True Detective (TV Series) The Long Bright Dark (2014) User Reviews

True Detective's superb pilot might be the start of another cinematic milestone in the golden age of television brought to us by HBO.

[kleemannmax · 10/10 · 20 January 2014]

The thing that most likely will stick out to everyone who watches this show is its excellent use of setting. There are absolutely haunting locations, Louisiana appears dark and mysterious, even in bright daylight. The slight color correction adds to that, it looks old and forgotten. We have abandoned houses, churches, brothels in the woods, desperate and forgotten human beings among them. Key to the whole experience is the atmosphere. The cinematography by Adam Arkapaw is superb. The music is a big part of that too, a lot of contemporary music is to be found with a lot of quiet and haunting tunes that go with dialog.

Coming to the performances and the writing. Without a doubt Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson go great together. There is something between them that is not acting, as a viewer you can just feel that there is a general antipathy between them, which is something very hard to achieve and it shows how well these two work together, they are both absolutely superb actors doing the best they can. They're as different as they can be, but the passion and love they put into their job is the same and connects them. McConaughey's character might stand out, because of his mysterious and dark, depressive, pessimistic nature, his monologues and his view on life are astounding. Woody Harrelson's character is family friendly, he suffers, because of the job, yet wants to solve the case more than anything.

Overall, this might be one of the better pilots, if not one among the best pilots I personally have seen yet. True Detectives fantastic use of setting and locations, the great cinematography, detailed and passionate writing, the outstanding performances and the intriguing and involving story create a show that will definitely stand out in the future. This might be our next super-show à la 'Breaking Bad' or 'Mad Men'

10/10

Going places.

[bombersflyup · 9/10 · 16 August 2019]

Strong start, though the scope of the story has only just begun. Woody Harrelson plays a sleazeball, but a humorous and well liked one. He has some clever lines here like: "You attach an assumption to a piece of evidence, you start to lead the narrative to support it. You become prejudice yourself." However, Matthew McConaughey drives the show and is exemplary. The episode has a bit to say in regards to reflection, look upon thy neighbour and envision how they look upon you.

Last Year It Was Breaking Bad. This Year It Is True Detective. Both Are Mind Boggling Stuff. ♦ 92%

[nairtejas · 9/10 · 23 February 2014]

That's what I feel after watching the premiere of HBO's latest TV series. I was taken aback by the style, the simplicity, the two lead characters & mostly the people who play them. At the end of the hour, after the final scene delivered so flawlessly by Matthew McConaughey, I decided and set my mind that this year, it is gonna be True Detective. My source of thrills, excitement & revolutionary entertainment.

Nic Pizzolatto has come out of nowhere and delivered a season premiere that is both charming & enigmatic at the same time. Two detectives going around solving a case in 1995 are brought back here in 2012 to talk shop. Why? Find it out yourselves because that is the point where you'll sit back in your swivel chair, if you are going to binge watch like me.

I check out the Wikipedia article and it tells me how every season is gonna have different actors & characters. How immense can it get now?

BOTTOM LINE: 2014 has been a good year for me. True Detective is maybe one reason. Am I using hyperbole?

Down the rabbit hole we go...

[TheCornProject · 8/10 · 18 January 2014]

If film director David Fincher had a time machine that could take him back to the year 1995, I'm positive that he would have scrapped his idea for releasing Se7en and instead opted to produce a series exactly like this one. True Detective is a unique hybrid that seems less in the tradition of television crime dramas that tend provide instant gratification and more tailored towards the conventions of the cinematic medium. The first episode invites the viewer on a journey that follows the lives of detectives Rust Cohle (Matthew McConaughey) and Martin Hart (Woody Harrelsen) as they navigate through a particularly perplexing homicide case. A woman named Dora Lange is found bound and ritualistically murdered in a field in rural Louisiana. Told retrospectively through a series of interviews from the year 2012, both Cohle and Hart account for the events that occurred following their assignment to the Lange case back in January 1995. From the very first interview with Detective Hart it is clear that the other detectives interviewing him are more than a little interested to know about the relationship that he had with Cohle. Known as the "taxman" by the other detectives, Cohle is a highly intellectual but introverted man who is well known for his ability to take notes and draw conclusions from even the minutest details in the crimes he investigates. Cohle also comes across as an extremely unhinged, pessimistic and emotionally disturbed man who we come to discover is carrying the demons of a deceased child and a broken marriage. Cohle's characteristics seem to put him at constant odds with his fellow colleagues including Hart who can't seem to rationalize his lack of faith in humanity. Angered by Cohle's utter indifference to the world around him, Hart comically exclaims that the car should be "a place of silent reflection from now on".

