True Detective season 3 explained

Season Number:3
Bgcolour:
  1. 5bc6cc
Showrunner:Nic Pizzolatto
Starring:
Network:HBO
Num Episodes:8
Episode List:List of True Detective episodes

The third season of True Detective, an American anthology crime drama television series created by Nic Pizzolatto, was confirmed by HBO on August 31, 2017, and premiered on January 13, 2019. The story takes place in the Ozarks over three decades,[1] as partner detectives investigate a macabre crime involving two missing children. The opening theme of the season is the song "Death Letter" written by Son House and performed by Cassandra Wilson from her 1995 album New Moon Daughter.[2]

Mahershala Ali plays the lead role of detective Wayne Hays, while Stephen Dorff plays his partner, detective Roland West. Series creator Pizzolatto makes his directorial debut, sharing directing assignments with Jeremy Saulnier and Daniel Sackheim. Pizzolatto also serves as the showrunner and writer of most of the episodes, with the exception of the fourth and sixth, which he co-wrote with David Milch and Graham Gordy respectively.

Production

Background

In November 2015, a few months after the conclusion of the second season, HBO reached an overall deal through 2018 with series creator and executive producer Nic Pizzolatto, that called for him to develop a number of new projects, that could include a third season of True Detective.[3] Talking about the deal, the president of HBO programming Michael Lombardo stated, "I am thrilled to continue our relationship with Nic, as he is one of the most exceptionally talented writers and producers working today. I look forward to seeing where his unique creative vision will take us next."

Variety reported that the network had requested some changes for a third season, namely that Pizzolatto work with a staff of writers or with a new showrunner. These proposed changes were made in response to the less favorable reception that the second season received compared to the first, which was in part attributed to the lack of a creative counterpart to Pizzolatto.[4] The strong artistic input from Cary Joji Fukunaga, who had directed all eight episodes in the first season, was thought to have benefited the show. By contrast, the second season enlisted a number of directors, effectively leaving Pizzolatto free to create the season on his own.[5] [6] In June 2015, in an interview with Vanity Fair, Pizzolatto had stated, "If I'm making a movie or a show or whatever, I'm expressing something on a personal level or else it doesn't mean anything to me. If I'm doing that, it works better without a committee."[7]

Development

In July 2016, Casey Bloys, who had succeeded Lombardo as HBO head of programming two months earlier,[8] confirmed plans for a third season, describing True Detective as "a valuable franchise" and revealing that both the network and creator Pizzolatto were open to another season.[9] In March 2017, it was revealed that David Milch had been recruited to assist Pizzolatto in preparing the third season, and that writing the first two episodes had already been completed.[10] In June 2017, The Tracking Board reported that Mahershala Ali was in early discussions with HBO to play the lead role of the season.[11] In July 2017, Bloys told reporters at the press tour of the Television Critics Association that Pizzolatto had written the third season almost in its entirety, and added "When we find a director, we'll be a go on that."[12]

On August 31, 2017, after director Jeremy Saulnier was confirmed to work alongside Pizzolatto, HBO officially greenlit the third season of True Detective. The story was announced to span three decades and take place in the Ozarks, as partner detectives investigate a macabre crime, with Ali in the lead role of state police detective Wayne Hays. Talking about the renewal, Bloys stated: "Nic has written truly remarkable scripts. With his ambitious vision and Mahershala Ali and Jeremy Saulnier aboard, we are excited to embark on the next installment of True Detective." Besides Pizzolatto, who also serves as the season's showrunner, other executive producers of the season include Saulnier, Fukunaga, Scott Stephens, season one stars Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey, along with Steve Golin, Bard Dorros, and Richard Brown.[13]

