True Detective – One of the most highly anticipated series of 2014

“True Detective” brings two of the most iconic actors from two different generations together, Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson, in the American television drama series on HBO. The series is created and written by novelist Nic Pizzolatto, who debuts in television with this show. The first season is directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga and also stars Michelle Monaghan (“Maid of Honor”), Michael Potts (“The Wire”), and Tory Kittles (“Malibu’s Most Wanted”). The first season, consisting of eight episodes, debuted on 12 January 2014.

The first season of the series was received extremely well, much to the credit of Matthew’s and Woody’s performances, and received a 9.4 rating on IMDb (Internet Movie Database), which is not an easy feat. The direction is superb with the Louisiana location given as much screen time and significance as the characters, and almost becomes a character itself with a personality of its own. Pizzolatto’s script also gives brilliant opportunity for the landscape to be incorporated into the narrative and development.

The anthological series traces back and forth between 1995 and 2012 and offers an even more intriguing insight into how time can alter people as we see the two main characters, Rust Cohle (Matthew) and Martin Hart (Woody), as they have changed and developed through the years.

The series is nothing short of the quality of an Oscar-nominated film with every shot and scene executed excellently. Not much seems to happen by way of action in the first few episodes, but it remains riveting nonetheless. Perhaps one should not watch it so much for the storyline or plot, which sees the two detectives in a 17-year hunt for a serial killer in Louisiana, but rather for the acting and the rendering of brilliant work.