Hart is a straight forward detective who appears capable of separating his personal life with the testing conditions he faces at work. Pressure from Hart's wife (Michelle Monaghan) forces him invite a reluctant Cohle to dinner. Unfortunately for Hart, Cohle makes a terrible first impression by arriving at the house completely intoxicated. Hart's worst nightmare is realized now that his work relationship with Cohle has struck a very personal nerve. Their partnership is further strained when they begin to face pressure from the media and religious leaders in the community to solve the case with haste. The case it seems has negative connotations that extend all the way up to the governor's office. Back in the interviewing room it is revealed that the investigators asking the questions are currently working on a more recent case that appears to have the exact same modus operandi as the 1995 homicide of Dora Lange. Cohle explains that this cannot be possible as the true perpetrator had already been caught back in 1995. Ending on a cliff-hanger, we are left asking how Cohle and Hart caught the murderer back in 95' and what the 2012 re-emergence of the case means for their original investigation.

I feel that the dynamic between the personalities of these two characters and the case which seems to bear little clues but which holds their fragile relationship together is creating a series which has a strong driving force. I am personally excited to see the next episode as I am genuinely curious to see how all of these different timelines will come together. I don't want to say this prematurely but True Detective feels like a crime series done right for once. Please enter the rabbit hole with me as I follow the series with reviews of each episode. The next one will be shorter in length I promise!

4/5

The setting n the plot has a foreboding n mysterious feeling, the acting n direction top notch. A mesmerizing experience n awesome title track.

[Fella_shibby · 10/10 · 9 July 2019]

I first saw this few years back. Revisited it recently. This review of mine is for the entire first season.

The first season takes place in Louisiana and follows a pair of homicide detectives (Harrelson and McConaughey) n their pursuit of a serial killer. The acting n direction is top notch. The setting n the plot has a foreboding n mysterious feeling. The killings r offscreen but the images r chilling. There is a topless scene of the beauty Alexandra Daddario n the title track along with the story very mesmerizing. A perfect example of a riveting drama aided with amazing performances by McConaughey n Harrelson.

S01, ep 1

[ahmxii · 9/10 · 21 November 2021]

The performances and the writing. Without a doubt Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson go great together. There is something between them that is not acting, as a viewer you can just feel that there is a general antipathy between them, which is something very hard to achieve and it shows how well these two work together, they are both absolutely superb actors doing the best they can. They're as different as they can be, but the passion and love they put into their job is the same and connects them. McConaughey's character might stand out, because of his mysterious and dark, depressive, pessimistic nature, his monologues and his view on life are astounding. Woody Harrelson's character is family friendly, he suffers, because of the job, yet wants to solve the case more than anything.

25-WR

[25WR · 10/10 · 27 December 2018]

A real pessimist with a magnifying cyclops-eye for inhuman precision and his compromising assigned partner break the jungle-fevered silence of the Louisiana swamps.

Excellent

[jamesreben · 10/10 · 22 March 2019]

10/10 To keep it short I'll just say no problems, all excellence!

Captivating characters and of course a gripping case!

[and_mikkelsen · 9/10 · 28 June 2023]

This was a great first episode to a show that already has the potential to go places and become a classic!

The thing that stands out are deffinetely the two lead characters, in particular Cohle, who is played perfectly by Mathew McCounaughey! The man steals dvery scene he is in! Him talking about his world-view-philosophy really stood out to me and creates this complex character that you never quite know where you have! Woody Harrelson is equally good as his counterpart!

The case is also dark! Not everything is shown to us, but that just helps create this dark and mysterious atmosphere! Sometimes its just as dark just to hear about it!

Overall a very effective pilot that leaves you wanting to watch the rest!

masterpiece

[mejiaalberto-73291 · 10/10 · 17 January 2023]

I can only describe it as a masterpiece, one of the first crime series about a serial killer that goes further than what Hollywood had been presenting to us for years, I have read some "critics" who describe it as one more chapter of the law and order, they couldn't be more wrong. True Detective is one of the first crime series to not only look at the plot, the photo, the acting, the soundtrack and the mythology that this series is based on makes a raw treasure, it is not the typical story where detectives catch the murderer and they return home happy with their family, here you know that it really was not a victory they say so themselves, they know that there is a huge "monster" behind what they discovered and that it indirectly destroyed all aspects of their lives but at the same time At the end of the day, this duo has each other, as Rust says: "Once everything was dark but now there is light." Mathew McConaughey once again demonstrates why he is one of the best at his job, so much so that from the first chapter he is no longer Matthew for you, he is Rust, a guy so obsessed that he will go to the last consequences so that "that girl will never be in that room." Give yourself a gift and watch this series, the best of hbo in the last 10 years.

