True Detective (TV Series) Form and Void (2014) User Reviews

Season 1 is a masterpiece in two genres, drama and crime

[Holt344 · 10/10 · 2 February 2019]

The season finale takes us for a ride into the disturbing home of the serial killer, fantastically played by Glenn Fleshler and the execution in how the writers and overall crew finished it was beautiful in its quality and how it all played out. Fascinating! Superb season finale.

The ensemble cast was great, everyone fitting their role perfectly and the performances of Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson as Rust and Marty gave one of the best and most believable performances I've seen, just perfect. The writers is a big thanks to their performances as they are such well written characters. The locations and scenery they choosed to shoot the season was beautiful, mystic and fitting. Such nice landscapes in the south. Nic Pizzolatto created a masterpiece of a story, one of the best crime stories ever I've seen on television. Possibly inspired by true cases as it feels real. Its cinematography are some of the best I've seen. I'm glad I re-watched this season, with me knowing a lot more about psychology and other things and being more mature it made me understand it, I noticed more information that is hard to notice, you have to think a lot to understand most which I like. Gives it re-watch value. Superb season of television, recommended.

Everything is a story in circle of life

[BirdmanT7 · 10/10 · 10 March 2014]

I watched this last episode and it was a great ending to a masterpiece of show, I was both sad and glad that it ended.

For past 8 weeks we have all tried so hard to make our own conjectures about this show. Words like "Carcosa", "Black stars", "Yellow King", "time is just a flat circle", etc.. made us all try to find the meaning to this show, to find meaning in any and all STORIES like "fairy tale designed to get us through the day." We all need stories and here we were given the ingredients of a detective story with a murder, a serial killer or killers like "Ledeux" or monsters like "Errol" with spooky imagery and quantum physics tied into and backdrop of decaying landscape. Yet the heart of story was about these two men and their friendship and about their perspective on life and how through this case over 17 years changed their lives.

It was a simple story that the writer told us, even though we never got to see the other killers, as Cohle said "we didn't get all of them".. but Marty put it best that "we are never going to get them all, that's not the kind of world it is", how true statement that is when it comes to justice or life in general.

As intense as the last chapter was, but what I saw in this last episode was a change in Cohle; I really didn't think he would survive in the end because he had a kind of death wish all along. Yet, through his near death experience and what he described to Marty when he broke down; whatever he felt from those moments he called being in the dark and welcoming the darkness and feeling his "definitions" and his daughter's love is what he didn't expect and yet what he yearned or wished for, maybe some kind of closure. This was not the Cohle we saw who would share something this emotional with Marty, but that was the high point of this episode regardless of the fight scene with monster "Errol". Cohle realized there is something beyond here; something he never believed in but this near death experience was some kind of a spiritual experience for him to finally begin to let go and maybe start to live again?. Maybe this whole quest to find the truth and bring justice brought him something that he didn't expect. Well, maybe I am just presenting my conjecture now! I think the same applies perhaps with Marty and visit at the hospital from his ex-wife and children, it was about reconnecting and redemption for both him and Maggie.

I know I will watch this show again and again, I can't recall any show in the last two decades that has moved me like this and I doubt it will again for a long time. We all need stories, maybe that's what makes sense in circle of our life!

An intense end of a fantastic season

[laniparker · 10/10 · 9 March 2014]

Given the nature of television, it can be quite surprising to come across a program that doesn't waste time and manages to build massive amounts of tension and deliver a satisfying outcome. True Detective started out excellent and by its fourth episode became a standout work of fiction for any medium. And while any false step could have caused the story to tumble out into a ridiculous or unearned direction, I can say having seen all eight episodes that the quality was maintained to its last shot.

Not since season 4 of Breaking Bad have I seen a season of any show that did not let me down in some way (even BrBa had some bizarre character and narrative choices in its final season despite being quite monumental). Everything feels earned and within character. The partnership between Cohle and Hart grows and wanes and strengthens in ways that doesn't betray the mutual contempt they hold for another. The antagonist is that right balance of chameleon and psycho.

Despite all the praise, I was quite worried that the finale wouldn't deliver, that the writing trip itself up in the face of the climax. However, the writing, acting, directing and editing all worked in creating an intense end to the story.

