Jump to content

True Detective

This is a good article. Click here for more information.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from True Detectives)

True Detective
Title card for the first season
Also known asNight Country (season 4)
Genre
Created by
Showrunners
  • Nic Pizzolatto (s. 1–3)
  • Issa López (s. 4–5)
Written by
  • Nic Pizzolatto (s. 1–3)
  • Various (s. 2–)
  • Issa López (s. 4)
Directed by
Starring
Opening theme
Composers
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons4
No. of episodes30 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
Producers
  • Carol Cuddy (s. 1)
  • Aida Rodgers (s. 2)
  • Peter Feldman (s. 3)
  • Sam Breckman (s. 4)
  • Princess Daazhraii Johnson (s. 4)
  • Cathy Tagnak Rexford (s. 4)
  • Layla Blackman (s. 4)
Production locations
Cinematography
Editors
Running time54–87 minutes
Production companies
  • Parliament of Owls
  • Passenger
  • Anonymous Content
  • Neon Black
  • Lee Caplin / Picture Entertainment (s. 1–3)
  • Peligrosa (s. 4)
  • HBO Entertainment
Original release
NetworkHBO
ReleaseJanuary 12, 2014 (2014-01-12) –
present

True Detective is an American anthology crime drama television series created by Nic Pizzolatto. The series, broadcast by the premium cable network HBO in the United States, premiered on January 12, 2014. Each season of the series is structured as a self-contained narrative, employing new cast ensembles, and following various sets of characters and settings.

The first season, starring Matthew McConaughey, Woody Harrelson, Michelle Monaghan, Michael Potts, and Tory Kittles, aired in 2014. It takes place in Louisiana and follows a pair of Louisiana State Police detectives, and their pursuit of a serial killer with occult links over a 17-year period.

The second season, starring Colin Farrell, Rachel McAdams, Taylor Kitsch, Kelly Reilly, and Vince Vaughn, aired in 2015. It is set in California, and focuses on three detectives from three cooperating police jurisdictions and a criminal-turned-businessman as they investigate a series of crimes they believe are linked to the murder of a corrupt politician.[2][3]

The third season, starring Mahershala Ali, Carmen Ejogo, Stephen Dorff, Scoot McNairy, and Ray Fisher, aired in 2019. It takes place in the Ozarks over three time periods as a pair of Arkansas State Police detectives investigate a macabre crime involving two missing children.

The fourth season, titled True Detective: Night Country and starring Jodie Foster and Kali Reis, aired in 2024. It takes place in Alaska and follows the investigation into the sudden disappearance of a team of eight men from a research station. Issa López serves as writer and director, marking Pizzolatto's first time as neither writer nor showrunner.[4]

The first season received widespread acclaim and earned high ratings for HBO. It received numerous awards, chiefly for its acting, cinematography, writing, and direction. Reception to the second season was more divided, although the show maintained high viewership. The third season received positive reviews, but saw a drop in viewership. Night Country earned the highest viewership ratings for the series,[5] and received widespread critical acclaim. It earned the highest number of Emmy Award nominations for the series.

A fifth season, with López returning as the showrunner, is in development.

Production

[edit]

Development

[edit]

Before developing True Detective, Nic Pizzolatto worked as a literature professor for the University of Chicago, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and DePauw University.[6] He also delved into fiction writing, having developed a fascination for it as a graduate student at the University of Arkansas. His first published work was the short story collection Between Here and the Yellow Sea, released in 2006.[6] The author published his debut novel, Galveston, four years later and around the same time began preparing to branch out into the television industry (earlier attempts were never realized due to lack of capital).[7]

Intended to be Galveston's follow-up, Pizzolatto felt True Detective was more suited to film.[6][8] Pizzolatto shopped the novel to two TV executives, and, once he secured a deal in May 2010, drafted six screenplays, including the pilot episode ("The Long Bright Dark") script, which ran 90 pages.[6][7] He devoted another script for the series shortly after his departure from The Killing's writing staff in 2011, thanks to the support of Anonymous Content.[6] The final copy, amounting to 500 pages, was written without the aid of writing staff.[9][10] By this time, Pizzolatto secured a development deal with HBO,[6] and by April 2012, the network commissioned True Detective on an order of eight episodes.[11] Set up as an anthology series, each season will feature a different cast of characters and self-contained narratives in various time periods and locations.[12]

When preparing season 4, subtitled Night Country, director and writer Issa López chose to create a "dark mirror" of the first season: "Where True Detective is male and it's sweaty, Night Country is cold and it's dark and it's female."[13]

In February 2024, following the fourth-season finale, HBO renewed the series for a fifth season with López returning in her roles.[14]

Filming

[edit]

The initial location for principal photography of True Detective's first season was Arkansas, but Pizzolatto later opted to film in Louisiana, which was cheaper due to its generous film-tax incentive program.[9][15] Production lasted 100 consecutive days,[16] and each episode was shot on 35mm film.[17] The crew filmed exterior shots of various constructed sets, including a remote sugarcane field outside of Erath,[18] in addition to real life locations such as Fort Macomb, a nineteenth-century fort located outside of New Orleans.[19]

California was selected as the setting for True Detective's sophomore season. Producers were urged to avoid filming in Los Angeles and, instead, focus on the more obscure regions of the state to "capture a certain psycho-sphere ambiance".[20] Production began in November 2014.[21]

The third season was filmed at various locations throughout Northwest Arkansas, including Fayetteville, Bentonville, Lincoln, Rogers and Springdale.[22] Filming began in February 2018 and was wrapped in August of the same year.[23]

Opening sequence

[edit]

