True Detective: The Complete First Season [3 Discs] [DVD]

Yes, and it is very good. Even Jean-Paul Sartre when he was 'Being' would have enjoyed the 'Nothingness' of this quest for justice. Sorry about the pun but, you won't be sorry for buying this series. Tired of TV that talks down to you? Let this talk up to you.

I had heard some good things about the HBO series True Detective and so last weekend I finally got around to checking it out (thank you HBO GO app!) It was late Friday evening and I had only planned to watch one episode, but pretty early into it I was hooked. Found myself watching the next three and staying up to 3AM in the process, it was that good. Over the next two days, I then proceeded to watch the remaining four episodes of the first season (which concludes the story-arc, as it’s being done as an anthology type of series, with all new characters, setting and story for each season.) I’ve described the show to friends as being a police procedural, CSI-type of show, but one that was co-authored by Cormac McCarthy and H. P. Lovecraft – largely due to the frequent philosophical ruminations on the nature of humanity, the disturbing and nightmarish crime being investigated, and some pervasive elements of existential dread. So even though I could see the show thanks to having HBO, I ended up buying a copy on disc just so I could share it with friends. So yeah, I’m a big fan. I’ll also add that Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey’s performances are stellar. McConaughey in particular has a pretty unusual and difficult character, but he pulls it off in a remarkably compelling way. No surprise that he’s won awards for it and was nominated for the Emmy. The show is also shot gorgeously, and turns the setting of the southern Louisiana bayou region into a character in its own right. Warning though: the show is definitely not for everyone. It’s got some dark subject matter and is frequently rather disturbing, so if you don’t deal well with that, you might need to skip it. Think a little bit of movies like Se7en or Silence of the Lambs, to understand what I mean. If you’re fine with those, then definitely check out True Detective.

My high score on this product is mainly based on the quality of the content. However I am sorely disappointed in the condition that it was received. Upon opening the package to a presumably brand new product there was already significant damage to the outside case and although it is cosmetic it was a Christmas gift. I hope the contents remain unscathed as there is no reason to believe that there would be damage inside. Best buy will hear from me if on Christmas Day I find a less than whole disc within.

Not often you run across a work like this acted out so well. As far as two actors I enjoy greatly, MM and WH probably their most memorable acting jobs yet. I think what strikes me most about this is the philosophical aspect of the characters, their lives, desires, weakness, strengths and how the world perceives them wrongly. How sometimes you must embrace the darkness within to fight for what is good and right. All of this is framed within the 20+ years of cult/ritual killing and the disintegration of their lives/egos. All I can say is the play on good/bad, light/dark is completely profound. Stability in things/people you look down upon, complete degradation in the highest moral places and the battle two very different men fight within themselves to hold back evil. A tale of two very different people finding themselves and the meaning of life as they push back against evil.

The package came with the cover and inside broken and the disc just floating free inside. Best Buy made it good by sending another after I had to return the first one.

Wow. That is seriously all I can say after watching the first episode. The episode is amazing. Will definitely be tuning in again and so will you. Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey do a great job. The script is very well written and drives the story hard. This show is all about the story. It has the feel of a mini series not a TV show so it will be interesting to see where it goes. But it is one powerful script that is acted out great. This is the first 10/10 I think I have given on IMDb. Once you watch it you will know why. I will be shocked it this show does not win awards. It may be the best show on HBO now and I would say it's up there with orphan black with it's ability to grab your attention and keep you glued.

Especially since having viewed "Dallas Buyers Club" last summer, I can truthfully say that I am not the least bit surprised that the world is handing Matthew McConaughey every acting award there is in the book, because he is all that and a case of fine anejo. Woody Harrelson is no slouch in this show, either. "True Detective" takes the terms "dark and disturbing" to a whole new level, and intensiveness of that perception doesn't even begin to happen right away. You literally don't know you've been run over until the bus is exiting through the back wall of your room. Another brilliant HBO series, T-Bone Burnett does the music. Highly recommend. Hope the different actors and direction of Season 2 under the same director and creator are every bit as good!

First time through you should be drawn in by the performances. Upon further viewing, the writing and directing really take hold and lodge you into an atmospheric dreamland. This is a story both philosophical and brooding, leaving you wanting to investigate it further, just like the 2 mains characters.