It would be interesting to see another season tackling the dangling threads of the case, but given how much resolution we get I am happy with the ending. It doesn't feel cheap or cheesy. It is genuine.

And now I have a little depression to look forward to as there is almost 10 months left in the year and I am almost positive that I have watched best show of 2014.

Some Thoughts on Cohle and the Ending

[i-am-so-original · 10/10 · 10 March 2014]

How perfect was that last scene? If anything, this show was always about the relationship between Cohle and Hart. For me, personally, the detective case always came second in this series. It was never about who Yellow King was, or how Hart and Cohle got there. Yes, it played a significant role in terms of story and plot, but this show was always about Cohle and Rust's relationship, how it developed, and how the two needed each other.

I can count the amount of times that television shows had me on the edge of my sheet, and I can safely add the finale of this show to that list. The finale was truly some captivating television. The cinematography and atmosphere of the finale made the scene palpably intense and cinematic, and the eerie voice throughout the tunnel was haunting, but also beautiful in its menace and sense of danger. Very little shows, if any, have produced this sense of a palpably intense atmosphere before. But the finale worked for me personally because of Hart and Cohle. Their relationship is at the centre of this show, and the final scene truly encapsulated that idea. I liked how Cohle finally got closure and a needed sense of self-respect in finally ending the seventeen year hunt for the Yellow King. Yes, he still has his problems, and he misses his daughter horribly, but for once, he finally has closure in what he's doing. He persevered in his hunt for Yellow King, even under the duress of everybody believing he killed the girls previous. I realize Cohle's sense of self-respect and integrity better than many other characters in television. He never gave up, he always persevered, and he came out on top.

Like the final speech suggests, there will always be darkness. But even under the immense darkness of the world, there is always a minuscule amount of light that shines through the never-ending darkness. It is these people that make the world a better place. Cohle characterizes these people perfectly; he always persevered in his intents and beliefs, and he was validated at the end. Even when everyone was against him, he still believed in what he was doing, and he still believed he could make a difference. Cohle represents the shining light peering in through the sea of blackness that is death and decay, that is the never-ending darkness. Like the star in the sky, Cohle shines through the darkness and makes the world that much brighter. He is the True Detective everyone needs; not only the precinct, but the world, and the darkness.

"Once there was only dark. If you ask me, the light's winning."

[dom_winchester · 10/10 · 16 March 2014]

Wow what a fantastic episode. For one moment I thought both of them were gonna die. Glad they didn't.

When Errol said 'take off your mask' to Cohle after he stabbed him I was reminded of the Locked Room episode in which Cohle questions a lot about the mortality and humanity of human beings, that we would feel relieved when we die as only then do we realise we are all monsters. That we truly exist only after we die. He thought he would welcome death.

However, Cohle found a purpose of life instead. Instead of unmasking himself to be a monster, he felt love. Love of his daughter and father. I guess you could say he found a light at the end of the tunnel, think this could be symbolised by the scene where Cohle entered the final part of the cave and saw a hole upstairs shining light in it.

This also reminds me of the religious tent scene where Hart said this to Cohle: "for a guy who sees no point in existence, you sure fret about it an awful lot." I thought he made a really good point, as Cohle is so nihilistic. But after seeing this final episode, I finally know why Cohle frets about life a lot, albeit his nihilism: "Once there was only dark. If you ask me, the light's winning." Inside Cohle's locked room isn't a monster, it's light. Not forgetting Hart, he sure did help Cohle to find the light too.

Thanks for the eight hours, True Detective. Eight good hours. Actually, it's more than eight because of the re-watching. I think the only way the following season could match this is to have Cranston and Aaron Paul. Would love to see Cranston and Mcconaughey collaborate someday. Now bring on Game of Thrones!

A Perfect Finale

[ahmxii · 10/10 · 29 November 2021]

The actors are amazing, the story is dark but also it has beauty. Amid all the darkness, there is life to be celebrated and love and friendship, all that makes life worth living. People who will fight for Justice are still around and fight for a better world and against all evil.

