Home > True Detective > Season 1 « TV Series Page True Detective : Season 1 (2014) SEASON: Season 1 Season 1 Season 2 Season 3 + WANT TO SEE Episode List All Critics | Top Critics TOMATOMETER 87% Average Rating: 8.86/10 Season Reviews: 81 Fresh: 67 Rotten: 14 Critics Consensus: In True Detective, performances by Woody Harrelsen and Matthew McConaughey reel the viewer in, while the style, vision and direction make it hard to turn away. 81% Average Rating: 9.19/10 Season Reviews: 37 Fresh: 30 Rotten: 7 Critics Consensus: No consensus yet. Critic Consensus: In True Detective, performances by Woody Harrelsen and Matthew McConaughey reel the viewer in, while the style, vision and direction make it hard to turn away. AUDIENCE SCORE 97% Average Rating: 4.7/5 User Ratings: 5617 ADD YOUR RATING Share on Facebook Post Want to See Add Rating My Rating × Want to See Post Share on Facebook Episodes 1 100% The Long Bright Dark Air date: Jan 12, 2014 Investigators take another look at a 1995 murder when a similar case occurs in 2012 in this drama, which begins with Martin Hart and Rust Cohle, former partners in Louisiana's Criminal Investigation Division, looking back on the original crime and its effect on their personal and professional lives. More 2 100% Seeing Things Air date: Jan 19, 2014 Pressure to land a suspect in the Lange murder brings a warning from Quesada that Hart and Cohle might be replaced by a new task force, but they lobby for extra time to investigate a rural brothel and a burned-out church. More 3 100% The Locked Room Air date: Jan 26, 2014 An obscured image in a church leads Hart and Cohle to a tent-revival minister, whose parishioners point to a man they believe was seen with Dora Lange, but when a sex offender who matches their description is interrogated, Cohle dismisses him, even though he offers a confession. Meanwhile, Maggie sets Cohle up with a friend; and old case files reveal a connection to a woman who drowned years ago. More 4 94% Who Goes There Air date: Feb 9, 2014 Cohle revisits a dark chapter of his past to track down a possible link to prime suspect Reggie Ledoux, but he needs to make sure a distracted Hart has his head in the game. More 5 100% The Secret Fate of All Life Air date: Feb 16, 2014 The spoils of a solved case are shared by Hart and Cohle; troubling new intelligence is revealed by Papania and Gilbough. More 6 69% Haunted Houses Air date: Feb 23, 2014 Cohle's activities in 2002, when his partnership with Hart disintegrated and he quit the force, are recalled by Maggie. More 7 92% After You've Gone Air date: Mar 2, 2014 Hart and Cohle call a truce to investigate a series of disappearances that may be related to the Dora Lange murder and the Tuttle family. More 8 83% Form and Void Air date: Mar 9, 2014 Season 1 ends with Hart and Cohle finding a new lead in their 17-year-old case thanks to a detail that was overlooked. More True Detective : Season 1 Videos True Detective: Season 1 Episode 8 Preview 0:35 True Detective: Season 1 Episode 6 Preview 0:35 True Detective: Season 1 Episode 7 Preview 0:35 True Detective: Season 1 Episode 5 Preview 0:35 True Detective: Season 1 Episode 4 Preview 0:35 True Detective: Season 1 Episode 2 Preview 0:35 True Detective: Season 1 Episode 3 Preview 0:30 True Detective: Season 1 Teaser 0:15 True Detective: Season 1 Teaser - Crime 1:31 True Detective: Season 1 Opening Credits View All Videos (10) True Detective : Season 1 Photos View All Photos (17) Tv Season Info New Orleans native and novelist Nic Pizzolatto ("Galveston") wrote and created this crime drama that focuses on a pair of homicide detectives in Louisiana and a trail of murder, mayhem and mystery that spans 17 years. Featuring the music of T Bone Burnett and directed by Cary Fukunaga, the series opens in 1995 as good ol' boy Martin Hart (Woody Harrelson) and his brooding, Texas-born partner, Rust Cohle (Matthew McConaughey), are called to the scene of a gruesome, ritualistic killing of a young woman, who