This Is What Pilots Are Supposed To Be Like

[Xarx117 · 10/10 · 29 August 2022]

This episode is very good. It has a very good character developement, very good narration and an incredible sense of reallity. It really catches a very specific tone in wich the plot is not supposed to mean something, instead its focused on the characters and their lives but it doesnt make it feel as a plot in wich the good moments are plot twists and developement. The fact that they did not reveal too much of the plot is great too and it gives more suspense than making a plot twist at the end of the episode. Anyway, the setting is great, the performances are perfect, the directions is really good and the visuals and sound design are very good too. I think its a very great way to introduce a plot and characters.

Slow-Moving Opening Episode

[lavatch · 3/10 · 8 January 2018]

For such a highly regarded mini-series, the opening episode of "True Detective" is poorly paced and is extremely muddled in the development of the action.

The strength of the program is in the pairing of two detectives with starkly contrasting personalities. Marty Hart (Woody Harrelson) is a conservative family man and a traditional investigator. Rust Cole (Matthew Mcconaughey) is a brooding introvert and atheist, who is a stickler for detail in examining the ligature marks (indicating binding by a rope) or lividity (describing the bruising marks) in a satanic murder case in Erath, Louisiana. He also has a background in the occult and New Age literature that may be relevant to the principal case.

The telescoping of the action through flashbacks slows the film and detracts from the drama. At some point, the two detectives had a falling out. Now, over a decade has passed, and Hart and Cole are being interrogated separately by police investigators.

Much of the film content is unpleasant, as the two detectives seek to understand the satanic killing of Dora Kelly Lange, age 28. For Cole, there may be a clue to the murder in exploring the true nature of a "paraphilic" love map, namely, something pertaining to fantasy, fetishism, or animism. In the course of their investigation, the detectives learn about Santería, or Regla de Ochá, a religion that developed in the Caribbean developed during the Spanish Empire.

Overall, the program does not develop enough of the relationship of the two detectives where we should see much more of the chemistry and the banter. It is not even made clear what is the significance of the program's title, "The Long Bright Dark."

A disappointing premiere episode!

Best Show on T V today!

[mm-39 · 10/10 · 2 February 2014]

True Detective The Long Bright Dark is about two detectives who attempt to solve a bizarre serial killer's murder. The sub story of two detective's personalities drives interest in the overall story. Detective Cohle is an intellectual, anal, non family, all job, with bad social skills character. The contrast character Hart is a bull, cops cops with police social skills, and family man. Regrettably the job's pressure creates a dark side which needs stress release. Hart is angry, and cheats on his wife. Hart's cop instincts knows Hart needs Cohle's intellect to help solve the case. Cohle has the intellect to figure out the deep psychology of the case, and Hart has the social skills to handle inter departmental politics. The bizarre case and the detectives' personality conflict creates the right mix for an entertaining episode and series.

1x01

[formotog · 8/10 · 1 September 2020]

The first time I watched this pilot, was over 4 years ago. I was 16 and I really did not like it at all. It's clear to me now that I was simply too young at that time to be watching this. This is not the kind of show that holds your hand. You're on your own and I realise now that there's a lot more going on than my 16 year old brain really considered. Also, my personality at the time was far more like Rust's, so I didn't really understand why he was so loved because I suppose I didn't think he was anything special. Since then I'm a lot less moody and I've grown to really love his character. I do still agree with much of what he says, and we see in this episode already a lot of insight into his very damaged 1995 self. Since I was 16, I watched clips of this season on YouTube every now and then, and realised that I'd probably really love it now. This first episode was very strong, and featured some great atmospheric music, really nice cinematography, and introduced two really amazing leads, one of whom is in my opinion one of the best characters ever written. Somehow, a horrific murder embedded in some really dark occultism isn't the centrepiece of this episode. Rust Cohle is just too intriguing. Marty is the perfect partner to have alongside him, because the two are so different. They seem to tolerate each other in this episode but I know that quickly changes, and another thing is that having watched this season a couple of times already, knowing what happens makes you see things you didn't see before. The middle part of the episode slowed down a bit but otherwise, this was a really good pilot episode. It set up the plot and characters very efficiently and seamlessly. It almost didn't even feel like a pilot. It's only going to get better from here

Mid 8

One of the best hour-long pilots

[michaelangellcanfield · 10/10 · 5 April 2023]

It's amazing the amount of material they fit into this episode. Rust's character (McConaughey) is more fully previewed here compared to Marty (Harralson), but Rust was always the main character. Harralson has more work to do since Marty is a cop character that seems more familiar. He crushes it. I'd say his performance is the best in the show.