Led by creative director Patrick Clair, True Detective's title sequences were developed by a collaborative team consisting of three motion-design studios: Santa Monica-based Elastic, Antibody and Breeder, both based in Australia.[24][25][26] For the first season, Clair and his team took a variety of photos of the Louisiana scenery, which became the sequence's backbone.[25] They superimposed these images onto low poly meshes, thanks to the use of various animation and special effects techniques. This was a meticulous process for production, since they wanted to avoid creating a digitized look for the sequence.[26] Once its final cut took form, the team polished it by employing optical glitching and motion distortion technique.[25] True Detective's season one opening theme is "Far from Any Road", an alternative country song originally composed by The Handsome Family for their 2003 album Singing Bones.[26] The Sydney Morning Herald included season one's opening sequence in their list of the "Ten of the Best" title sequences on television.[27]

Clair took a similar approach to creating the title sequence for True Detective's second season. Production used material from a number of photographers, including aerial shots captured by David Maisel.[24] However, unlike season one, season two's title sequence incorporates deep, vivid gold and red color, thereby presenting "that more complicated view of California".[24] Leonard Cohen's "Nevermind" is the season two opening theme, which is a song from Cohen's 2014 album Popular Problems.[28] The theme song's lyrics change with every episode, incorporating different verses from Cohen's song.[29][30]

For the fourth season, Night Country, a new sequence was commissioned from London-based Peter Anderson Studios,[31] set to Billie Eilish's song "Bury a Friend", a major influence on the show cited by showrunner Issa López.[32] As the fourth season sought to distinguish itself visually from prior entries, Anderson chose not to use superimposed images. Instead, the company was flown out to Iceland to film the majority of the sequence "from scratch", using the same props and locations as the show itself. Although certain scenes involved CGI (such as the final shot of a car parked on the sea ice) and underwater sequences were filmed in a tank, the majority of the sequence was real footage. This allowed Anderson to recreate the arc of the story in miniature, tantalizing the audience with the unfolding story: "[t]he setting is the same.  But the story, packed inside a single minute, stands on its own."[33]

Cast and crew

[edit]

Season 1

[edit]
Harrelson (left) and McConaughey (right) at the 66th Primetime Emmy Awards.

The first actor to be cast for True Detective was Matthew McConaughey, who acted as Detective Rustin "Rust" Cohle. McConaughey came to Pizzolatto's attention for his performance in the 2011 thriller film The Lincoln Lawyer, and was contracted before the series was commissioned by HBO. He and Woody Harrelson were among a pool of candidates Pizzolatto had in mind for star billing.[8] Although the actor was to play Detective Martin "Marty" Hart, he later convinced Pizzolatto to cast him as Cohle.[34] Instead, Harrelson was assigned the role of Hart at McConaughey's request.[35][36][37] Michelle Monaghan played the female lead Maggie Hart,[38] while Michael Potts and Tory Kittles were given the roles of Detectives Maynard Gilbough and Thomas Papania, respectively.[39][40] Major recurring roles in the first season include Kevin Dunn as Major Ken Quesada and Alexandra Daddario as Lisa Tragnetti.[39][41] Daddario appeared in a four-episode arc as a court reporter having an extramarital affair with one of the main characters; her nude scene with Woody Harrelson attracted much attention.[42]

Cary Joji Fukunaga was appointed as director of True Detective's first season. He competed with Alejandro González Iñárritu for the position, but Iñárritu dropped out because of other film commitments.[43][44] To prepare, Fukunaga conducted research with a real-life homicide detective of the Louisiana State Police's Criminal Investigations Division.[45] The director brought on Adam Arkapaw as the project cinematographer, and hired Alex DiGerlando, who he worked with on Benh Zeitlin's Glory at Sea (2008), as the production designer.[16]

Season 2

[edit]
Rachel McAdams is a lead in season 2.

In January 2014, Pizzolatto signed a two-year contract extension with HBO, effectively renewing the series for two additional seasons.[46] Much like its predecessor, season 2 of True Detective consists of eight episodes, all written by Pizzolatto.[20] However, the responsibility of directing was assigned to several people. Justin Lin directed the first two episodes.[47] Fukunaga, who directed all of season one, did not return as director; he remains, however, an executive producer,[48] as do McConaughey and Harrelson. Pizzolatto hired fellow novelist Scott Lasser to help develop and write stories for the second half of the season.[48]

The season's first significant casting was Colin Farrell as Detective Raymond "Ray" Velcoro.[49] Vince Vaughn, playing the role of criminal and entrepreneur Frank Semyon, was officially cast toward the end of the month.[47] By November, True Detective's principal cast expanded to include Rachel McAdams as Detective Antigone "Ani" Bezzerides, Taylor Kitsch as California Highway Patrol Officer Paul Woodrugh, and Kelly Reilly as Jordan Semyon, Frank's wife.[50][51]

Season 3

[edit]
Mahershala Ali plays the lead role in the third season.

In August 2017, HBO officially greenlit a third season, which takes place in the Ozarks over three decades.[52] The first two episodes were directed by Jeremy Saulnier; he had been expected to direct the third episode, but had to exit the series due to scheduling conflicts. In March 2018, it was announced that Daniel Sackheim was added as director and that he and Pizzolatto would direct the remaining six episodes.[53] Pizzolatto is the sole writer, with the exceptions of episodes 4 and 6 which he co-wrote with David Milch and Graham Gordy, respectively. Mahershala Ali was cast as the lead character, playing Wayne Hays, a state police detective from northwest Arkansas.[54] Ray Fisher plays Wayne's son, Henry Hays;[55] Carmen Ejogo plays Amelia Reardon, an Arkansas schoolteacher with a connection to two missing children in 1980;[56] Stephen Dorff plays Roland West, an Arkansas State Investigator;[57] Scoot McNairy plays Tom Purcell, the father of the missing children;[58] and Mamie Gummer plays Lucy Purcell, the mother of the missing children.[59]

Season 4: Night Country

[edit]
Jodie Foster stars in season 4.