was posed by a tree, adorned with deer antlers on her head and accompanied by strange symbols. Fast-forward to 2012, Hart and Cohle are grilled by another pair of detectives (Tory Kittles, Michael Potts) who are investigating a case that bears striking similarities to the one before. In between is a glimpse of 2002, when Hart and Cohle struggled to deal with their inner demons in separate but equally destructive ways. With Michelle Monaghan, Kevin Dunn, Lili Simmons and Shea Whigham. Genre: Drama Network: HBO Premiere Date: Jan 12, 2014 Creator: Nic Pizzolatto Exec. Producers: Steve Golin, Nic Pizzolatto, Richard Brown Cast Matthew McConaughey as Rust Cohle Woody Harrelson as Martin Hart Kevin Dunn as Ken Quesada Michelle Monaghan as Maggie Hart Alexandra Daddario as Lisa Tragnetti Tory Kittles as Det. Thomas Papania Michael Potts as Det. Maynard Gilbough Elizabeth Reaser as Laurie Perkins Lili Simmons as Beth Brad Carter as Charlie Jay O. Sanders as Billy Lee Tuttle Glenn Fleshler as Errol Childress Michael Harney as Steve Geraci Charles Halford as Reggie Ledoux Joseph Sikora as Ginger Ann Dowd as Betty Childress Shea Whigham as Joel Theriot Carol Sutton as Miss Delores Kelsey Scott as Fiona Todd Giebenhain as Tyrone Clarke Peters as Minister Davi Jay as Gordon DiCillo Show More Cast News & Interviews for True Detective : Season 1 What To Watch With Sneaky Pete Star Giovanni Ribisi 9 TV Shows You Should Binge-Watch This January Which Movie Star Fared Best on TV? Julia Roberts in Homecoming and More Small-Screen Debuts View All True Detective : Season 1 News Episodes 1 100% The Long Bright Dark Air date: Jan 12, 2014 Investigators take another look at a 1995 murder when a similar case occurs in 2012 in this drama, which begins with Martin Hart and Rust Cohle, former partners in Louisiana's Criminal Investigation Division, looking back on the original crime and its effect on their personal and professional lives. More 2 100% Seeing Things Air date: Jan 19, 2014 Pressure to land a suspect in the Lange murder brings a warning from Quesada that Hart and Cohle might be replaced by a new task force, but they lobby for extra time to investigate a rural brothel and a burned-out church. More 3 100% The Locked Room Air date: Jan 26, 2014 An obscured image in a church leads Hart and Cohle to a tent-revival minister, whose parishioners point to a man they believe was seen with Dora Lange, but when a sex offender who matches their description is interrogated, Cohle dismisses him, even though he offers a confession. Meanwhile, Maggie sets Cohle up with a friend; and old case files reveal a connection to a woman who drowned years ago. More 4 94% Who Goes There Air date: Feb 9, 2014 Cohle revisits a dark chapter of his past to track down a possible link to prime suspect Reggie Ledoux, but he needs to make sure a distracted Hart has his head in the game. More 5 100% The Secret Fate of All Life Air date: Feb 16, 2014 The spoils of a solved case are shared by Hart and Cohle; troubling new intelligence is revealed by Papania and Gilbough. More 6 69% Haunted Houses Air date: Feb 23, 2014 Cohle's activities in 2002, when his partnership with Hart disintegrated and he quit the force, are recalled by Maggie. More 7 92% After You've Gone Air date: Mar 2, 2014 Hart and Cohle call a truce to investigate a series of disappearances that may be related to the Dora Lange murder and the Tuttle family. More 8 83% Form and Void Air date: Mar 9, 2014 Season 1 ends with Hart and Cohle finding a new lead in their 17-year-old case thanks to a detail that was overlooked. More Critic Reviews for True Detective Season 1 All Critics (81) | Top Critics (37) | Fresh (67) | Rotten (14) It's about whether our lives really matter at all. That's scarier than the scariest monster. Jan 10, 2014 | Full Review… Tim Molloy TheWrap Top Critic McConaughey and Harrelson don't just fill out these characters, they disappear into them, delivering two of the best performances you'll