I'm starting to realize what a sucker I am for HBO's dramas. You all know how much I practically base my life around Game of Thrones, as well as the high praise I and pretty much everybody else has for shows like Boardwalk Empire, Rome and so on. Even their shows that I don't watch like True Blood, while I am not a fan, they certainly do have their fans and they are quite loyal. So what I am about to say about their latest show, True Detective, should not come as any surprise: It's fucking fantastic!
Many have proclaimed it the best show on TV right now, and while I still believe that that title belongs to GOT, I can't help but see why people would say that about True Detective. It definitely has an interesting concpet. Much like American Horror Story, each season (or planned season, rather) while still having the same theme, is going to have its own independent story at the core of it. For the first season, the story revolves around two detectives (played by Matthew Maconaughey and Woody Harrelson) from the deep south who, as we learn through their story in the present, caught a serial killer when they were still partners in the mid nineties. And even though the case is almost twenty years old, there is still some investigation going on into some of the finer details of the case. The story is told in two ways. The first way is in the past as they are solving the case as the events are unfolding, and the second way is through interviews in present day that they are giving separately to the new detectives that have pulled the case out of the file cabinet for reasons we are not yet clear on. I love stories that are told non-linear, because we see how traumatic events can affect a person long term, as is the case with our leads here. Their story revolves around a case of a serial killer who butchered a girl and left her in a field with a crown of antlers on her head.The case takes them everywhere from cults to churches to white supremacists to drug dealers that Walter White would call extreme. And it all makes for a show that is thrilling, jaw dropping and sometimes even a little hard to watch. Slight disclaimer, as I am typing this I am only 5 out of 8 episodes into the first season, so the last three episodes could be just as great as the first five or it could completely fall apart. I don't see that happening seeing how well it's going, and taking into account HBO's eye for picking up quality shows.
Now, from what I understand, the plan of the story is going to vary from season to season with a new cast and new characters each time around. That's a bold move, and I'm definitely interested to see where they will take it and what cases and characters they will create for the audience, especially since this first season has been such a hit. For a show revolving around two actors who are typically known for having fun on the set, True Detective has a very dark tone and the characters are all very grim. Very few of them laugh or even smile. Again, a very interesting contrast to the characters I'm used to seeing Woody and Matt play and they play them well. I'm actually legitimately surprised at how well Matthew is in this show because I never knew he could play some really serious roles. I mean, REALLY serious. Remember what I said about few people even smiling in this show? Well his lips don't even threaten to crease upwards once. I feel kind of bad for ever making an impression of him where all he does is be laid back and take his shirt off.
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