Season one of “True Detective” surprised everyone. It was really unlike anything we had seen before and was anchored by standout performances from Woody Harrelson and Emmy winner Matthew McConaughey as well as a compelling central mystery. Season two hasn’t exactly met the astronomical expectations of critics or viewers but isn’t without it’s strengths.
The discourse around the show may be mostly negative but that doesn’t seem to be slowing it down. HBO programming president, Michael Lombardo is happy with the series and with showrunner Nic Pizzolatto. Covering the summer Television Critics Association press tour, The Hollywood Reporter notes that this season outpaces the viewership of the first by garnering an average of 12 million viewers, roughly a million more than last year.
Lombardo hopes viewership stays strong through the final two episodes of the season after having viewed the finale: “Nic Pizzolatto is one of the best writers working in television and motion pictures today. I think he takes a big swing. I think the show ends with as satisfying an end as any show I’ve seen.”
There are still a lot of loose ends remaining this season so the “big swing” Lombardo refers to may be more out of necessity than creativity. However, the ending of the series could successfully bring all of the characters together and satisfyingly solve the murder of Ben Caspere which could improve the earlier episodes on the rewatch.
Pizzolatto has already been asked about a possible season three by HBO. Lombardo said, “I’d love to do another season. I haven’t asked every one of the 12 million viewers who is watching, but I think what he’s doing is so much bolder, braver and satisfying than what I’m seeing in film. I’d happily be in business with him for a long time.”
Despite a long gap between the first and second “True Detective” installments, what allowed the first season to be as strong as it was is more than likely the amount of time Pizzolatto worked on the characters and story. Refining the scripts over years produced the end product we all experienced and enjoyed. Season two only had a little over a year to come together and the work didn’t start in earnest until Pizzolatto found an idea he wanted to explore.
The anthology model will allow a third season to be a wholly new and unique experience, which will hopefully keep audiences open minded if word comes of a new series being ordered. Stay tuned as we cover the final two episodes of this season.
