I've gone on record before describing this show as its own type of animal. After recently rewatching it for the first time in three years I pushed aside the watchmen review that I was working on just to discuss my love for this exceptional piece of television. True Detective follows two detectives played by Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson as they're trying to solve a murder mystery in the state of Louisiana spanning from 1995 to 2012. Whilst not sounding the most original, season one of True Detective uses this stale and done to death format to help breathe new life into the genre that hasn't seen innovation in years. This is achieved with the use of many great film-making techniques, terrific performances and a story that's as gripping as it is well written that always keeps you on the edge of your seat.
The performances of both McConaughey and Harrelson and the dynamic between them is nothing short of spell-binding, we see how as they dive deeper down the rabbit hole the further it twists them professionally and personally. It helps to invest the audience in the great story being told. Usually in detective stories the actual story itself doesn't really matter, allow me to elaborate. In Detective media, the story being told is more of a framework to have the two partners or group (Main Characters) work together to catch the killer and develop their characters in simpler terms the story is lesser to the characters. However, True Detective changes this formula by having the story on equal footing with the characters personal inter-dynamic. This isn't the only factor that makes this excellent series stand out though. The show has a muted look to it which really adds it with a great texture. Despite the show's very grey and dark colour palette to reflect this unforgiving world that the characters live in, the show makes great use of colour throughout. Piercing sunlight and fire red blood illuminating these crime scenes visited by the main characters or a Fire scorching the night burning the lifeless fields of Louisiana. The series was shot on 35mm film by Adam Arkapaw who won an Emmy for his work on the show and rightfully so as in my opinion is one of the most well shot and cinematic (in it's presentation) shows I've ever seen. In episode four, the finale of the episode ends with this thrilling uncut six minute long take tracking shot. It's one of the best long takes I've seen executed on television and across all media for a long time. Everything from the camerawork and lighting to the choreography is done to the letter and you'll be floored when you watch it I promise you.
Without a doubt the writing and storytelling is the figurative glue that holds all these great components of this series together. The series does a great job managing different jumps in time as we travel through various stages of these character lives and not always in the right order yet through characters' appearances and the use of different technologies we can establish where we are chronologically. It relies on the audience's intelligence and I'm glad they didn't use title cards explaining the dates as it rewards us for our attention. This is tied together by the excellent editing that helps us transition into these stages of time so smoothly despite there being a massive margin for error when handling concepts like these. Same has to be said about the dialogue; extremely well written throughout the entire series even small conversations about minor details really allow us to engross ourselves about the character's personalities and morals. However, where the dialogue is at its best is during the car conversations. These happen very frequently through the series but they never get dull as the two main characters practically despise each other which leads to great scenes of conflict. That and the fact that these are two men with vastly different ideologies and beliefs. It's just so fascinating to watch as both characters are very unorthodox compared to what we're used to with the detective genre. No matter what though during these scenes in the car there's never any filler and the story is always progressing as all good stories should. The series deals with these very complex themes and ask important questions about humanity and it never comes off pretentious in the slightest. I've already mentioned how much I enjoyed the story and whilst I don't want to give away too much all I will say is that the series has a great twist and I personally think the ending was nothing short of pitch perfect. Even the opening credits to the series are beautifully crafted and set the tone perfectly, I seriously can't fault any of this.
Finally, the overall directing was fantastic, every episode of the series was directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga who also directed Beasts of No Nation (2015) and the upcoming Bond film No Time to Die (2021). He really brought something to this series and is clearly a director that gets the best performances out of his actors as everyone in this really gives it their all, especially McConaughey and Harrelson who provide us with their best work to date. Other cast members such as Michelle Monaghan, Alexandra Daddario, Michael Potts and Tony Kittles all bring a deal to the series through their performances as well. I'm very much looking forward to seeing what Cary Joji Fukunaga will work on in the future.
To Conclude, my biggest compliment to this series is that it doesn't feel like one, it feels more like an eight hour long film and yet I was never bored for a single moment the longer it went on the more I couldn't turn it off. I haven't seen something this cinematic or anything of this quality on television in years and I don't think I will for quite a long time. At the time of writing this there are two other seasons of this series, I've watched both and honestly they lack the vision, the great characters and storytelling of the first season. This Masterpiece is all you need. My final verdict, 10/10.
