Saturday TV Special - True Detective

Plot: In 2012, Louisiana State, Police Detectives Rust Cohle (Matthew McConaughey) and Martin Hart (Woody Harrelson) are brought in to revisit a homicide case they worked in 1995. As the inquiry unfolds in present day through separate interrogations, the two former detectives narrate the story of their investigation, reopening unhealed wounds, and drawing into question their supposed solving of a bizarre ritualistic murder in 1995. The timelines braid and converge in 2012 as each man is pulled back into a world they believed they'd left behind. In learning about each other and their killer, it becomes clear that darkness lives on both sides of the law.
Structure: Each episode shows the main investigation from 1995 as well as the progression of Rust and Martin's relationship. Those scenes intertwine with the interviews they give in 2012 as they look back on the case and the time they spent working together.
Verdict: It's hard to judge a show only on three episodes but there are some comparing its quality to that of Breaking Bad's already. Hell, the ending to the last episode was something that would be an ordinary sight in BrBa, but here it was raised to something nightmarish. The pairing of McConaughey and Harrelson is already something that should get you interested and the show is gripping, mysterious and thought-provoking. This season contains 8 episodes and the next one will reportedly have different cast and different case, anthology style.

What's so great about it? The show is hugely atmospheric and very creepy. Some of this stuff, like the things Martin's daughter does are very disturbing and I suspect when they will tell us the reason for her 'art', it will only get creepier. 5 episodes left and I have no clue who the killer is and the show is so interestingly written and edited you don't even know if something is a clue or just a red herring (for example Cohle telling this random hooker that he is a police officer and can do horrible things with impunity, after which the scene just cuts to something else). Hell, there are even references to The King in Yellow leading some to believe the detectives may be dealing with something supernatural. The beauty is that unlike with many mystery shows this one doesn't try to get you to form theories but you can't help but do just that. It's slow paced or perhaps the better way to describe the tone is slow burning - you can sense it's all leading towards some epic explosion.
Whom you may recognize:  The show is directed by Cary Fukunaga, best known for his terrific retelling of Jane Eyre with Mia Wasikowska and Michael Fassbender. McConaughey and Harrelson are joined by Michelle Monaghan, Kevin Dunn from Veep, Captain Ted himself - Shea Whigham and Alexandra Daddario's breasts. Elizabeth Reaser is rumoured to set to appear as Lori, Cohle's love interest.
Who will like it? Fans of good crime/thrillers mystery stories. I'm also getting strong Take Shelter/Twin Peaks vibes from this one.
When and where? Sundays, HBO.