Cast and crew

Saulnier was expected to direct the first three episodes of the season. However, in March 2018, after he had completed the first two episodes, Saulnier exited the series due to scheduling conflicts, although several sources reported Saulnier's "differences of opinion" with Pizzolatto.[14] [15] Daniel Sackheim was announced to replace Saulnier, with the veteran director also being added as an executive producer for the season. Sackheim would divide up directing assignments on the remaining episodes with Pizzolatto,[16] who also serves as the sole writer of the season, except for the episodes four and six, which he co-wrote with David Milch and Graham Gordy respectively.[17]

Academy Award-winner Mahershala Ali plays the lead role of state police detective Wayne Hays. In an interview with Variety, Ali revealed that he was originally offered a supporting role, as the main character was supposed to be white, but that he had convinced Pizzolatto that he was suited for the lead.[18] In November 2017, Carmen Ejogo was added to the cast in the role of schoolteacher Amelia Reardon,[19] followed in January 2018 by Stephen Dorff as detective Roland West.[20] Joining them was Ray Fisher as Henry, the son of Wayne Hays.[21] In January 2018, The Agency Inc. issued casting calls for up to 1,500 actors, stand-ins and photo-doubles to begin filming in Northwest Arkansas, with the agency's CEO noting, "This is the largest production we've ever cast."[22] Additional casting calls were issued in June 2018 on Backstage, for Asian talent to portray Vietnamese civilians and soldiers.[23]

Filming

In February 2018, filming began in Arkansas, with Jeremy Saulnier and Nic Pizzolatto splitting directing assignments.[24] However, when Saulnier exited the production after the first two episodes, it became clear that it would take longer than expected to complete the filming. On March 30, 2018, Variety wrote in regard to Saulnier's departure: "Sources said the filming on location in Arkansas has been tough at times, and that Pizzolatto and Saulnier had differences of opinion on the episodes." Saulnier was replaced by veteran director Daniel Sackheim, who would also divide directing assignments on the remaining six episodes with Pizzolatto.

The season was filmed by Random Productions LLC at various locations throughout Northwest Arkansas, including Fayetteville, Bentonville, Lincoln, Rogers and Springdale.[25] Filming took place mainly in Fayetteville, from Mount Sequoyah to homes, apartments and restaurants around the city.[26] Filming on location also included the use of stunts and pyrotechnics in residential areas, namely car explosions, smoke and loud noises.[27] In regard to production on the series taking place in Arkansas, the director of Arkansas Economic Development Commission had stated in December 2017, "This is the largest and most expensive production we've ever had in the state. With an estimated year from start to finish, we know that local businesses and vendors will enjoy a boon from the production."

The season wrapped filming in Fayetteville in August 2018.[28] Talking about their experience, executive producer Scott Stephens said, "Everything we've needed has been right at our fingertips, from period architecture to abandoned buildings that still evoke the 80s," while lead actor Mahershala Ali added that "[the landscape] is such a character in the story. It would have been such a shame if we had shot it any other place." Pizzolatto, who spent four years of his life in Fayetteville as a student at the University of Arkansas, found the area evocative and powerful, and revealed that it was important for him to shoot the season in Arkansas, as this was the place he had in mind when he was writing the episodes.[29]

Cast

Main cast

Recurring cast

Episodes

See also: List of True Detective episodes.

Reception

Critical response

The third season garnered positive reviews, and was praised as a return to form in comparison to the second season, which had received mixed reviews after the positive reception that the first season had received.

On Rotten Tomatoes, the season has a rating of 84%, based on 110 reviews, with an average rating of 7.65/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Driven by Mahershala Ali's mesmerizing performance, True Detectives third season finds fresh perspective by exploring real-world events – though it loses some of the series' intriguing strangeness along the way."[30] On Metacritic, the season has a score of 72 out of 100, based on 35 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[31]

