One thing I’ve found very interesting about television this year is that it seems to have produced better performances than any 2014 feature film release thus far. True Detective’s performances from Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson just might be the best I’ve ever seen on television, alongside Breaking Bad.
With an obscene amount of cop and detective shows on the air, I wasn't expecting anything I hadn't seen before, with True Detective. I soon realized I was in for quite the unexpected experience. The series felt more like a gritty take on the film, Gone Baby Gone, than any detective crime-style shows I’ve seen in years past. Even though the plot may sound simple, due to the complex characters and unique story telling format the show brings forth, it really separates itself from any other crime show on television.
The explosive, eight episode season follows two detectives played by Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson. The two become entangled in each other’s lives during a 17-year hunt for a serial killer in Louisiana. Aside from the main plot of catching the killer, True Detective spent more time with character development than most shows. At first this was refreshing but once the season progressed I wanted to see more of the actual hunt for the serial killer rather than the flawed lifestyles of the two leads. The season only stumbled around with this briefly, and to my relief, quickly got back on track with the excellent, unexpected pacing the show executed so well, early-on.
Some of the bigger pros this new original series on HBO holds is the jaw-dropping acting and excellent scripts that captured such real emotion. I had no idea where the writers were taking the show next, which opened up all kinds of doors for viewer speculation. From episode one the series hit the ground running with what I believe to be the best dialogue of the year in any form of media. With help from a highly talented cast the script felt like a look into the protagonist’s lives rather than a crime show.
Throughout the entirety of the show a dark, gritty feeling hung over me as I watched, not knowing what to expect next. I feel this was accomplished by intense stomach-turning events that popped up throughout, along with a flawless soundtrack, efficient editing and clever cinematography. One thing I respected about the show was the way it built-up suspense through conversations and speculation between characters, rather than having to showcase a fight scene. To me, this was real.
It was hard for me to find anything wrong with True Detective, but there are a few honorable mentions. Towards the end of the season the time periods shown on screen began to feel slightly shaky and required pondering to make sense of them. I felt this took away from having the viewer’s full concentration for the scenes that followed. Another distraction was a couple scenes that felt too cinematic to be realistic, which detracted from the believably haunting style the show had maintained up until the final two episodes. The final diversion came in some of the more intense, unsettling scenes, as they felt so realistic they weren't necessarily enjoyable.
In the end, True Detective is one of the better seasons that has ever aired on television and is personally one of my favorites. No question, this series is what other programs will strive to beat at this year’s Emmys. I look forward to season two, which will follow all new characters in 2015.
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