see in TV or film this entire year. Jun 13, 2018 | Full Review… Brian Tallerico RogerEbert.com Top Critic It's a winner. But it's also an oddball, and a weirdo, and an interesting-cum-strange companion, and someone - um, something - you won't mind spending time with. Jun 13, 2018 | Rating: B+ | Full Review… Verne Gay Newsday Top Critic It has the feel of an indie film spread over eight episodes starring two of the best character actors in the business. Jan 10, 2014 | Full Review… Eric Deggans NPR Top Critic True Detective is a marvel of craftsmanship, storytelling and performances. Jan 10, 2014 | Rating: A | Full Review… Ed Bark Uncle Barky Top Critic In an effort that has the potential to be one of the best and boldest new TV dramas of the year, two film stars exhibit on the small screen the advantage of working in an extended serial. Jan 10, 2014 | Full Review… Joanne Ostrow Denver Post Top Critic There is so much that the first season of True Detective gets right. Oct 23, 2018 | Full Review… Brian Wilson What Culture True Detective absorbs you from the first minute and never lets go. [Full Review in Spanish] Sep 23, 2018 | Full Review… Natalia Marcos El Pais (Spain) There are hints of a more pervasive and pernicious evil at work in rural Louisiana. Despite these hints, the narrative doesn't go deeper than an episode of Law and Order: SVU. Aug 20, 2018 | Full Review… Kathryn Reklis The Christian Century You may find it a little slow, and the Deep South accents sometimes cry out for explanatory surtitles, but you're liable to find it seeping into your consciousness like a troubling dream you can't shake off. Jul 23, 2018 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review… Adam Sweeting The Arts Desk View All Critic Reviews (81) Audience Reviews for True Detective : Season 1 This was one of the most intense and well formulated series I have ever witnessed. The detectives complete separation from personalities couldn't be more different, yet ironically the same. The nature of the case, the diverse ideologies and the violent nature of the series was formulated into a ticking time bomb. Both actors were brilliant together, from Woody's down home cop attitude and Matt's critical views on society in the Deep South made for a Great War of words, and at times diverse cop partnership. Bryan P I just finished season one and I somehow feel I've seen a glimpse of real and ancient darkness. I'm almost reluctant to write a review because words can't convey the significance and the brilliance of this piece of storytelling art. I know I will rewatch it ad infinitum - especially to listen to Matthew McConaughey's numerous nihilistic monologues on the universe, time, truth, love and darkness. The chemistry betweeen the two lead actors (McConaughey and Woody Harrelson), the writing from show creator Nic Pizzolato, the cinematography and the soundtrack come together to make something the likes of which I don't believe we've ever seen before on television. If I had to sum the story up in just a few words? It is utterly terrifying. Mia W Flawless and gripping. Phil R YOU MUST WATCH !!!!!! Andrea M incredible pacing and build-up throughout the season leads to one of the most satisfying stories of television for years. Benjamin G Probably as good as TV gets - Harrelsen and McConaughey in their element and the perfect duo for this dark and gritty series. McConaughey didn't even feel the need to take his top off in this one. Conor E Great series, thriller and the acting is terrific! Sam R brilliant one of the best shows ever dee m True Detective season 1 is a masterpiece to behold. I sometimes wish i could erase my memory of ever watching it, just so i can watch it again for the very first time. An amazing script, amazing visuals, and two damn good performances. True Detective is without question... a masterpiece. Evren O True detective 1st season is just fascinating. Great movie�Â?Â?Â? 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