True Detective Season 3: 8 Ways To Fix The Show

7. Better Cast

Colin Farrell. Rachel McAdams. Vince Vaughn. Taylor Kitsch. On the face of it, there sounded like there was enough talent for Season 2, even if there was to be no McConaughey right on the cusp of the McConnaissance. Farrell and McAdams in particular provided cause for optimism, while Vaughn was the one everyone (understandably) worried about and Kitsch was just sorta there.

As it turned out, Vaughn was one of the bright spots of the season, and Farrell and McAdams did some pretty good work. Kitsch was an absolute disaster, although the writing didn't help. Still, as much as they were solid, there's a feeling that surely there could've been more from them. These were character types that we've seen before - the criminal trying to go straight, daddy issues, drug/alcohol abuse, person struggling with sexuality - and these four actors had their moments, but didn't bring much new to the roles.

Ditching the notion of having four leads would be a good start, as that can now be considered a failed experiment, and just casting the best talent available, regardless of whether they're a big name or not, would be the sensible step after that. We've seen that HBO can still attract stellar casts, A-list or not, from the starry Big Little Lies to the ensemble of I-recognise-them-but-not-sure-from-what faces of Westworld.

Season 3 doesn't need to go for another McConnaissance, but does need to really nail the casting.