True Detective: Season 3

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 35 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 232 Ratings

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6.8

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6.8	Your Score
6.8	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 232 Ratings

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True Detective

Now Playing: True Detective

Season Details & Credits

HBO | Season Premiere Date: January 13, 2019

Summary: Arkansas state police detectives Wayne Hays (Mahershala Ali) and Roland West (Stephen Dorff) seek to solve the mystery of a disturbing crime that took place years ago in the Ozarks.

Creator: Nic Pizzolatto

Genre(s): Drama, Action & Adventure, Suspense

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Season 3 Episodes

tbd
S3:E8. Now Am Found
Air Date: February 24, 2019
tbd
S3:E7. The Final Country
Air Date: February 17, 2019
tbd
S3:E6. Hunters in the Dark
Air Date: February 10, 2019

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Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

100

Richard Roeper

Feb 1, 2019

The fiery and intense performances; Pizzolatto’s dense and rich writing; the finely calibrated directing from Jeremy Saulnier; the superb editing; the chilling and mournful music from the great T. Bone Burnett; the cinematography that changes hues to reflect the various time periods--all of these elements contribute to a slightly intoxicating case of Viewer Vertigo, as we try to maintain our balance while constantly being thrown OFF balance. ... This is addictive television. Read full review

Ellen Gray

Jan 10, 2019

[Mahershala Ali's] take on Hays enhances rather than overwhelms a story intriguing enough to justify the show’s 35-year timeline. Read full review

The Times Carol Midgley

Jan 7, 2020

This is often a one-man show for Ali, sometimes wearing prosthetics to make him old, grey and suffering from dementia, and he is terrific in all three timelines. Great performances too from the missing children's dysfunctional, barneying parents. ... It's not yet as good as series one but there are rich, tragic seams here. Read full review

Ben Travers

Jan 2, 2019

The first five episodes are stirring entertainment, steadying a very rocky boat and teasing an end that feels far more likely to exceed expectations than spoil a strong setup. Read full review

RogerEbert.com Roger Ebert

Jan 9, 2019

[The third season] has much more in common structurally and tonally with the first season but still can’t quite compare with that year or the best of current television it so wishes to join. Read full review

Dave Nemetz

Jan 2, 2019

It’s safe to say that Season 3 improves on that mess [Vince Vaughn’s Season 2 performance], but it still registers as a mild disappointment, all things considered. Read full review

Troy Patterson

Jan 7, 2019

The new “True Detective” is faintly pretentious, manageably ridiculous, and dull. ... Throughout his terrific performance as this emotionally wounded warrior, Ali steams and simmers and smolders with repressed emotion. The display of heat is all the more remarkable because the script sheds little light on Hays’s inner self. Read full review

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User Score

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6.8

User Reviews

Cobweb

Jan 13, 2019

Just enough like season 1 to feel like a real follow-up, but the characters and the world are so distinct that it doesn't feel like an attempt to repeat past glory. It's so good to have it back. As everyone points out, it's not season 1, but it doesn't really have to be and it's unfair toJust enough like season 1 to feel like a real follow-up, but the characters and the world are so distinct that it doesn't feel like an attempt to repeat past glory. It's so good to have it back. As everyone points out, it's not season 1, but it doesn't really have to be and it's unfair to constantly compare the two. This is fantastic in its own right.… Expand

6 of 15 users found this helpful69

haw2991

Jan 18, 2019

A pretty decent start to season 3, very similar narration and storytelling to the acclaimed first season. Ali, Dorff, and McNairy are all fantastic. Finally, it seems True Detective is back to leaving you eager to see next weeks episode....

1 of 6 users found this helpful15

ovidox

Mar 11, 2019

Not quite the thriller mystery season 1 was but it kept a lot of nuances from season 1 which made the series consistent and with a "satisfying" ending. Certain bits of this production duplicated aspects/theories/kind of events of season 1. The second season was poor; they def played a saferNot quite the thriller mystery season 1 was but it kept a lot of nuances from season 1 which made the series consistent and with a "satisfying" ending. Certain bits of this production duplicated aspects/theories/kind of events of season 1. The second season was poor; they def played a safer card here whilst introducing it's own subplots. The pace was controller through out; almost even in the actors voices/pitch/tone. I like the setting and the choice of actors / characters. I was happy with each time line & glad this didn't end up like another Stephen King master piece come emotionally dark sociopath ending - see 11.22.63 - that series emotionally scarred me :(… Expand