In March 2022, it was reported that a fourth season of True Detective was in development, with Issa López writing a pilot episode and Barry Jenkins as executive producer. López would also direct the pilot if HBO moved forward with the project.[60] In May 2022, it was reported that Jodie Foster would star in a lead role for the fourth season. The season, subtitled Night Country, is set in Alaska, and follows detectives Liz Danvers (Foster) and Evangeline Navarro as they investigate the disappearance of eight men from a research station.[61] In June 2022, HBO officially greenlit the series and Kali Reis was cast in the lead role of Evangeline Navarro, a role that was originally conceived as Latina.[13] The season was filmed in Iceland[62] on an estimated budget of $60 million.[63] In September 2022, John Hawkes, Christopher Eccleston, Fiona Shaw, Finn Bennett, and Anna Lambe joined the cast.[64] Further cast additions were announced in October 2022, including Aka Niviâna, Isabella Star LaBlanc and Joel D. Montgrand, while also confirming that the new season would be the first not written by Pizzolatto, who will turn over primary writing and showrunning duties to López.[65] HBO confirmed on November 8, 2022, that production on the fourth season had commenced.[66] Producer Mari-Jo Winkler and writer-director Issa López both announced that filming had finished in early April 2023.[67] The season premiered on January 14, 2024.[68]

Episodes

[edit]
SeasonEpisodesOriginally airedAverage viewers
(in millions)
First airedLast aired
18January 12, 2014 (2014-01-12)March 9, 2014 (2014-03-09)2.33[69]
28June 21, 2015 (2015-06-21)August 9, 2015 (2015-08-09)2.61[69]
38January 13, 2019 (2019-01-13)February 24, 2019 (2019-02-24)1.25[69]
46January 14, 2024 (2024-01-14)February 18, 2024 (2024-02-18)0.654[69]

Reception

[edit]

Critical response

[edit]
Critical response of True Detective
SeasonRotten TomatoesMetacritic
191% (99 reviews)[70]87 (41 reviews)[71]
247% (127 reviews)[72]61 (41 reviews)[73]
384% (110 reviews)[74]72 (35 reviews)[75]
492% (206 reviews)[76]81 (46 reviews)[77]

Season 1

[edit]

True Detective's first season received widespread acclaim from television critics, with several naming it among the best television dramas of the year.[78] On the review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes, the first season garnered a rating of 91%, based on 99 reviews, with an average rating of 9/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "In True Detective, performances by Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey reel the viewer in, while the style, vision and direction make it hard to turn away."[70] On Metacritic, season one scored an 87 out of 100, based on 41 critics.[71]

Reviewers from The Daily Beast, The Atlantic, and The Daily Telegraph cited True Detective as the strongest show in recent memory.[79][80][81] Tim Goodman from The Hollywood Reporter said the acting, dialogue, and sleek production were the series' most redeeming qualities.[82] HitFix's Alan Sepinwall agreed, and believed that these attributes "speak to the value of the hybrid anthology format Pizzolatto is using here ... points to a potentially fascinating shift in dramatic series television".[83] Richard Lawson, writing for Vanity Fair, said that Pizzolatto and Fukunaga's sensibilities produce "a captivating and offbeat tweak of a well-worn genre".[84] Despite its critical regard, some critics were not as enthusiastic in their reviews of season one. The New York Times journalist Mike Hale thought the script too readily deferred to religion as its narrative backbone,[85] as did Chris Cabin from Slant Magazine.[86] Hank Steuver of The Washington Post wrote that True Detective failed to realize its own ambition.[87]

The ensemble performances, namely McConaughey and Harrelson, were frequently mentioned in reviews. Robert Bianco in USA Today wrote that the duo met, and even exceeded occasionally, the "enormously high" performance expectations of the "golden age of TV acting".[88] David Wiegand of the San Francisco Chronicle and Los Angeles Times journalist Robert Lloyd singled out the two men for their work in the series;[89][90] The Boston Globe did the same for Monaghan.[91] Variety's Brian Lowry said the True Detective cast consisted of "fine players on the periphery".[92]

Season 2

[edit]

True Detective's second season received mixed reviews. Praise was given to the performances of Farrell, McAdams and Kitsch,[93] cinematography,[94] and action sequences.[95] However, many critics felt it was weaker than the first season. Most criticism focused on the convoluted plot and dialogue.[96][97] On Rotten Tomatoes, the season has a rating of 47%, based on 127 reviews, with an average rating of 6.3/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Despite some memorably grizzled performances, True Detective's second season is florid to a fault and so unrelentingly grim that it becomes about as much fun as being stuck in L.A. traffic."[72] On Metacritic, the season has a score of 61 out of 100, based on 41 critics.[73]

David Hinckley of the New York Daily News gave it a very positive review, and wrote: "It's still the kind of show that makes TV viewers reach for phrases like 'golden age of television drama'" and "the second installment of True Detective goes out of the way not to echo the first".[98] Hank Stuever of The Washington Post gave it a generally positive review, praising the performances, and wrote: "There is something still lugubrious and overwrought about True Detective, but there's also a mesmerizing style to it — it's imperfect, but well made."[99]

A mixed review came from Brian Lowry of Variety, who wrote: "Although generally watchable, the inspiration that turned the first [season] into an obsession for many seems to have drained out of writer Nic Pizzolatto's prose."[100]

Sean T. Collins of Rolling Stone gave it a negative review and described the season as having "emerged as the year's most passionately disliked show", and described it as a "squandered opportunity" for Nic Pizzolatto.[101]

Season 3

[edit]

The third season received positive reviews, in comparison to the mixed reception of the second season.

