media review 2 min read
True Detective Season 1
My review of the first season of True Detective, a critically acclaimed masterpiece
True Detective is in the anthology style, following a different plotline each season. Its first season (which happens to be the only one I’ve seen), is frequently in discussion of the greatest season of televsion ever produced.
Does it hold up?
The story initially starts off confusing, wondering why why two former partners are being interviewed separately in 2012 about a case they supposedly resolved back in 1995. With films like Oppenheimer dominating mainstream media and ever since Pulp Fiction became a cult classic, multiple timelines are not such an eyebrow raise. However, the lack of initial dialogue makes it difficult to grasp why Rusty Cohle (McConaughey) remains so aloof in constrast to his partner, Marty Hart (Harrelson).
Not delving too deep into the details or plot of the show, it is clear that this season reflects the amount of time showrunner Nic Pizzolatto spent on it. Every detail is carefully introduced, and it is more of a character analysis of Cohle and Hart that the show excels in. But, the heart of a show is a mystery, one which the audience is unable to solve until Pizzolatto dangles the details in front of them. Rian Johnson’s Knives Out movies (also enjoyable) suffer from this same flaw; every detail is solved by a deus ex machina sort of detail introduction. Even The Mentalist, which boasts lead Patrick Jane’s extraordinary abilities, shows not tells, leading the audience to be able to predict some of the details.
True Detective S1 is an amazing gem in television. But, the mystery elements lack and the ending is sort of abrupt in relation to the slow buildup of the previous episodes.
Rating: 8/10