Accolades

AwardCategoryNominee(s)ResultRef.
Black Reel Awards for TelevisionOutstanding TV Movie/Limited SeriesTrue Detective[32]
Outstanding Actor, TV Movie/Limited SeriesMahershala Ali
Outstanding Supporting Actress, TV Movie/Limited SeriesCarmen Ejogo
Critics' Choice Television AwardsBest Actor in a Movie/Limited SeriesMahershala Ali[33]
Gold Derby TV AwardsMovie/Limited Series Lead Actor[34]
Golden Trailer AwardsBest Drama (TV Spot/Trailer/Teaser for a Series)True Detective[35]
Primetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or MovieMahershala Ali[36]
Primetime Creative Arts Emmy AwardsOutstanding Cinematography for a Limited Series or MovieGermain McMicking
Outstanding Hairstyling for a Limited Series or MovieBrian B. Badie, Andrea Mona Bowman, and Lawrence Cornell Davis
Outstanding Main Title DesignPatrick Clair, Nic Pizzolatto, Raoul Marks, Woosung Kang,
Kyle Moore, and Victor Joy
Outstanding Makeup for a Limited Series or Movie (Non-Prosthetic)John Blake, Francisco X. Perez, and Debi Young
Outstanding Music Composition for a Limited Series, Movie or Special
(Original Dramatic Score)
Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Limited Series or MovieLeo Trombetta
Outstanding Sound Editing for a Limited Series, Movie, or SpecialMandell Winter, David Esparza, Micah Loken, Bernard Weiser,
Ryan Collins, Fernand Bos, Jason Wormer, Eryne Prine,
Sarah Monat, and Robin Harlan
Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Limited Series or MovieTateum Kohut, Greg Orloff, Geoffrey Patterson, and Biff Dawes

Home media

The season was released on Blu-ray and DVD on September 3, 2019. In addition to the eight episodes, both formats contain bonus content including the featurettes "Designing the Decades" and "A Conversation with Nic Pizzolatto and T Bone Burnett" as well as deleted scenes and an extended version of the season finale.[37]