On Rotten Tomatoes, the season has a rating of 84%, based on 110 reviews, with an average rating of 7.65/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Driven by Mahershala Ali's mesmerizing performance, True Detective's third season finds fresh perspective by exploring the fallibility of memory."[74] On Metacritic, the season has a score of 72 out of 100, based on 35 critics.[75]

Season 4

[edit]

The fourth season has received widespread critical acclaim, the most acclaimed since the first season.

On Rotten Tomatoes, the season has an approval rating of 92% based on 206 reviews with an average rating of 8.3/10. The website's critics consensus reads, "Frighteningly atmospheric and anchored by Jodie Foster and Kali Reis' superb performances, Night Country is a fresh and frosty variation on True Detective's existential themes."[76] On Metacritic, the season has a weighted average score of 81 out of 100, based on 46 critics.[77]

Ratings

[edit]
True Detective : U.S. viewers per episode (millions)
Audience measurement performed by Nielsen Media Research[69]

With an average gross audience of 11.9 million viewers, the first season of True Detective was HBO's most-watched show in its first year of airing, surpassing Six Feet Under's 11.4 million viewers in 2001.[102] This rating system counts all airings of a show in its average audience rating, no matter how many times a viewer watches the show during the report period (including DVR recordings, reruns, and streaming on HBO Go).[103][104] The season averaged 2.33 million total live plus same-day viewers, with viewership numbers generally trending upward over the course of the season.[105] The premiere was the second most-watched series debut for the network with 2.3 million viewers, behind Boardwalk Empire's 4.8 million in 2010.[106] The sixth episode of the season was watched by 2.6 million viewers, and became the first episode to surpass the premiere, while the season-finale was watched by 3.5 million viewers, a 50% increase over the premiere's ratings.[102]

The second-season premiere sustained the viewership numbers of the first season, as the episode was watched by 3.2 million viewers.[106] However, the season's ratings kept a generally downward trend, as the season-finale was watched by 2.7 million viewers, a 22% drop in comparison to the final episode of the first season. Nevertheless, it was the most-watched telecast for the day it aired, drawing an additional 550,000 total viewers from the season's penultimate episode.[107] Overall, the second season of the series averaged 2.61 million total viewers,[108] and 11.3 million viewers in gross audience numbers, slightly below the first season's 11.9 million.[109]

The third season's two-episode premiere drew 1.4 and 1.2 million viewers in linear television format; this was a decline from the first two seasons.[110] The fourth-season premiere received 2 million viewers, including viewership from its linear HBO airing and streaming on Max.[111] Viewership for the fourth season steadily increased with each episode,[112] culminating in 3.2 million total viewers for the season finale and averaged 12.7 million cross-platform viewers for the season, to become the most-watched season of the series.[113]

Accolades

[edit]
Season 1 director Cary Joji Fukunaga won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series.

For the 30th TCA Awards, True Detective won for Outstanding Achievement in Movies, Miniseries, and Specials and received nominations for Outstanding New Program and Program of the Year; and McConaughey won for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Drama.[114] For the 4th Critics' Choice Television Awards, the series was nominated for Best Drama Series, and McConaughey won for Best Actor in a Drama Series.[115] For the 66th Primetime Emmy Awards, the series was nominated for Outstanding Drama Series, Harrelson and McConaughey were both nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, Pizzolatto was nominated for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series for "The Secret Fate of All Life", and Fukunaga won for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series for "Who Goes There".[116]

For the 66th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards, the series was nominated for seven awards, and won four, including Outstanding Cinematography for a Single-Camera Series and Outstanding Main Title Design.[117] For the 67th Writers Guild of America Awards, the series won for Best Drama Series and Best New Series.[118] For the 21st Screen Actors Guild Awards, Harrelson and McConaughey both received nominations for Best Drama Actor.[119] For the 72nd Golden Globe Awards, the series was nominated for Best Miniseries or Television Film, Harrelson and McConaughey were both nominated for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film, and Monaghan was nominated for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film.[120] For the 67th Directors Guild of America Awards, Fukunaga was nominated for Outstanding Directing – Drama Series for the episode "Who Goes There".[121]

Night Country garnered a total of nineteen nominations at the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards, thus becoming the most nominated season of the show. Foster won for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie. Among many, it received nominations for Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series, Outstanding Supporting Actor (for Hawkes), Outstanding Supporting Actress (for Reis), Outstanding Directing and Writing (for Lopez).[122][123] At the 40th TCA Awards, Night Country received nominations for Outstanding Achievement in Drama and Outstanding Individual Achievement in Drama (for Foster).[124]