Despite all the praise, I was quite worried that the finale wouldn't deliver, that the writing trip itself up in the face of the climax. However, the writing, acting, directing, and editing all worked in creating an intense end to the story. The close of the series attempts to draw on Chole's philosophical musings, as he reflects on the big history of "light versus darkness." His monologue is at the heart of the series finale. That acceptance on Cohle's part is greater than any dramatic plot twist or dark ending could ever begin to provide.

"This is the place"

[Ironed_Out · 9/10 · 15 April 2014]

After seven masterful episodes, True Detective concluded in a manner that showed the utmost respect to the two characters who have populated this show, as well as the audience who have become a part of it.

In an era where there's an accepted myth that all season finale's should be the best episode of the season, this was a much more low-key hour. As finale's have developed over time, the bolder, bigger and longer they get and there's always that card which the director/writer holds up his sleeve from the very start; the twist. True Detective, in typical fashion, evades such tactics.

What it delivers, is closure for us on these two fascinating men. We get the 'monster at the end of the dream', but this show has been about so much more than the monster over the previous seven hours. Like any show, the writer feels a debt is owed to the viewers and gives us a slightly more intense and horrific twenty minutes once Rust and Marty arrive at the home of our killer, moving away from the mesmerising, slow, in-depth story-telling to a cameo you would expect at the end of a two hour feature film. But it works completely, and the reason it works is because it is so brief, with all the attention falling on the last quarter.

As the episode opens we, for the first real time in this story, actually get a scene where neither Hart nor Cohle are present, as we are introduced to Childress and he is as mentally scarred as any man could possibly be after being subjected to his childhood abuse. Half-way through the episode, we get a genuinely frightening chase culminating in the face-to-face meet between the two detectives and the protagonist, following the final revelation which blows the case and their arrival at the killers home. But, as you're watching the chase scene, you don't seem to care about the killer. It's potentially the shortest amount of screen time a villain in any series has received. All that matters is what happens to both these men. Men consumed by this case over the best part of 20 years and whether they will make it through this alive and, if they do, how will they recover from the psychological trauma.

And that is where True Detective's finale really flourishes. It's almost as if the first forty five minutes were building up to this moment. Actually, you can go further and say that the entire seven and three quarter episodes were created with this piece of dialogue in mind. We expected the final scene to be with the killer, but instead the final scene was dedicated to the two men who have made this show so unique. In particular, we see how the complex character of Cohle now has an opportunity to let a little ray of light into his heart and soul. Not a lot, it's not a complete character transformation, but it's a slight adjustment in a man who has lived and breathed this nightmare for 17 long years. And, during this end scene, we see Hart's biggest change too; understanding. The way he sits there silently listening to his friend speaks a thousand words without one being uttered.

And that is how it ends. A story so determined to cloud our thoughts with psychology, mythology and philosophy, ending on another philosophical analysis, yet this is one not covered in darkness. It is one that allows room for light, without feeling any guilt for doing so.

That acceptance on Cohle's part is greater than any dramatic plot twist or dark ending could ever begin to provide.

A beautiful ending to a part of every soul

[jasperan · 10/10 · 7 July 2018]

Form and Void taught me that life is short, and there is still hope after all. Also, hard work pays off. I can only imagine the dedication that detectives put into some cases, the length of some being unfathomable. I can see what life is much better now.

A surprisingly lifting end to a deeply troubling story

[thecrossed · 10/10 · 10 March 2014]

Having watched this series with my heart in my throat from the beginning, the final episode has left me with a spiritual comfort that was sorely needed. I immensely enjoyed True Detective from start to finish. I would say that it's right up there with Game of Thrones in being one of my personal favourite shows, and all season long I had doubts that the last episode could bring it all together for me. But it did!

The performances by Woody and McConaughey were outstanding and George Remus from Boardwalk really pulled off the monster (no innuendo intended).

Whatever Nic Pizzolatto does next I'm sure I will enjoy.

Come die with me, Little Priest

[jackpryor-60409 · 10/10 · 3 October 2023]

An absolutely perfect finish to what was maybe the best season of television I've ever seen. I had heard a lot of great things about this season, and boy did it not let me down. This episode in particular was captivating start to finish. In only about an episode of seeing Errol Childress' character, we learn everything that we had previously had thought we knew about the perpatrature.