Sorry this review was a little shorter, I'm working on some bigger projects at the moment as well as the fact I really don't want to spoil this for anyone. This show is something I think everyone should give a chance. If you enjoy this I would also recommend The Night Of (2016), The Sopranos (1999-2007) and Black Mirror (2011 -).
The performances of both McConaughey and Harrelson and the dynamic between them is nothing short of spell-binding, we see how as they dive deeper down the rabbit hole the further it twists them professionally and personally. It helps to invest the audience in the great story being told. Usually in detective stories the actual story itself doesn't really matter, allow me to elaborate. In Detective media, the story being told is more of a framework to have the two partners or group (Main Characters) work together to catch the killer and develop their characters in simpler terms the story is lesser to the characters. However, True Detective changes this formula by having the story on equal footing with the characters personal inter-dynamic. This isn't the only factor that makes this excellent series stand out though. The show has a muted look to it which really adds it with a great texture. Despite the show's very grey and dark colour palette to reflect this unforgiving world that the characters live in, the show makes great use of colour throughout. Piercing sunlight and fire red blood illuminating these crime scenes visited by the main characters or a Fire scorching the night burning the lifeless fields of Louisiana. The series was shot on 35mm film by Adam Arkapaw who won an Emmy for his work on the show and rightfully so as in my opinion is one of the most well shot and cinematic (in it's presentation) shows I've ever seen. In episode four, the finale of the episode ends with this thrilling uncut six minute long take tracking shot. It's one of the best long takes I've seen executed on television and across all media for a long time. Everything from the camerawork and lighting to the choreography is done to the letter and you'll be floored when you watch it I promise you.
Without a doubt the writing and storytelling is the figurative glue that holds all these great components of this series together. The series does a great job managing different jumps in time as we travel through various stages of these character lives and not always in the right order yet through characters' appearances and the use of different technologies we can establish where we are chronologically. It relies on the audience's intelligence and I'm glad they didn't use title cards explaining the dates as it rewards us for our attention. This is tied together by the excellent editing that helps us transition into these stages of time so smoothly despite there being a massive margin for error when handling concepts like these. Same has to be said about the dialogue; extremely well written throughout the entire series even small conversations about minor details really allow us to engross ourselves about the character's personalities and morals. However, where the dialogue is at its best is during the car conversations. These happen very frequently through the series but they never get dull as the two main characters practically despise each other which leads to great scenes of conflict. That and the fact that these are two men with vastly different ideologies and beliefs. It's just so fascinating to watch as both characters are very unorthodox compared to what we're used to with the detective genre. No matter what though during these scenes in the car there's never any filler and the story is always progressing as all good stories should. The series deals with these very complex themes and ask important questions about humanity and it never comes off pretentious in the slightest. I've already mentioned how much I enjoyed the story and whilst I don't want to give away too much all I will say is that the series has a great twist and I personally think the ending was nothing short of pitch perfect. Even the opening credits to the series are beautifully crafted and set the tone perfectly, I seriously can't fault any of this.
Finally, the overall directing was fantastic, every episode of the series was directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga who also directed Beasts of No Nation (2015) and the upcoming Bond film No Time to Die (2021). He really brought something to this series and is clearly a director that gets the best performances out of his actors as everyone in this really gives it their all, especially McConaughey and Harrelson who provide us with their best work to date. Other cast members such as Michelle Monaghan, Alexandra Daddario, Michael Potts and Tony Kittles all bring a deal to the series through their performances as well. I'm very much looking forward to seeing what Cary Joji Fukunaga will work on in the future.
To Conclude, my biggest compliment to this series is that it doesn't feel like one, it feels more like an eight hour long film and yet I was never bored for a single moment the longer it went on the more I couldn't turn it off. I haven't seen something this cinematic or anything of this quality on television in years and I don't think I will for quite a long time. At the time of writing this there are two other seasons of this series, I've watched both and honestly they lack the vision, the great characters and storytelling of the first season. This Masterpiece is all you need. My final verdict, 10/10.
Sorry this review was a little shorter, I'm working on some bigger projects at the moment as well as the fact I really don't want to spoil this for anyone. This show is something I think everyone should give a chance. If you enjoy this I would also recommend The Night Of (2016), The Sopranos (1999-2007) and Black Mirror (2011 -).
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