Notes and References

  1. True Detective Season 3: A Complete Timeline of Clues . Vanity Fair . Joanna . Robinson . January 20, 2019 . February 3, 2023.
  2. Web site: 'True Detective' Season 3's Theme Song Sets the Eerie Tone for the Mystery Series . Coates . Tyler . January 14, 2019 . Esquire . en-US . January 17, 2019.
  3. Web site: 'True Detective' Creator Nic Pizzolatto Inks Deal with HBO, But No Season 3 Order Yet . Chitwood . Adam . November 17, 2015 . Collider . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180920010931/http://collider.com/true-detective-season-3-nic-pizzolatto-hbo/ . September 20, 2018 . September 19, 2018.
  4. Web site: 'True Detective' Season 3 Still Up in the Air as HBO Inks Deal with Nic Pizzolatto Through 2018 . Wagmeister . Elizabeth . November 17, 2015 . Variety . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180920011056/https://variety.com/2015/tv/news/true-detective-season-3-still-up-in-the-air-as-hbo-inks-deal-with-nic-pizzolatto-through-2018-1201642681/ . September 20, 2018 . September 19, 2018.
  5. True Detective May Get a Third Season But HBO Has Some Demands for Creator Nic Pizzolatto . Robinson . Joanna . November 17, 2015 . Vanity Fair . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170704132007/http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2015/11/true-detective-season-3-nic-pizzolatto-hbo . July 4, 2017 . September 19, 2018.
  6. Web site: How to Fix 'True Detective' . Meslow . Scott . August 10, 2016 . GQ . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180920122754/https://www.gq.com/story/how-to-fix-true-detective . September 20, 2018 . September 20, 2018.
  7. Can Nic Pizzolatto, True Detective's Uncompromising Auteur, Do It All Again? . Cohen . Rich . June 11, 2015 . Vanity Fair . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20171123115841/https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2015/06/nic-pizzolatto-true-detective-season-2-better-than-season-1 . November 23, 2017 . September 19, 2018.
  8. Web site: HBO: Casey Bloys To Succeed Michael Lombardo As President of Programming . Andreeva . Nellie . May 23, 2016 . Deadline . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180919211521/https://deadline.com/2016/05/hbo-casey-bloys-michael-lombardo-president-of-programming-1201761618/ . September 19, 2018 . September 19, 2018.
  9. True Detective season 3 might still happen . Hibberd . James . July 30, 2016 . Entertainment Weekly . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20160731230343/http://www.ew.com/article/2016/07/30/true-detective-season-3 . July 31, 2016 . August 1, 2016.
  10. True Detective season 3 revived, David Milch joins team . Hibberd . James . March 27, 2017 . Entertainment Weekly . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170327200315/http://ew.com/tv/2017/03/27/true-detective-season-3-david-milch/ . March 27, 2017 . March 27, 2017.
  11. Web site: Mahershala Ali to Star in "True Detective" Season 3 (Exclusive) . Sneider . Jeff . July 1, 2017 . The Tracking Board . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180920011013/http://www.tracking-board.com/mahershala-ali-to-star-in-true-detective-season-3-exclusive/ . September 20, 2018 . September 19, 2018.
  12. Web site: HBO Boss Offers Updates on 'True Detective,' 'Deadwood' and His Broad Drama Push . O'Connell . Michael . July 26, 2017 . The Hollywood Reporter . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180920011053/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/hbo-boss-offers-updates-true-detective-deadwood-his-broad-drama-push-1024592 . September 20, 2018 . September 19, 2018.
  13. Web site: 'True Detective' Season 3 Officially a Go at HBO . Goldberg . Lesley . August 31, 2017 . The Hollywood Reporter . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180831174704/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/true-detective-season-3-officially-a-go-at-hbo-1034518 . August 31, 2018 . August 31, 2018.
  14. Web site: 'True Detective' Season 3 Director Clashed With Nic Pizzolatto . Fitzpatrick . Kevin . April 2, 2018 . ScreenCrush . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180920123145/http://screencrush.com/true-detective-jeremy-saulnier-nic-pizzolatto/ . September 20, 2018 . September 20, 2018.
  15. Web site: Director Jeremy Saulnier Leaves 'True Detective' After Friction With Series Creator Nic Pizzolatto . Barfield . Charles . April 2, 2018 . The Playlist . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180920122701/https://theplaylist.net/jeremy-saulnier-true-detective-20180402/ . September 20, 2018 . September 20, 2018.
  16. Web site: 'True Detective' Director Shuffle: Jeremy Saulnier Exits, Daniel Sackheim Signs On (EXCLUSIVE) . Variety . Cynthia . Littleton . March 30, 2018 . March 31, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180331001923/http://variety.com/2018/tv/news/true-detective-season-3-director-jeremy-saulnier-daniel-sackheim-1202740771/ . March 31, 2018 . live .
  17. Web site: New Trailer for True Detective Season Three Brings the Ozarks into Focus . Cho . Stephan . December 12, 2018 . Paste . December 13, 2018.