Home media

[edit]
Season DVD release date Blu-ray release date Ref.
Region 1 Region 2 Region 4 Region A Region B
1 June 10, 2014 (2014-06-10) June 9, 2014 (2014-06-09) June 25, 2014 (2014-06-25) June 10, 2014 (2014-06-10) June 9, 2014 (2014-06-09) [125]
2 January 5, 2016 (2016-01-05) January 11, 2016 (2016-01-11) January 6, 2016 (2016-01-06) January 5, 2016 (2016-01-05) January 11, 2016 (2016-01-11) [126]
3 September 3, 2019 (2019-09-03) September 2, 2019 (2019-09-02) September 4, 2019 (2019-09-04) September 3, 2019 (2019-09-03) September 2, 2019 (2019-09-02) [127]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Milazzo, Melissa (October 5, 2014). "True Detective Explores the Roots and Branches of Southern Gothic". Sequart Organization. Archived from the original on June 2, 2021. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
  2. ^ Ausiello, Michael (April 9, 2015). "True Detective Season 2 Trailer Is Here!". TVLine. Archived from the original on April 10, 2015. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
  3. ^ Kim, Monica (June 17, 2015). "Meet the Troubled Cast of True Detective's Season 2". Vogue. Archived from the original on June 18, 2015. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
  4. ^ Wigler, Josh (February 21, 2024). "'Night Country' Boss Issa López on Reviving 'True Detective' and Franchise's Future: "We Will Know Very Shortly"". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
  5. ^ Porter, Rick (February 19, 2024). "TV Ratings: 'True Detective: Night Country' Ends With Season High". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
  6. ^ a b c d e f Walker, Dave (July 7, 2013). "Nic Pizzolatto, New Orleans-born novelist, discusses HBO's upcoming 'True Detective'". The Times-Picayune. Archived from the original on November 4, 2015. Retrieved January 22, 2015.
  7. ^ a b Romano, Andrew (April 4, 2014). "Inside the Obsessive, Strange Mind of True Detective's Nic Pizzolatto". The Daily Beast. The Newsweek Daily Beast Company. Archived from the original on November 4, 2015. Retrieved January 22, 2015.
  8. ^ a b Goldberg, Lesley (January 9, 2014). "'True Detective': Five Things to Know About HBO's New Cop Drama". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on November 4, 2015. Retrieved January 22, 2015.
  9. ^ a b Duelund, Theis (January 4, 2014). "Q&A: "True Detective" Creator Nic Pizzolatto is a One-Man Writing Army". Los Angeles. Archived from the original on November 4, 2015. Retrieved January 22, 2015.
  10. ^ Navae, Helene (August 23, 2014). "Til masterclass med Mr. True Detective" [To master class with Mr. True Detective]. Politiken (in Danish). JP/Politikens Hus. Archived from the original on November 4, 2015. Retrieved January 26, 2015.
  11. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (April 30, 2012). "HBO Picks Up Matthew-Woody Series 'True Detective' With Eight-Episode Orders". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on November 4, 2015. Retrieved February 2, 2013.
  12. ^ Goldberg, Lesley (April 30, 2013). "HBO Lands Matthew McConaughey, Woody Harrelson Cop Drama". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on November 5, 2013. Retrieved September 9, 2013.
  13. ^ a b Busis, Hillary (November 8, 2023). "True Detective: Night Country First Look: "It's Cold and It's Dark and It's Female"". Vanity Fair. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
  14. ^ Goldberg, Lesley (February 22, 2024). "'True Detective' Renewed for Season 5 With Issa López at the Helm". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
  15. ^ White Jr., Lamar (January 16, 2014). "Exclusive: Nic Pizzolatto's Louisiana". CenLamar. Archived from the original on November 5, 2015. Retrieved December 25, 2014.
  16. ^ a b Hart, Hugh (January 6, 2014). "Director Cary Fukunaga on Conjuring the Louisiana Noir of "True Detective"". Fast Company. Archived from the original on November 5, 2015. Retrieved December 25, 2014.
  17. ^ Cary Joji Fukunaga (director) (2014). "Making True Detective" featurette (Blu-ray). HBO. Event occurs at 7:51–7:53.
  18. ^ Martin, Denise (March 6, 2014). "Devil's Nests and Beer-Can Men: The Origins of 13 True Detective Set Pieces". New York. New York Media. Archived from the original on November 5, 2015. Retrieved December 25, 2014.
  19. ^ Martin, Denise (March 10, 2014). "True Detective's Production Designer on the Fort". New York. New York Media. Archived from the original on November 5, 2015. Retrieved January 24, 2015.
  20. ^ a b Hibberd, James (May 27, 2014). "'True Detective' season 2 scoop: Trio of leads, California setting". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on May 28, 2014. Retrieved May 27, 2014.
  21. ^ "Rachel McAdams, Taylor Kitsch and Kelly Reilly Join Colin Farrell and Vince Vaughn in HBO's "True Detective"" (Press release). HBO. November 24, 2014. Retrieved December 2, 2014.
  22. ^ Murphy, Kay (May 29, 2018). "'True Detective' Crew Teach Students and Staff About On-Site Film Production". University of Arkansas News. Archived from the original on September 21, 2018. Retrieved September 21, 2018.
  23. ^ Schaefer, Sandy (August 16, 2018). "HBO's True Detective Season 3 Wraps Filming". ScreenRant. Archived from the original on August 17, 2018. Retrieved September 21, 2018.
  24. ^ a b c Horn, John (June 29, 2015). "True Detective's Title Designer on Bringing the Soul of the Show to Its Opening Moments". New York. New York Media. Archived from the original on August 2, 2015. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  25. ^ a b c Perkins, Will (January 14, 2014). "True Detective (2014)". Art of the Title. Archived from the original on November 5, 2015. Retrieved January 24, 2015.
  26. ^ a b c Rhodes, Margaret (March 7, 2014). "A Behind-The-Scenes Look At The Chilling Opening Credits Of "True Detective"". Fast Company. Archived from the original on November 5, 2015. Retrieved January 24, 2015.
  27. ^ Kalina, Paul (August 22, 2014). "How Patrick Clair won the Emmy for 90 seconds of True Detective". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on November 5, 2015. Retrieved January 24, 2015.
  28. ^ Zoladz, Lindsay (June 21, 2015). "A History of True Detective's New Theme Song, 'Nevermind'". Vulture. Archived from the original on June 23, 2015. Retrieved June 23, 2015.
  29. ^ Tach, Dave (July 7, 2015). "True Detective season two watchthrough: episodes two and three". Polygon. Archived from the original on July 21, 2015. Retrieved July 28, 2015.
