marked by his own personal hunger games) nails the part of his slightly mad, highly intelligent but nihilistic and severely depressed partner. Watching them play off each other (again, after 'Edtv' and 'Surfer, Dude') while their conflicted - and conflicting - characters try to solve a ritual murder is so captivating (and so much fun) I honestly don't care that much if they are ever going to solve that crime.

    So for the moment, I'm giving this 10 stars (I can still take back a few if it all goes downhill from here), because in my opinion, there wasn't a single note out of key so far. The writing is top notch, and if the creative team behind this can keep it up, this could turn out to be HBO's next 'Wire' in terms of quality. Cary Fukunaga ('Sin Nombre','Jane Eyre'), who will hopefully one day adapt Stephen King's 'It', proves once more that he's a very accomplished director and a talent to look out for in the future.

    My verdict: if you like a well told, character driven story (that might lead you to some very dark places) and if you're not put off by a rather considerate pace, I can't recommend this show enough - this is some great television.

    Favorite films: IMDb.com/list/mkjOKvqlSBs/

    Lesser-Known Masterpieces: imdb.com/list/ls070242495/

    Favorite Low-Budget and B-Movies: imdb.com/list/ls054808375/

    Favorite TV-Shows reviewed: imdb.com/list/ls075552387/
    helpful•964
    108
    • gogoschka-1
    • Jan 13, 2014

    FAQ11

    • Will there be a session 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
      • Tham Tu Chan Chinh
    • Filming locations
      • Arkansas, USA
    • Production companies
      • Anonymous Content
      • HBO Entertainment
      • Passenger
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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

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