True Detective

When True Detective season one came around, there wasn't much like it. A complicated crime story told over eight hours. Now this type of mini-series is everywhere. It's hard to replicate the success that first season had, but Nic Pizzolatto tried.

I just finished watching season three. It's interesting how the True Detective arc has gone. The first season was almost universally praised (rightfully so). The second season was largely panned. And the third season feels like it just came and went without much buzz. That's a bit unfair, because it's still quality television.

The story centered around Wayne Hays (Mahershala Ali) and his quest to figure out what happened to a boy and girl who went missing in small-town Arkansas. But it's also the study of a marriage, a work partnership, and a man's fight to hold onto his memories. The story unfolds in three main timelines. One of the best aspects of the series is how it ages the characters. It's pretty clear 98% of the time which timeline we are in.

Roland West and Wayne Hays (HBO)

I will say, I didn't have the same reaction to this season as I did for season one. Sometimes the timeline changes felt overly complicated, and I didn't feel myself as plugged in to the main mystery. But the series ended on a high note. The last episode was probably the strongest one. You think it's going in one direction, then it pivots. There is an agonizing scene where Hays has figured out where the girl is but can't remember why he went to her house. Ali and Stephen Dorff (who plays Hays' partner Roland West) are outstanding throughout.

The way the TV landscape is now, it's hard to figure out what is really worth your time. There are so many shows on so many different channels or streaming services. If you are going to invest eight hours in something, you want it to be good. I consider True Detective season three a good investment. Now comes the hard part - figuring out what to watch next.