True Detective Season 3 Premiere Review: 7 Ups & 3 Downs From Episodes 1 & 2

1. Mahershala Ali's Stunning Lead Performance

Of course, the key to Hays being such a great lead character is Mahershala Ali's performance. There's not a huge amount written for the character, due to him not being the loquacious-type Cohle and Hart were, and in lesser hands he might simply be an empty, brooding vessel.

Ali, however, imbues him with so much even when he doesn't say a great deal. He's capable of signalling meaning with subtle expressions, his eyes speaking volumes so his character doesn't need to. He expertly captures the sense of him being the kind of man's man PIzzolatto loves to inspect - he hunts boar, and served two tours of Vietnam - and yet there's a vulnerability to him too, and a genuine kindness as well.

Even when he's toning his natural charm down slightly, Ali remains charismatic and likeable, and what's really great is how he captures all three versions of Hays. He brings something different to each, without losing sight of it being one person at its core, and carries the show throughout the two episodes.