You Can Watch One Of The Best Television Shows Of All Time In Just 8 Hours

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Many consider the first season of True Detective to be one of the best TV seasons ever made, and it’s a quick watch at only 8 hours. HBO has consistently produced high-quality shows, and their old slogan, “It’s not just TV,” really captured that commitment to exceptional programming.

Lately, other streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and Apple TV have really stepped up their game and are making some seriously good shows. But honestly, HBO still feels like the gold standard. Every now and then, a show like True Detective comes along and just blows you away, reminding you what truly exceptional television looks like. As a movie and TV lover, it’s those kinds of shows that really stick with you.

True Detective Season 1 Has Some Of The Best 8 Hours Of Television Of All Time

I remember when the first season of True Detective dropped – it was totally unexpected. The creator, Nic Pizzolatto, wasn’t a household name, just a novelist who’d done a little writing for The Killing. Honestly, it didn’t seem like a huge deal at first, but right from the beginning, everyone could tell it was something different, something special. It really grabbed you immediately.

The show stars Matthew McConaughey as Rust Cohle and Woody Harrelson as Martin Hart, two detectives working together in Louisiana during the mid-1990s. Cohle is a brilliant but pessimistic and cynical man, while Hart is more of a carefree, immature type who struggles with selfishness and self-doubt. Though they don’t get along, they’re paired up to investigate a particularly significant case.

In episode 5, Rust and Marty solve a swamp murder connected to a cult, rescuing two children just in time. However, the final three episodes reveal that they prematurely closed the case, as further investigation showed they hadn’t fully resolved it.

As a huge fan of cinema and television, I have to say the first season of True Detective is just masterful. The way it weaves together events from the past and present – 17 years apart, no less! – is so smooth, you barely notice the timelines are about to collide. Honestly, the storytelling is some of the best I’ve ever seen on TV. It grabs you from the very beginning and doesn’t let go, pulling you into this incredibly powerful and unbelievable mystery.

True Detective’s Anthology Structure Means You Don’t Have To Watch The Other Seasons

The first season of True Detective stands out because of its unique format. Unlike many shows, it’s designed as an anthology, meaning each season tells a completely separate story. Once you finish the initial eight episodes, you can stop watching without feeling like you’ve missed any ongoing plotlines – though later seasons do include occasional references to what came before.

Each season of True Detective feels consistent in its overall mood and presentation, so you always recognize the show. However, every season features new detectives, takes place in a different location, and focuses on a unique crime, making each one feel fresh. Despite these changes, the show consistently delivers dark characters, disturbing stories, and unsettling settings.

The second season, which debuted in 2015, features Colin Farrell, Rachel McAdams, Taylor Kitsch, and Vince Vaughn. It takes place in a city resembling Los Angeles and centers around a criminal plot involving both gangs and dishonest politicians. Season 3 premiered in 2019, starring Mahershala Ali and Stephen Dorff as the main detectives.

The show features investigations across different timeframes and locations. In one storyline, Dorff and Ali’s characters search for two missing children in the Ozarks. Meanwhile, season four, True Detective: Night Country, follows detectives played by Jodie Foster and Kali Reis in Alaska as they investigate a disturbing case involving frozen scientists, with Issa López serving as showrunner.

Why You Should Still Give True Detective’s Other Seasons A Chance After Season 1

The first season of True Detective is so exceptional that the other three seasons often get overlooked or unfairly judged. It’s as if they’re overshadowed by a highly successful older sibling, constantly compared and never quite measuring up.

True Detective Rotten Tomatoes Scores
Season Critics’ Score Audience Score
1 92 92
2 47 31
3 84 59
4 93 55

Those three seasons, while not as strong as the first, are still very good in their own ways. Season 1 was exceptionally strong, and it’s hard for any season to compare. Season 2 really leans into the show’s detective and mystery side, and it also features some particularly compelling love stories that aren’t as prominent in the other seasons.

Both seasons 3 and 4 are standouts. Season 3 showcases particularly strong performances from Ali and Dorff, and has a vibrant, almost magical quality that sets it apart. Season 4, while different in its setting and characters, builds on the previous seasons in a compelling way.

While True Detective might keep going, it’s hard to imagine any future season reaching the same level of acclaim as its first, much like how The Sopranos set an incredibly high bar for all gangster shows. The first season of True Detective remains exceptional within the show’s format, but each subsequent season is still worth watching.

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2026-02-11 01:59