That said, the character of Rust is so good and McConaughey brings him to life in a way that makes Rust one of the all time best screen detectives.

There's so many combined clues or red herrings, suggestions, questions and mysteries in this episode. It's dizzying.

For fans of murder mysteries and southern gothic with the suggestion of the cultic/supernatural.

8.45/10, Great

[dcdude-26988 · 8/10 · 7 July 2023]

Not a bad pilot episode for this season. It had its flaws, but this was still a great episode. My favorite characters in this episode were Rust and Martin. My favorite things about this episode were the music, the storyline, and the acting. When I watch the next seven episodes, that is the time I will stop watching the show for some reasons. First of all, that is the end of the storyline, cause each season has different characters with different storylines. Second, the next two have very low ratings compared to this first season. My mom thought that this first season was a 10/10 season, and was a sort of must-watch.

If you like the genre, you'll love this first episode

[JustHavingALook · 9/10 · 21 June 2023]

When they talk about "give me the same, but different", well here it is.

How many detective/cops movies or tv series we have available, out there? This pilot does pretty much everything well.

Obviously the editing team did a fantastic job in keeping me fixated and, most importantly, crystal clear on the various timelines and locations, between past and presents.

Then the dialogues and how the values of the 2 main characters are slowly presented. Love the interaction between the conformist and the "alternative", the solid mindset and the. Freethinker . Realistic and entertaining

Great cinematography! Gee it's been a while since the last time I could feel a scene, be it at the police station, out in town or during the scene at the dinner table. Love it.

Then it's a crazy mystery with graphic stuff on screen.

Important: Those out there who have been affected by the fast cuts of today's youtube videos and social media "reels" will find it hard to watch and appreciate. I feel sorry for them.

*Only S1 So Far

[jennfinn · 8/10 · 20 September 2023]

SEASON ONE

It's 2023 and I've just watched True Detective S1 for the first time which is crazy considering all the hype. I can't say it was the greatest thing I've ever seen and chastise myself for waiting so long. It was going great even if Rust Cohle (Matthew McConaughey) is one of the most pretentious and annoying characters I've ever seen.

It was different, edgy, and surprising until the part where we discover the real killer which was a huge letdown. We know almost immediately that whoever they thought was the killer in 1995 was wrong. Viewers are led to believe it could actually be Detective Cohle but that was way too obvious.

I guess I was expecting a lot more than what we got for a killer and maybe a little closure about the family behind it. Woody Harrelson (Detective Hart) and McConaughey were both excellent and they played well against one another. I do look forward to seeing S4 with Jodie Foster.

Down the rabbit hole they went

[851222 · 9/10 · 11 July 2023]

Greetings from Lithuania.

Revisiting "True Detectives" mesmerizing first season first time after seeing it back in 2014. Enjoyed first episode way more then first time back in 2014. I loved the whole story of season back then but first episodes didn't clicked back then. Surely knowing the whole thing now i watched first episode again just now in the middle of 2023 and found way more nuanced small details i missed on first viewing. Also seeing all 3 season i can safely say first one was best one - by a long long mile. And this first episode puts you in a world you don't want to be in, yet here we all are.

Past case, Present case

[AvionPrince16 · 8/10 · 14 August 2022]

Nice episode with an interesting cases told by the present detective who talk about an ancient case that reproduce murder in the present. The relationship between the two detectives are pretty interesting and make us pretty engage in the past because we know that something happened. The two characters have different perspectives and different ways to work and make them pretty interesting to follow despite their own problems. So the case is pretty strange and can refer to someone anti-religious and have a problem with the victim. But why this "mise en scene" and why kill her? We still have a lot of questions but we definitely need to see more. Nice start anyway.

A waste of time

[Illogic · 3/10 · 1 March 2020]

Slow and meandering, this show goes nowhere and takes its time getting there. It tries to be quirky to make up for a lack of development, but it doesn't work.

Boring premier, slow and monotone voices of characters

[justchillz · 1/10 · 29 January 2024]

For such a highly proclaimed mini-series, the opening episode of "True Detective" is extremely poorly paced and profoundly muddled in the development of the action. The voices of the actors are monotone, boring, like you would be listening to preacher. These men don't even sound like detectives. When the one officer says "i am begging you to shut the f%%% up," in the car, I am begging the same thing. I cannot keep watching. It is slow torture. It is like someone drunk or high on marijuana just keeps talking to hear himself talk. It is painstaking to listen to him talk.

I agree with another who said the telescoping of the action through flashbacks slows the film and detracts from the drama.

Much of the film content is unpleasant, as the two detectives seek to understand the satanic killing of Dora Kelly Lange, age 28.

A disappointing premiere episode!