1 of 5 users found this helpful14

shoulderoforion

Feb 11, 2019

***update 2/11 After starting strong, they've been dragging it out the past bunch of episodes. Just found out their original director quit after the first two eps, and it shows. Not as good as I wanted it to be. The wife is killing the whole vibe. Reducing my score to 6*** Pretty Pretty***update 2/11 After starting strong, they've been dragging it out the past bunch of episodes. Just found out their original director quit after the first two eps, and it shows. Not as good as I wanted it to be. The wife is killing the whole vibe. Reducing my score to 6*** Pretty Pretty Pretty Pretty Good. After the disaster that was season two I was expecting a repeat of nonsense, but it seems Nic Pizzolatto has found his way back to HBO Sunday night relevance even without Cary Joji Fukunaga. These first two eps were thick, and meaty, I eagerly await next weeks installment. Huzzah!… Expand

3 of 6 users found this helpful33

djuuba

Mar 11, 2019

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Thought it was alright. Better than season two, miles and miles away from season one.

It started off very promising, the main characters had an interesting dynamic and alright dialogue but then nothing happens for five episodes.

There's barely any conflict between the main characters (except with the wife, which got on my nerves eventually) and the story touches on the occult themes and conspiracies of the first season, but then fails to deliver on it spectacularly.

The amount of red herrings were annoying as well. Boy clasps his hands exactly as the picture from his confirmation? Just a random accident. Black sedan parked outside Wayne's house? Just a man who knows exactly what happened more than 20 years ago and decided now's the time to finally come forward.

The setup was great, but the execution was abysmal, and some of the dialogue was just cringe.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

gautrek

Feb 15, 2019

The whole thing started out quite well, but eventually lost all steam. No way near TD1. The story seems to concentrate, not on what´s happened to these young victims and the case in itself, but more on dropping the occassional identitypoiitic rants. It is intensly boring to listen to sillyThe whole thing started out quite well, but eventually lost all steam. No way near TD1. The story seems to concentrate, not on what´s happened to these young victims and the case in itself, but more on dropping the occassional identitypoiitic rants. It is intensly boring to listen to silly lines about the so called "priviliged" white people. How are they priviliged, portrayed like trailertrash and/or racist towards everything that moves? Funny thing is, it wasn´t like that at all back in 1980, neither in 1990 nor 2019.. indeed saddening to see the producers of the TD series drop to such a low level. It would have been truly refreshing if the caracters didn´t mention in one single sentence this modern propaganda stereotypes and concentrated on the STORY and let the actors ACT in a realistic manner. Identity politics KILLS quality, it kills all interest. Why? Because it is simply a set of anachronistic lies that are easy to see through, and tiresome to have to listen to. Truly disappointed. This crap made all movies nowadays unwatchable, now it is starting to infect the former, lenghty quality Tv-shows as well.… Expand

3 of 7 users found this helpful34

P4inskiller

Mar 28, 2019

The most boring TV show I have ever seen. The first and second seasons were masterpieces rich in black humour and interesting characters. But the third season..what is that?! I was watching every boring episode in the hope for something interesting, something special. But I was totallyThe most boring TV show I have ever seen. The first and second seasons were masterpieces rich in black humour and interesting characters. But the third season..what is that?! I was watching every boring episode in the hope for something interesting, something special. But I was totally wrong: from the beginning to the end there is nothing. Only waste of time.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

SEE ALL 48 REVIEWS

Seasons & Episodes

73

Series Overview
Season 3

72
- Season 3 Overview
  Air Date: January 13, 2019
- tbd
  S3:E8. Now Am Found
  Air Date: February 24, 2019
- tbd
  S3:E7. The Final Country
  Air Date: February 17, 2019
- tbd
  S3:E6. Hunters in the Dark
  Air Date: February 10, 2019
- tbd
  S3:E5. If You Have Ghosts
  Air Date: February 3, 2019
- tbd
  S3:E4. The Hour and the Day
  Air Date: January 27, 2019
- tbd
  S3:E3. The Big Never
  Air Date: January 20, 2019
- tbd
  S3:E2. Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye
  Air Date: January 13, 2019
- tbd
  S3:E1. 01-13-2018
  Air Date: January 13, 2018
Season 2

61
- Season 2 Overview
  Air Date: June 21, 2015
Season 1

87
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: January 12, 2014