  30. ^ Pehanick, Maggie (July 6, 2015). "Have You Noticed That True Detective's Theme Song Changes Every Week?". PopSugar. Archived from the original on July 28, 2015. Retrieved July 28, 2015.
  31. ^ Anderson, Peter. ""True Detective: Night Country Title Sequence", Peter Anderson Studios". Peter Anderson Studios. Archived from the original on February 29, 2024. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  32. ^ Rosenberg, Josh (January 16, 2024). "Billie Eilish's 'Bury A Friend' Inspired True Detective Season 4's Opening Credits". Esquire. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
  33. ^ Brandon, Elissaveta M. (February 1, 2024). "True Detective's eerie title sequence is full of clues and red herrings". Fast Company. Archived from the original on February 6, 2024. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  34. ^ Drumming, Neil (January 9, 2014). ""True Detective" director Cary Fukunaga explains the show's dark humor". Salon. Salon Media Group. Archived from the original on November 4, 2015. Retrieved January 22, 2015.
  35. ^ Ringen, Jonathan (March 3, 2014). "Matthew McConaughey on 'True Detective,' His Pal Woody, McConaissance". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on November 4, 2015. Retrieved January 22, 2015.
  36. ^ MacInnes, Paul (March 21, 2014). "True Detective: how we made the most talked-about TV show of the year". The Guardian. Archived from the original on November 4, 2015. Retrieved January 22, 2015.
  37. ^ Radish, Christina (January 4, 2014). "Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson Talk True Detective, Why They Agreed to Do a TV Show, Working with Each Other, and More". Collider. Archived from the original on November 4, 2015. Retrieved January 22, 2015.
  38. ^ Radish, Christina (February 12, 2014). "Michelle Monaghan Talks True Detective, Joining the Show, Working with Cary Fukunaga, the Mood on Set, Future Projects, and More". Collider. Archived from the original on November 4, 2015. Retrieved January 22, 2015.
  39. ^ a b Andreeva, Nellie (January 14, 2013). "'Texas Chainsaw's Alexandra Daddario, 'Twilight Saga's Elizabeth Reaser, 2 'Wire' Alums Join New HBO Series 'True Detective'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on November 5, 2015. Retrieved December 25, 2013.
  40. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (January 14, 2013). "'HBO Series 'True Detective', AMC's 'The Killing' Add To Casts". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on November 5, 2015. Retrieved December 25, 2014.
  41. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (February 1, 2013). "Kevin Dunn Joins HBO Series 'True Detective', CBS Pilot 'Mom' Adds Regular". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 4, 2013. Retrieved February 3, 2013.
  42. ^ Sullivan, Kevin P. (January 17, 2014). "Alexandra Daddario Talks True Detective Nude Scene: 'I Just Sort Of Did It'". MTV News. Archived from the original on March 4, 2015. Retrieved March 3, 2015.
  43. ^ Borrelli, Christopher (January 22, 2014). "True voice brings 'True Detective' to life". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on November 23, 2016. Retrieved January 22, 2015.
  44. ^ Stern, Marlow (February 26, 2014). "True Detective Director Cary Fukunaga's Journey from Pro Snowboarder to Hollywood's Most Wanted". The Daily Beast. The Newsweek Daily Beast Company. Archived from the original on November 5, 2015. Retrieved January 22, 2015.
  45. ^ Brown, Emma (January 9, 2014). "True Director". Interview. Dan Ragone. Archived from the original on November 5, 2015. Retrieved January 22, 2015.
  46. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (January 24, 2014). "'True Detective' Creator Nic Pizzolatto Signs New Overall Deal With HBO, Paving Way For Season 2 Of Breakout Drama". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on January 15, 2015. Retrieved January 23, 2015.
  47. ^ a b Hibberd, James (September 23, 2014). "HBO confirms 'True Detective' season 2 cast: Vince Vaughn, Colin Farrell to star". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on September 23, 2014. Retrieved September 23, 2014.
  48. ^ a b Rose, Lacey (August 6, 2014). "'True Detective's' Nic Pizzolatto on Season 2, 'Stupid Criticism' and Rumors of On-Set Drama". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on November 17, 2014. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
  49. ^ Coleman, Miriam (September 21, 2014). "Colin Farrell Confirms That He's Joining the Cast of 'True Detective'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on September 22, 2014. Retrieved September 21, 2014.
  50. ^ Fowler, Matt (October 27, 2014). "Taylor Kitsch Confirms True Detective Season 2 Role". IGN. Archived from the original on October 28, 2014. Retrieved October 28, 2014.
  51. ^ Hibberd, James (November 24, 2014). "'True Detective' confirms 3 more cast members". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on November 24, 2014. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
  52. ^ Robinson, Joanna (January 20, 2019). "True Detective Season 3: A Complete Timeline of Clues". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on September 25, 2022. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  53. ^ Littleton, Cynthia (March 30, 2018). "'True Detective' Director Shuffle: Jeremy Saulnier Exits, Daniel Sackheim Signs On (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Archived from the original on March 31, 2018. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
  54. ^ Birnbaum, Debra (August 31, 2017). "'True Detective' Season 3 Set at HBO Starring Mahershala Ali". Variety. Archived from the original on December 4, 2017. Retrieved August 31, 2017.
  55. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (February 14, 2018). "'True Detective': Ray Fisher Joins Cast of HBO Anthology Series As Regular; Three More Set To Recur On Season 3". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 15, 2018. Retrieved February 15, 2018.
  56. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (November 17, 2017). "'True Detective': Carmen Ejogo To Star In Season 3 Of HBO Anthology Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on November 20, 2017. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
  57. ^ Petski, Denise (January 3, 2018). "'True Detective': Stephen Dorff Cast In Season 3 Of HBO Anthology Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on January 3, 2018. Retrieved January 3, 2018.
  58. ^ Petski, Denise (January 16, 2018). "'True Detective': Scoot McNairy Cast In Season 3 Of HBO Anthology Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on January 16, 2018. Retrieved January 16, 2018.
