---
title: "True Detective: the reviews"
canonical: "https://film.one/tv/true-detective/reviews"
title_page: "https://film.one/tv/true-detective"
critics_score: 85
critics_reviews: 8
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# True Detective (2014): what the critics said

Critics' score 85 from 8 reviews: 8 positive, 0 mixed, 0 negative.

## The Hollywood Reporter — Tim Goodman

Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 2 January 2014. 

The critic hails the magnetic performances by McConaughey and Harrelson, the assured writing and direction, and the beautiful sprawling sense of place, calling it a magnificent and magnetic series destined for year-end best lists.

[Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-reviews/hbos-true-detective-starring-matthew-668182/)

## Variety — Brian Lowry

Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 4 January 2014. 

The critic finds the series a rich and absorbing eight-part drama that vaults into elite company with its multi-layered mystery, unconventional protagonist and singular voice unlike almost anything else on TV.

[Read the review](https://variety.com/2014/tv/reviews/tv-review-hbos-true-detective-1201024636/)

## The Guardian — Sam Wollaston

Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 22 February 2014. 

Sam Wollaston finds True Detective a cracking, smartly written and performed murder mystery that is far more than the sum of its parts thanks to its complex structure and character study. He singles out the jaw-droppingly beautiful depiction of Louisiana as the real star alongside the lead performances.

[Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2014/feb/22/true-detective-tv-review-sky-atlantic)

## Vulture — Matt Zoller Seitz

Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 10 January 2014. 

The critic finds the series unsettling and intellectually engaging as a pretext for philosophical inquiry rather than a straightforward murder mystery. They single out the strong performances by Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson along with the novelistic structure and direction for praise.

[Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/2014/01/tv-review-hbos-true-detective.html)

## The Telegraph — Chris Harvey

Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 22 February 2014. 

Chris Harvey calls True Detective the most ambitious TV drama for a long time, praising its writerly depth, cinematic flair from director Cary Fukunaga and brilliant acting from McConaughey and Harrelson. He highlights the luscious visuals and philosophical weight that set it apart from standard serial-killer procedurals.

[Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/tv-and-radio-reviews/10654871/True-Detective-Sky-Atlantic-review-a-work-of-depth-and-cinematic-flair.html)

## Empire — William Thomas

Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 22 May 2014. 

The review praises the superb performances, sharp writing and eerie Southern atmosphere while noting the story is far-fetched and questioning the portrayal of female characters.

[Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/tv/reviews/true-detective-review/)

## Paste — Shane Ryan

Rating 9.7/10. 13 January 2014. 

The pilot succeeds as a gripping, atmospheric series premiere that exceeds expectations through its strong writing and performances. The critic singles out the lead actors' portrayals of the mismatched detectives for particular praise.

[Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/tv/true-detective/true-detective-review-the-long-bright-dark-pilot)

## Den of Geek — Michael Noble

Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 13 January 2014. 

The critic calls True Detective a success and the first major new drama of 2014, praising its character-driven approach and strong writing and performances. They highlight the focus on the detectives' relationship and the novelistic structure as standout elements.

[Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/true-detective-episode-1-review-the-long-bright-dark/)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/tv/true-detective.md