The disgusting living conditions, the way he speaks, and the way he treats his dog tells us all we need to know about the type of "guy" Errol is. "He is the worst of them" says his wife (who seems to be just as messed up as he is). On top of the simple antagonist vs. Protagonist ending to the story, we get to see Cohle go through a true change of heart after coming within inches of death.

Through the entire season, we have been shown Cohle as being a broken man who is angry at the rat race that is life. However, when all is said and done Cohle gains a slight amount of hope that his daughter is still with him in heart. Along with his father. Seeing someone as stern as Cohle was break down and cry moved me to tears as well. This season only has 8 episodes yet it felt like I had been watching Cohle and Hart for years.

Beautiful show overall, and a fantastic last episode that explores the depths of our most interesting character.

I thought this bit was great and wanted to share it

[pedro_claro-131-773672 · 27 May 2020]

"On the surface level, then, "the mask" might be the lies we tell ourselves in order to cope with this life. Taking it off would be an act of cruelty. However, when the mask that Cohle is wearing, the mask of a hardcore nihilist, is dropped when the killer nearly drains him of his life... That changes his life for the better. What was more interesting to me is that both these men are left in a place of deliverance, a place where even Cohle might be able to acknowledge the possibility of grace in the world. Because one way both men were alike in their failures was that neither man could admit the possibility of grace. I don't mean that in a religious sense. Where we leave Cohle, this man hasn't made a 180 change or anything like that. He's moved maybe 5 degrees on the meter [...]. Now they are going to go on and live forever beyond the margins of the show, and our sense, at least, is they haven't changed in any black to white way, but there is a sense that they have been delivered from the heart of darkness. They did not avert their eyes, whatever their failings as men. And that when they exit, they are in a different place. As we can see, "True Detective" is about the cathartic element of story-telling, be the source of it external or internal. But the catharsis is useless unless accompanied by an honest re-evaluation ("not averting" your eyes) and follow up. In other words, "True Detective" is an ode to living consciously."

• Adrian Chmielarz in "The Puzzle of True Detective Season 1" for Medium

Just outstanding in all ways

[cameliabusk · 10/10 · 5 July 2021]

The actors are amazing, the story is dark but also it has beauty. In the midst of all the darkness, there is life to be celebrated and love and friendship, all that make life worth Living. People who will fight for Justice are still around, and fight for a better world and against all evil.

memorable ending!

[mm-39 · 7/10 · 11 March 2014]

Form and Void had a memorable ending! My wife did not like the ending. True Detective series was so spectacular the producers would have a hard time following up the series with a strong ending. Such series momentum is hard to stop or finish. The ending was memorable! Cohle has his answers about life and the universe at the ending and is a changed man. Hart becomes Cohle's friend in a grudgingly manner. One sees the darkness as simple, decay, and death by the evil characters.. Cohle and Hart represent strength through darkness. The ending is in a circular temple which represents yin and yang the eternal fight between good and evil. Surprisingly, Hart realizes the significance and has to explain the ending to Cohle. True Detective's story would be a theme one would study in English Literature class. Need to watch the ending a second time.

Left so many unanswered questions. But guess what? the two fighting detectives are not fighting anymore so yayyyyy great finale!!

[waseemshahbaz-36918 · 1/10 · 13 August 2022]

Either all the people giving above 7 are drunk or they haven't watched the show at all. Seriously, has anyone even seen a detective show before?

This show was all about mystery from start to end. It gave little information at the ending of each episode to keep the audience interest. I kept on watching the show in hope that now something will happen and we'll have answers, but at the end it left so many unanswered questions.

Here are my questions: -How is church related to the main antagonist?

-Who did Rust saw in the tree? That scene was so creepy and made the show so intense. What was that all about? Was it only to hype the audience for finale? Because nothing was explained about it at all?

-How is the main protagonist satanic? What's his philosophy? What are sacrifices? Why did he kill the first woman and made scene out of it in the first place if nobody was supposed to find her?