  59. ^ Roots, Kimberly (February 6, 2018). "True Detective Casts Mamie Gummer". TVLine. Archived from the original on February 7, 2018. Retrieved February 6, 2018.
  60. ^ Goldberg, Lesley (March 18, 2022). "'True Detective' Season 4 in the Works at HBO With Barry Jenkins". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on April 25, 2022. Retrieved March 19, 2022.
  61. ^ Otterson, Joe (May 26, 2022). "Jodie Foster to Star in 'True Detective' Season 4 at HBO". Variety. Archived from the original on May 26, 2022. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
  62. ^ Mitovich, Matt Webb (June 28, 2022). "True Detective Season 4: Kali Reis to Help Jodie Foster Solve Alaska Mystery". TVLine. Archived from the original on June 28, 2022. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  63. ^ Fry, Andy; Rajput, Priyanca; Evans, Chris (January 5, 2023). "International Production Guide". Kemps Film and TV Production Services Handbook. 2023 Edition: 33. Archived from the original on February 27, 2023. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  64. ^ Strause, Jackie (September 23, 2022). "'True Detective' Season 4 Adds 5 to Cast". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on September 23, 2022. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
  65. ^ Porter, Rick (October 26, 2022). "'True Detective' Adds Trio to Season 4 Cast". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on December 21, 2022. Retrieved December 21, 2022.
  66. ^ Bentz, Adam (November 8, 2022). "True Detective Season 4 Set Photo Reveals Filming Start". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on December 19, 2022. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  67. ^ Hookstead, David (April 10, 2023). "'True Detective' Season 4 Finishes Filming, Release Timeline Possibly Becoming Clear". OutKick. Archived from the original on June 26, 2023. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  68. ^ Nemetz, Dave (September 27, 2023). "True Detective Season 4 Lands HBO Premiere Date — Watch a New Trailer". TVLine. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
  69. ^ a b c d e For the first season, see "True Detective: Season One Ratings". TV Series Finale. March 12, 2014. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
    For the second season, see "True Detective: Season Two Ratings". TV Series Finale. August 11, 2015. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
    For the third season, see "True Detective: Season Three Ratings". TV Series Finale. February 26, 2019. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
    For the fourth season, see "True Detective: Season Four Ratings (Night Country)". TV Series Finale. February 7, 2024. Retrieved February 22, 2022.
  70. ^ a b "True Detective: Season 1 (2014)". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on November 6, 2015. Retrieved January 16, 2014.
  71. ^ a b "True Detective: Season 1". Metacritic. Archived from the original on November 28, 2015. Retrieved November 27, 2015.
  72. ^ a b "True Detective: Season 2 (2015)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  73. ^ a b "True Detective: Season 2". Metacritic. Archived from the original on November 23, 2015. Retrieved November 27, 2015.
  74. ^ a b "True Detective: Season 3 (2019)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  75. ^ a b "True Detective: Season 3". Metacritic. Archived from the original on January 16, 2019. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
  76. ^ a b "True Detective: Season 4". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
  77. ^ a b "True Detective: Season 4". Metacritic. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
  78. ^ "TV Critic Top 10 Lists – Best TV Shows of 2014". Metacritic. Archived from the original on November 6, 2015. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
  79. ^ Harvey, Chris (February 22, 2014). "True Detective, Sky Atlantic, review: a work of depth and cinematic flair". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on November 6, 2015. Retrieved December 28, 2014.
  80. ^ Romano, Andrew (January 11, 2014). "'True Detective' Review: You Have to Watch HBO's Revolutionary Crime Classic". The Daily Beast. Archived from the original on May 10, 2016. Retrieved July 17, 2015.
  81. ^ Orr, Christopher (February 11, 2014). "True Detective: The Best Show on TV". The Atlantic. Archived from the original on November 6, 2015. Retrieved July 16, 2015.
  82. ^ Goodman, Tim (January 2, 2014). "True Detective: TV Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on November 6, 2015. Retrieved December 25, 2014.
  83. ^ Sepinwall, Alan (January 7, 2014). "Review: Matthew McConaughey & Woody Harrelson amaze in HBO's 'True Detective'". HitFix. Archived from the original on November 6, 2015. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
  84. ^ Lawson, Richard (January 15, 2014). "Review: HBO's True Detective Is Mind Over Murder'". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on November 6, 2015. Retrieved February 1, 2015.
  85. ^ Hale, Mike (January 11, 2014). "A Coupling as Bizarre as the Murder". The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 25, 2014. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
  86. ^ Cabin, Chris (January 8, 2014). "True Detective: Season One". Slant Magazine. Archived from the original on November 6, 2015. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
  87. ^ Stuever, Hank (January 9, 2014). "HBO's 'True Detective': A murky mystery, bogged down in a swamp". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on August 4, 2017. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
  88. ^ Bianco, Robert (January 9, 2014). "'True Detective': You have the right to remain dazzled". USA Today. Archived from the original on October 12, 2014. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
  89. ^ Wiegand, David (January 9, 2014). "'True Detective' review: 2 stars shine brightly". San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on November 6, 2015. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
  90. ^ Lloyd, Robert (January 10, 2014). "Review: 'True Detective's' slow and steady pace a winning formula". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on January 16, 2014. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
  91. ^ Rodman, Sarah (January 9, 2014). "McConaughey, Harrelson make 'True Detective' arresting". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on November 6, 2015. Retrieved December 25, 2014.