  18. Web site: Mahershala Ali's 'True Detective' Role Was Originally Written for a White Actor . Yang . Rachel . December 4, 2018 . Variety . December 27, 2018.
  19. Web site: 'True Detective': Carmen Ejogo To Star In Season 3 Of HBO Anthology Series . Andreeva . Nellie . November 17, 2017 . Deadline Hollywood . November 18, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171120094428/http://deadline.com/2017/11/true-detective-carmen-ejogo-cast-season-3-hbo-anthology-series-1202211422/ . November 20, 2017 . live .
  20. Web site: True Detective Season 3 Casts Stephen Dorff as Mahershala Ali's Partner . Hoai-Tran Bui . January 3, 2018 . /Film . September 20, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180920161058/https://www.slashfilm.com/true-detective-season-3-stephen-dorff/ . September 20, 2018 . live .
  21. Web site: 'True Detective': Ray Fisher Joins Cast of HBO Anthology Series As Regular; Three More Set To Recur On Season 3 . Andreeva . Nellie . February 14, 2018 . Deadline Hollywood . February 15, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180215014509/http://deadline.com/2018/02/true-detective-ray-fisher-series-regular-season-3-hbo-anthology-series-rhys-wakefield-michael-greyeyes-jon-tenney-1202288471/ . February 15, 2018 . live .
  22. Web site: Arkansas talent agency issues casting call for HBO's "True Detective" . January 19, 2018 . Arkansas Economic Development Commission . September 20, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180921074025/https://www.arkansasedc.com/news-events/newsroom/detail/2018/01/19/arkansas-talent-agency-issues-casting-call-for-hbo-s-true-detective . September 21, 2018 . live .
  23. Web site: True Detective Season 3 Casting Call Hints Plot Connection To Vietnam . R.A Karthik Prasad . June 4, 2018 . PursueNews . September 20, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180921034334/https://pursuenews.com/true-detective-season-3-casting-call-hints-plot-connection-to-vietnam/ . September 21, 2018 . live .
  24. Web site: True Detective Season 3 Begins Filming in February . Niv M. Sultan . January 3, 2018 . ScreenRant . September 21, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180921115057/https://screenrant.com/true-detective-season-3-filming-start-date/ . September 21, 2018 . live .
  25. Web site: 'True Detective' Crew Teach Students and Staff About On-Site Film Production . Murphy . Kay . May 29, 2018 . University of Arkansas News . September 21, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180921114821/https://news.uark.edu/articles/42052/-true-detective-crew-teach-students-and-staff-about-on-site-film-production . September 21, 2018 . live .
  26. Web site: True Detective wraps filming; Creator, star discuss experience in Fayetteville . Bartholomew . Dustin . August 14, 2018 . Fayetteville Flyer . September 21, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180921114802/https://www.fayettevilleflyer.com/2018/08/14/true-detective-wraps-filming-director-star-discuss-experience-in-fayetteville/ . September 21, 2018 . live .
  27. Web site: 'True Detective' filming to include stunts, pyrotechnics in Fayetteville . Riddle . Brandon . April 3, 2018 . . September 21, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180921114856/http://www.nwaonline.com/news/2018/apr/03/fayetteville-residents-warned-true-detective-filmi/ . September 21, 2018 . live .
  28. Web site: HBO's True Detective Season 3 Wraps Filming . Schaefer . Sandy . August 16, 2018 . ScreenRant . September 21, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180817111508/https://screenrant.com/true-detective-season-3-done-filming/ . August 17, 2018 . live .
  29. Web site: Inside Look at the "True Detective" TV Series Production in NWA . Kuester . Nate . August 18, 2018 . NWAHomepage.com . September 21, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180921164621/https://www.nwahomepage.com/news/inside-look-at-the-true-detective-tv-series-production-in-nwa/1335744461 . September 21, 2018 . live .
  30. Web site: True Detective: Season 3. https://web.archive.org/web/20190321142110/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/true_detective/s03. dead. March 21, 2019. Rotten Tomatoes. July 1, 2022.
  31. Web site: True Detective: Season 3 reviews . Metacritic . January 13, 2019.
  32. Web site: Black Reel Awards for Television (2019) . . August 16, 2019.
  33. Web site: 'The Irishman', 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood' Lead Critics' Choice Nominations; Netflix Dominates With 61 Noms in Movies and TV . Hammond . Pete . December 8, 2019 . December 8, 2019 . Deadline Hollywood.
  34. Web site: Gold Derby TV Awards winners 2019: 'Game of Thrones' and 'Fleabag' rule, but voters spread the wealth . September 18, 2019 . . September 21, 2019.
  35. Web site: The 20th Annual Golden Trailer Award Winners . May 30, 2019 . . August 16, 2019.
  36. Web site: True Detective . . August 16, 2019.
  37. Web site: Kauffman. Jeffrey. October 1, 2019. True Detective: The Complete Third Season Blu-ray. December 4, 2021. Blu-ray.com.

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