A story that could have fitted in the length of a film is spread over 8 episodes; a story not untold in the film world either. Two detectives try to find a brutal serial killer with a satanic approach. Still, the series are highly regarded. Currently IMDb.com has it rated on 9.3! Now of course that happens more often with series that are new, but with about 160.000 voters and having heard a lot of compliments about the series, I decided to watch a series that is not yet finished. It is said that each “True Detective” seasons stands on its own, even with new main characters for every season (and a new director?). That was another reason for me to get season 1.
A story that could have been told in a third of the running time, that tells you that “True Detective” must be very slow, right? It is! Very slow. The creators took their time to make lengthy, moody shots and a story that unfolds slowly. Here we immediately have the biggest strength of the series. It is extremely moody. It has that ‘Scandinvian bleakness’ with touches of darkness.
The story is about two detectives Marty (Woody Harrelson) and Rust (Matthew McConaughey) who have completely different characters. Marty is the usual cop; a hard worker with a lot of experience. Rust is the younger of the two, but he is a too well-read misanthropist who does have a way of finding out what he wants. The story is told in different ways, in interviews with Marty and Rust and in flashbacks. What is well done is that the two sources of the story do not always overlap, but the viewer seems to be able to make the picture as it should be. The story is told in such a slow pace, that is was not really necessary to build in surprises, yet still there is a slighly dull ‘whodunnit’ suggestion towards the end.
So indeed, “True Detective” is a great series! The sympathy-raise for both main characters works most of the time. The atmosphere and camera work is superb, the music fitting. The story is not really original, but at least the creators did not use the usual brutal violence of the usual serial killer story. Their suggestion works a lot better than that!
Do not read too much about “True Detective”. Just get it and watch it. It is only 8 episodes.