  92. ^ Lowry, Brian (January 8, 2014). "TV Review: 'True Detective'". Variety. Archived from the original on January 7, 2015. Retrieved December 25, 2014.
  93. ^ Sheffield, Rob (June 17, 2015). "Is 'True Detective''s New Season Truly Defective?". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on April 6, 2016. Retrieved June 29, 2015.
  94. ^ Cornet, Roth (June 28, 2015). "True Detective: "Night Finds You" Review". IGN. Archived from the original on June 30, 2015. Retrieved June 29, 2015.
  95. ^ Ryan, Chris (July 13, 2015). "'True Detective,' Season 2, Episode 4: 'Down Will Come'". Grantland. Archived from the original on July 14, 2015. Retrieved July 13, 2015.
  96. ^ Sepinwall, Alan (June 17, 2015). "Review: Has 'True Detective' fallen victim to the sophomore slump?". HitFix. Archived from the original on July 2, 2015. Retrieved June 29, 2015.
  97. ^ Ryan, Shane (June 29, 2015). "True Detective Review: "Night Finds You"". Paste. Archived from the original on July 1, 2015. Retrieved June 29, 2015.
  98. ^ Hinckley, David (June 12, 2015). "'True Detective' review: Colin Farrell and Vince Vaughn head new team at HBO including Rachel McAdams and Taylor Kitsch". New York Dally News. Archived from the original on June 18, 2015. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
  99. ^ Stuever, Hank (June 16, 2015). "'True Detective' Season 2: New cast, setting, same grim self-seriousness". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on June 17, 2015. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
  100. ^ Lowry, Brian (June 12, 2015). "TV Review: 'True Detective,' Season 2". Variety. Archived from the original on June 18, 2015. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
  101. ^ Collins, Sean T. (August 10, 2015). "What Went Wrong With 'True Detective' Season 2?". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on April 21, 2016. Retrieved April 19, 2016.
  102. ^ a b Lisa de Moraes (March 10, 2014). "'True Detective' Unearths Record HBO Ratings In Finale". Deadline. Archived from the original on August 28, 2018. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
  103. ^ "Glossary of Media Terms". www.nielsenmedia.com. Archived from the original on August 17, 2018. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
  104. ^ Albiniak, Paige (April 14, 2012). "Syndie ratings now apples to apples". Variety. Archived from the original on September 13, 2018. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
  105. ^ "True Detective: Season One Ratings". TV Series Finale. March 12, 2014. Archived from the original on December 2, 2014. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
  106. ^ a b Kenneally, Tim (June 23, 2015). "'True Detective' Ratings Rise for Season 2 Premiere". TheWrap. Archived from the original on September 14, 2018. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
  107. ^ Nededog, Jethro (August 11, 2015). "'True Detective' Season 2 ratings end on a high note, but don't come close to Season 1". Business Insider. Archived from the original on September 14, 2018. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
  108. ^ "True Detective: Season Two Ratings". TV Series Finale. August 11, 2015. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
  109. ^ Maglio, Tony (August 11, 2015). "'True Detective' Season 2 Finale Drops 22 Percent in Viewers From Debut Year". TheWrap. Archived from the original on September 13, 2018. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
  110. ^ Maas, Jennifer (January 14, 2019). "'True Detective' Drops to 1.4 Million Viewers With Season 3 Premiere". TheWrap. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  111. ^ Zee, Michaela (January 15, 2024). "'True Detective: Night Country' Premieres to Over 2 Million Viewers". Variety. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  112. ^ Seitz, Loree (February 13, 2024). "'True Detective: Night Country' Becomes Series' Most-Watched Season With 12.7 Million Viewers". TheWrap. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  113. ^ Rice, Lynette (February 19, 2024). "'True Detective: Night Country' Wraps As Most-Watched Season Of HBO Crime Anthology". Deadline. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  114. ^ Ausiello, Michael (July 19, 2014). "TCA Awards 2014: Good Wife, OITNB, True Detective, Veep, Breaking Bad, RuPaul Among Winners". TVLine. Archived from the original on July 21, 2014. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  115. ^ "Big Bang, Fargo, The Good Wife, Masters of Sex, The Normal Heart Lead 2014 Critics Choice Nominations". TVLine. May 28, 2014. Archived from the original on May 29, 2014. Retrieved May 28, 2014.
  116. ^ Mitovich, Matt Webb (August 25, 2014). "Emmys 2014: Sherlock, Breaking Bad, Horror Story: Coven, True Detective and Many Repeat Winners Grab Gold". TVLine. Archived from the original on August 26, 2014. Retrieved August 26, 2014.
  117. ^ "True Detective". Emmys.com. Archived from the original on November 6, 2015. Retrieved August 16, 2014.
  118. ^ Zuckerman, Esther (February 14, 2015). "The Grand Budapest Hotel and The Imitation Game win WGA Awards". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on February 15, 2015. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  119. ^ Mitovich, Matt Webb (December 10, 2014). "SAG Awards: Modern Family, Thrones, Homeland, Boardwalk, Cards Lead Noms; Mad Men Shut Out; HTGAWM, Maslany and Aduba Get Nods". TVLine. Archived from the original on November 6, 2015. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  120. ^ Mitovich, Matt Webb (December 11, 2014). "Golden Globes: Fargo, True Detective Lead Nominations; Jane the Virgin, Transparent Score Multiple Nods". TVLine. Archived from the original on December 13, 2014. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  121. ^ Schwartz, Ryan (January 14, 2015). "OITNB, Game of Thrones, Transparent Among Directors Guild Nominees". TVLine. Archived from the original on January 14, 2015. Retrieved January 14, 2015.
  122. ^ "True Detective: Night Country". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. July 17, 2024. Retrieved July 17, 2024.
  123. ^ Lewis, Hilary; Nordyke, Kimberly (July 17, 2024). "Emmys 2024: List of Nominees". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
  124. ^ Longeretta, Emily (June 10, 2024). "'Baby Reindeer', 'Ripley' and 'Shogun' Lead 2024 TCA Awards Nominations: Full List". Variety. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  125. ^ DVD release Blu-ray release
  126. ^ DVD release Blu-ray release
  127. ^ DVD release Blu-ray release
[edit]