It seems this show was really all about the two detective's awkward and weird relationship with each other. Well then why the heck is it called "True Detective"? It should have been "True Relationship" or whatever

In the end, I'd just say this show did not at all deliver what it promised to do and made all the hype about in the first few episodes. This is utter rubbish finale. Nothing made sense. This show was all about a cheating husband and a drunk atheist who just keep having non sense talk. I completely wasted my time watching this show in the hopes that something major is about to happen. But guess what? The two kinky detectives are now good with each other so yaaaayyyyyyyyy.. what a finale.

This show is a joke!!

A perfect ending to the consistent tone throughout the series.

[OmarHartwellWhite · 10/10 · 21 May 2014]

***Contains Spoilers***, I don't understand why so many people don't like this ending and are complaining, saying it wasn't good they were expecting a twist, more questions answered etc. Nic Pizzolato said multiple times that the show is about the characters and he isn't trying to trick anyone. When the writer and creator of the series informs you that he isn't trying to trick anyone, I don't understand why some people where still looking for twists out of left field.I like the unanswered questions, like with Audrey. It shows how people are victim to horrible tragedies and they could be your friend, your daughter or whoever, and many times they never speak about it. A clean cut ending where everyone who was involved in the killing gets arrested and convicted would be the complete opposite of the consistent tone and message throughout the show. That is not what this show was. Obviously I would like more answers to some of the loose ends, because I am so interested in this show, but how it ended, was perfect for this show.

Tremendous series!

[jmarzka · 10/10 · 6 January 2019]

I binged this over vacation and found it outstanding. It's a character driven peice with great depth. Harrelson and McConaughey are superb. Great story front to back.

Transcendental

[ShawnRyleh · 10/10 · 28 March 2017]

Series so realistic and surreal at the same time, philosophical, critical and existentialist weight. With fantastic and weighted quotations like string theory, parallel universe. It deals with minimalistic details, the suspense and nuances of the cosmic horror between human knowledge and the limit of understanding, are we insignificant or not. Horror Cosmic, Literary art died in 1955 unfortunately. Chambers and Lovecraft Pure in the series, in detail never seen by a casual watcher. Unbelievable masterpiece, inconceivable, indescribable, immeasurable. Weighted art and also metaphysics in symbolism that transcends sensitive experience.

Transcendentalism at its peak.

9.4/10, Hype is Alive

[dcdude-26988 · 9/10 · 9 July 2023]

This was a great season of television, and this was honestly a top tier episode. This was the closest to being rated a 10 star for me on IMDb, because this was an insane episode. The emotion, the action, the storyline, and the characters were all phenomenal. This is definitely a must-watch if you are looking for a short drama series, 9.5/10. My favorite characters in this episode were the same characters as last time, and will honestly be the same. My favorite things about this episode were the Protagonist, the action, and the storyline. There were alot of 10/10 aspects about this show. Even though I have no intrest in watching the other seasons, I am still gonna rate this show pretty high.

Both satisfying and frustrating at the same time!

[Shmaden · 10/10 · 13 October 2019]

The reason I say that is simple: The show did so much justice to the characters and their story but at the same time neglected in someway the crime story aspect of the season.

Let's start with the characters: This is probably one of the best show when it comes to portraying characters, showing their development and bringing closure to their stories. At the beginning of the season we see Marty, a conflicted guy living a double life both seeming happy with his family and at the same time cheating them. On the other side Chole was a very self-confident guy who was always very organized and who had always interesting ideas about society and he wasn't afraid to spoke them to others. He always thought this family drama love, care and fulfilness that one can find in it, would only bring him down. Yet here we are at the end of the season, and these characters have flipped sides. We see a redeemed Marty that finaly felt sorry for what he did to his family and being forgiven by them. In other words through everything he went, he was able to find balance in his life (suggested by the series based on the fact that his life was terrible before). On the other hand Chole was able to understand the fact that loneliness didn't do him any good and that a family life would be better and that could be the light at the end of the tunnel's darkness. It's the classical example of a character study in which you take a flawed character and get him through some experiences which make him evolve and transform for the better in order to be able to overcome this flawness and become a better person. That is usually what speaks the best to us the audiences. That's because our lives are more or less the same: we are flawed persons who search for that which would make us better person or help us overcome this flawness. True Detective pulled that perfectly.

