The first season of True Detective (2014) is one of the single best seasons of any show ever made. Being that each season is a different story, you can argue it is really a miniseries format, and this story is exceptional.
STORY: Two Lousiana state detectives catch a gruesome case that only gets more complicated as they unravel its origins.
*First, this is a disclaimer that this is a TV-MA show. Due to its subject matter involving fictional murder cases, it may not be for everyone.
This was quite a run for television. We hadn't yet been overrun and saturated with shows from the plethora of new streaming services. This was the era of Game of Thrones, Mad Men, and Breaking Bad. There are many fantastic dramas but this particular season still stands out. What makes it so? Read on.
CASTING: The lead role is equally distributed between Matthew McConaughey (Interstellar, Dallas Buyers Club) and Woody Harrelson (Zombieland, War for the Planet of the Apes). Both give Emmy-nominated performances.
McConaughey is a narcissist, and I've never really seen another character portrayed like him. It's unique in where his facial expressions rarely change, yet you understand what he's feeling. The writing for him and his delivery complement each other. It's nothing like you've seen from him before.
Harrelson portrays what seems like your normal cop but with secrets of his own. He is a great contrast to McConaughey's character. He shows lots of emotion and many times to a fault in the arc of the character. His wife is portrayed by Michelle Monaghan (Gone Baby Gone, Mission Impossible 3) whose is a great actress in her own right. She's the leading lady and is able to establish emotion.
THEME: This show guises as a cynic yet is in fact an optimist. It might take you all eight episodes to believe me, but I promise it's true. The battle between light and dark is the oldest and main conflict in the world. The light has a fighting chance. I can't give you context for this quote because the moment is exceptional from the show.
TECHNICAL: The cinematography is splendid in every episode. They make harsh terrain look beautiful down in the bayou of Lousiana.
Speaking of the cinematography, the fourth episode features a one-take tracking shot. This is when the camera follows the characters and events for long periods of time. It's becoming more common to do this, but not every feature is able to pull it off. Star Wars: The Last Jedi is an example where it failed but still made the movie (throne room fight scene) while True Detective is a success. We follow a six-minute robbery. gang fight and subsequent police involvement hodgepodge that is more than exceptional. At least make it to episode four and experience this scene.
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