That intro music. The nineties. Coastal Louisiana in all its desolate glory. The crown of antlers. A gothic murder case spanning almost two decades. A genres buddy formula given a vivid shake up. Dashes of Lynchian surrealism. Matthew McConaugheys chiselled from glass cheekbones. All of these elements - and many more - make up this unique neo noir that gripped audiences across eight episodes.
Major Players:
Both enjoying something of a career resurgence, McConaughey and Woody Harrelson are the focal point of this show. While it would be easy to cite McConaugheys conflicted Rustin Cohle as the shows brooding centre, Harrelson more than holds his own as roving family man Marty Hart. Also, as the look of True Detective is so integral to the plot, plaudits have to go to season one director Cary Joji Fukunaga, who injects the documentary feel of his debut flick Sin Nombre, and the period scope of his take on Jane Eyre, to startling effect.
What Next?
Even the most whisky-sodden of sleuths could guess that this would be given the go ahead for a second season. However, in what is going to a staple for the show going forward, said upcoming season will be set in a different place with new leads and a fresh mystery to solve. Creator Nic Pizzolatto has confirmed that three new roles will be cast, in a story that will be set in a region of California not often seen on screen. The rumour mill is still churning, but William Friedkin has divulged he is in talks to direct some episodes and Colin Farrell is the casting whisper that wont go away.
Shaun is a former contributor for a number of Future Publishing titles and more recently worked as a staffer at Imagine Publishing.
He can now be found banking in the daytime and writing a variety of articles for What Culture, namely around his favourite topics of film, retro gaming, music, TV and, when he's feeling clever, literature.