But in pulling that so well the show had to sacrifice a little bit of the crime story which for me is the frustrating part. It's not that is bad but is more like it could have been a lot better. Yes the crime should've taken a second place anyway in order to pull this amazing character study. But the show started teasing some things that I as audience started to take in and process and thinking about possible outcomes. From what I've heard (and I could be wrong), after episode 4 the creator had different endings in mind and had to choose one in which he could pull off this amazing characters study. But the thing is, that at the beginning if you plant hints and the audience catches on what you could pull off it doesn't mean you must change things on the way just in order to surprise the audience or to not be obvious. And this show's crime story is a classical example of making things up as you go along. There is too little connection or any full circle sensation with the first episode that you might say "oh yeah, that makes sense! How didn't I saw that coming?". I didn't got that feeling. And that, I was expecting after I watched episode 7. Episode 7 was just that type of episode in which the creator tried to rewrite the whole crime story for this season in order to make sense and to avoid the thing that audiences would suspect. The thing about that is that: for example in Interstellar (another Mathew McConaughey movie) I predicted or at least I thought about the fact that Cooper would beome "the ghost" behind his doughter's library. Even so, I loved that, not because it was what I expected but because of the way it was pulled off. It was done with emotion and intelligence, making up for the fact that it was maybe a bit obvious from the get-go. Here the creator choose the safest place that would not be something people thought about but that ultimately feels unearned and cheap, for me at least. This was the easy way of resolving the crime story. Not saying it was bad, it was still great and well executed for how it was written. It's just that I wanted and expected more based on the get-go in episode 1.

That are my thoughts on the season, and what it was, in my opinion, perfectly executed but which also left room for improvement. Anyway I thought this season was superb and was one of the most unique pieces of storytelling I've ever seen on TV. 10/10

Great final episode of amazing season 1

[851222 · 10/10 · 23 July 2023]

Greetings from Lithuania.

"Form and Void", 8th and final episode of season 1 "True Detective" was the best ending of the whole 3 seasons - period. It had a very intense climax, and very moving ending. But moving in a sense I would never imagined I will see on TV screen. The monolog at the end given by one of the characters (no spoilers) about death was the best depiction of death I've ever heard. Its a calming examination and take on death. Also at running time 55 min. This episode was extremely well paced, acted written and directed. Non of the 2 upcoming seasons couldn't reach the greatness of this season 1 and its finale.

a masterpiece of detective dramas

[Cinema2kMendoza · 10/10 · 24 September 2022]

I love detective shows because theres alot going on, not only the mistery, but how the detectives find clues and how, sometimes, not all works till all makes sense. I've seen the first season of true detective at least more than two times, at different seasons, and still the new orleans setting, and how well rust and hart try to resolve the cases, is enough for a fan of mistery and detectives shows.even if some episodes of this first season are dark and more dense, you still feel like this ending(both dark and deep)is a light in the darkness. I have watched this episode maybe more than 3 times, and always works. If you already like this kind of dramas, go watch the first season complete, you will be happy at this ending. Is dark and deep.

It's Light Vs. Dark.

[nairtejas · 8/10 · 10 March 2014]

7 episodes of total thrills. With last week's penultimate episode revealing some answers, I waited 7 days with anticipation. I was doubtful if the makers would be able to sum up everything in the last episode. As far as I am concerned, they did it, but...

...but it left me with a scar, anyhow. The last 5 minute-conversation gives an insight about the theme the makers intend to convey. But, did the episode deliver something new? I would say "maybe." Because we know who the killer is and all we have left to confront is the theory the whole crime is centered in, which it fails to specify. I still have a list of questions that needs to be cleared but I'm not complaining. Form & Void has some powerful action sequences and it closes 2014's most interesting TV show, yet. But, I somehow loved the 7 previous episodes summed together than this final one.

BOTTOM LINE: A good closure. And if I expect anything big from Nic Pizzolatto in the future, I am sure I won't be disappointed.

