10 TV Shows To Fill That Game Of Thrones Shaped Void

3. True Detective

With a name like True Detective, you probably think you know what you're getting here, but the reality couldn't be further from the standard police drama the title suggests. Starring Hollywood heavyweights Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson, what could have been a conventional murder-mystery instead becomes a dark and dreamlike affair, resulting in one of the most gripping and unconventional shows on television. Helmed by first time writer Nic Pizzolatto, the show's overwhelmingly bleak take on a small town in Louisina tells the story of two local detectives investigating a slew of occult murders. The show is dripping with symbolism and somehow manages to elicit more tension and atmosphere in a couple of episodes than most manage in an entire season. McConaughey's cynical and highly medicated insomniac quickly becomes one of the most intriguing character's on television, and is far and away the performance of his career. The switch between them attempting to solve the original murders in 1995 and them being interviewed about the case later in 2012, results in a frantic need for the viewer to unearth the truth, and the brilliantly written script keeps you guessing right until the dramatic finale. While the occult and grisly murders set the backbone for the story, the real meat of the show is how the two characters interact - and to see what caused their relationship to change so drastically. True Detective is a truly dark and unmissable piece of television, and all eight of the perfectly written episodes will keep you utterly immersed throughout. Wholly unique and completely gripping, this is unmissable television.