List of True Detective episodes (original) (raw)

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True Detective is an American anthology crime drama television series created and written by Nic Pizzolatto, that premiered on the premium cable network HBO on January 12, 2014. The series focuses on police investigations and on the effect they have on troubled detectives that carry them out. Each season is structured as a self-contained narrative with different sets of characters and settings. A fourth season, created by Issa López, premiered on January 14, 2024.[1]

As of February 18, 2024,[update] 30 episodes of True Detective have aired, concluding the fourth season. In February 2024, the series was renewed for a fifth season.[2]

In 2012, two former homicide investigators with the Louisiana State Police's Criminal Investigations Division, Rustin "Rust" Cohle (Matthew McConaughey) and Martin "Marty" Hart (Woody Harrelson), are summoned for questioning by detectives Maynard Gilbough (Michael Potts) and Thomas Papania (Tory Kittles), about the Dora Lange murder investigation of 1995; they have not seen nor spoken to each other since an altercation concerning Martin's wife Maggie Hart (Michelle Monaghan) over a decade prior. With many of the old files destroyed in Hurricane Rita, the two men are asked to recount the history of their working relationship, personal lives, and the Dora Lange murder investigation, as well as a series of other related individual cases as new evidence suggests that the perpetrator remains at large.

California Highway Patrol officer Paul Woodrugh (Taylor Kitsch) discovers the dead body of a city manager who was involved in a major land deal. Given the ambiguous jurisdictional nature of the crime scene, two other officers, Vinci Police Department Detective Raymond Velcoro (Colin Farrell) and Ventura County Sheriff's Office CID Antigone "Ani" Bezzerides (Rachel McAdams), along with Woodrugh are assigned to investigate the murder. The crime soon involves Frank Semyon (Vince Vaughn), a career criminal who was involved in the land deal and whose life savings were stolen when the murder took place. The three detectives, plus Semyon, quickly realize a larger conspiracy at play involving the victim's ties to the city of Vinci's deepening corrupt proliferations.

The story takes place in the Ozarks over three separate time periods. In 1980, partner detectives Wayne Hays (Mahershala Ali) and Roland West (Stephen Dorff) investigate a macabre crime involving two missing children. In 1990, Hays and West are subpoenaed after a major break in the case. In 2015, a retired Hays is asked by a true crime documentary producer to look back at the unsolved case.[20]

Season 4: Night Country (2024)

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In Ennis, Alaska, detectives Liz Danvers (Jodie Foster) and Evangeline Navarro (Kali Reis) investigate the disappearance of eight men who operate the Tsalal Arctic Research Station and vanish without a trace.[28]

True Detective : U.S. viewers per episode (millions)

Season	Episode number	Average
1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
1	2.33	1.67	1.93	1.99	2.25	2.64	2.34	3.52	2.33
2	3.17	3.05	2.62	2.36	2.42	2.34	2.18	2.73	2.61
3	1.44	1.19	1.06	1.45	0.88	1.25	1.32	1.38	1.25
4	0.565	0.678	0.602	0.722	0.371	0.983	–	0.654

Audience measurement performed by Nielsen Media Research [3]

^ Nemetz, Dave (September 27, 2023). "True Detective Season 4 Lands HBO Premiere Date — Watch a New Trailer". TVLine. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
^ Goldberg, Lesley (February 22, 2024). "'True Detective' Renewed for Season 5 With Issa López at the Helm". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
^ a b c d e For the first season, see "True Detective: Season One Ratings". TV Series Finale. March 12, 2014. Retrieved February 8, 2022.

For the second season, see "True Detective: Season Two Ratings". TV Series Finale. August 11, 2015. Retrieved February 8, 2022.

For the third season, see "True Detective: Season Three Ratings". TV Series Finale. February 26, 2019. Retrieved February 8, 2022.