S1: Engagingly brooding show despite not being as smart or deep as it thinks, and not always being willing to earn what it wants to be

[bob the moo · 6 July 2014]

It is tough to approach television shows without getting absorbed in assumptions and expectations; it is a good problem to have because it is partly that we are very much living in a golden age of television shows, with very high standards and shows willing to take more risks. This is the reason why I try not to know more than I have to going in – if I hear more or less that something is good and it sounds interesting, then I'll go for it, but I prefer to take it as I find it, not as collective wisdom says it is. I do not mean this is a snobbish way, just the opposite in fact since it is clear that I am in the minority by only thinking this show was pretty good – the majority of viewers have almost total praise for it and the rating for the first season a close to a perfect 10 out of 10.

So it feels odd to have enjoyed a show but still be on the outside looking in for the mass audience slapping each other on the back with praise for how clever and deep they and everyone else is. This is how it feels though to read the comments from amateur and professional writers alike but, like I said, I should not worry how others see it but just focus on my own experience of it. From the very start this was one of engagement; the dark tone creating a sense of brooding violence and it sits well below the patient tone. While the dense dialogue and rather supernatural ramblings of Rust could have seen me laughing at it for its pretentiousness, it did not do this but actually it drew me in as I was curious to follow it and trusted it enough to go with it.

The quality of this delivery did a lot for the story because it felt dense, it felt satisfying and serious. The performances are very strong from the lead two and the depth of quality can be judged by how many names and faces you know down the supporting cast. This continues into the technical delivery as the show looks fantastic and the cinematography manages to make even a sunny day look like it is murky and filled with dread; and of course that famous 6-minute tracking shot is a masterclass in steadicam use and tension. Where I draw the line is refusing to buy every word of it, because frankly the material is not as smart or as deep as it thinks it is. It may be a grown-up detective show but ultimately it does play on familiar themes, it does forget things when it is convenient and it doesn't always have depth to the degree that it suggests it does – and this is a show that really leans on its seriousness.

Again, I did enjoy it for the brooding and serious nature, for the dense mystery that drew me in by working across such a long time and coming from both ends at the same time, however it does wear these things like a badge of honor and at times it feels like it wants to be a certain way without always earning it. It is engaging but it is imperfect and for sure you are best served by putting all the high praise out of your mind before you watch it.

Journey Into Nothingness

[lavatch · 7/10 · 10 January 2018]

The concluding episode of "True Detective" takes the audience on a journey into the heart of darkness. In the context of the film, the dark spaces are those in the twisted mind of a serial killer and the unspeakable acts of the Tuttle clan.

Early in this program, the quick-thinking Hart has a fresh idea when Chole reminds him of the "green ears" of the sketch of the suspected killer of Dora Lange. Ingeniously, Hart makes the connection between the green paint on the two large flaps of the old Dora Lange home and Dora's killer, who may have painted the house. The Childress painters are identified by Miss Lilly in her living arrangement in a senior complex.

With a quick check of the address for the painter, the detectives are en route to the current location of Errol William Childress. Ironically, the detectives never seem to learn from their past mistakes. They chose not to phone in to their superiors, as they approached the demented Ledoux in 1995. Now, they find themselves separated in the conditions of a virtual jungle, as they try to apprehend a vicious criminal on their own.

With the fruits of the labors of the detailed detective work and submission of the detectives' evidence to the authorities and the media, Tuttle is still given a free pass, despite overwhelming evidence connecting the religious hypocrite to the murders. Chole has another moment of guilt when he realizes that he had a conversation with the murderer when he visited Pelican Island in 1995 and spoke to a very helpful man on a lawnmower with a "parish contract." The phrase parish contract should have tipped off Chole that this man was working in schools, cemeteries, and other sites in the very location of the serial murders.

The close of the series attempts to draw on Chole's philosophical musings, as he reflects on the big history of "light versus darkness." His monologue is at the heart of the series finale.

7 out of 10 stars for this episode; 5 out of ten stars for the series as a whole.

Ruined Season 1

[allenarocks · 1/10 · 12 January 2021]

Loved the show until this last damn episode. Ruined a brilliant season 1. HATED. IT.