True Detective: Season 3 | Rotten Tomatoes

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Critics Consensus

Driven by Mahershala Ali's mesmerizing performance, True Detective's third season finds fresh perspective by exploring the fallibility of memory.

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Peter Hartlaub

San Francisco Chronicle

Season three powers through with wonderfully dense visuals, a layered story and an absolute powerhouse performance by Academy Award winner Mahershala Ali.

Rated: 3/4

Dec 13, 2019

Full Review

Brian Tallerico

RogerEbert.com

I just wanted a moment when the characters caught their breath and didn't feel like they were part of an overly-scripted machine. Now, having said that, this is still engaging, dark, complex material, anchored by a great performance from Ali.

Dec 13, 2019

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Ellen Gray

Philadelphia Inquirer

[Mahershala Ali's] take on Hays enhances rather than overwhelms a story intriguing enough to justify the show's 35-year timeline.

Dec 13, 2019

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Victor Pineyro

Seventh Art Studio

It's already a feat to say this might be Mahershala Ali's best acting craft. But what amazes me is how perfectly it swerves around three different timelines. Impressive storytelling. Full review in Spanish

Rated: 8/10

Apr 7, 2022

Full Review

Taylor Baker

Drink in the Movies

Episode 27: Valhalla Rising / Bronson / Starred Up / True Detective S3

Rated: 60/100

Sep 9, 2021

Full Review

Kieran Fisher

Film School Rejects

Pizzolatto also came up with an engrossing and very haunting slow-burn mystery that reaffirmed his place as one of the most exciting writers working in entertainment today. Hopefully, he gets to keep making this show for years to come...

Dec 17, 2019

Full Review

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Max W

After the detour in Season 2, True Detective Season 3 returns to the crime investigation route of the first season, but in some ways, this return feels almost too similar. The performances from the cast are outstanding, and the pace of the story is smooth, though sometimes bordering on sluggish. The additional and slow focus on the characters surrounding the case might leave viewers hoping for a quick resolution feeling slightly disappointed.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

05/06/24

Full Review

Garrett B

Nothing will compare to the first season, although that is a bit unfair. The story was a good one, and the acting was superb. It was just very slow at tjmes.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

04/24/24

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miha i

good detective story a bit drawn out

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/09/24

Full Review

Adrian S

Although the dark, and mysterious tone of the series is present, this season is EXTREMELY boring. The first three episodes got me hooked, and I wanted to see the mystery being solved, but it turned out that I had endure 5 episodes of absolute boring misery. I don't mind the slow burn or personal relation talk in crime shows, but there is no justification for 5 hours of talking about the main character's marriage issues. I found it hard not to skip those scenes, as they were pointless to the mistery, and just dragged on forever. The reveal doesn't even make up for all this lost time. It felt like the creators reminded themselves of the premise, and just came up with the laziest explanation for the mysterious crime. MINOR SPOILER: The "criminal" is basically a third character hasn't been even mentioned for the entire season, and doesn't get one line of dialogue. Boring, and extremely dissapointing, the good acting and dark atmosphere, are the only things good about this season, but do not justify the incredibly boring and dragged out scenes of dialogue, that don't even matter to the plot.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/28/24

Full Review

Bill C

Great performances and atmospheric. Not quite season one but we'll worth watching.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/25/24

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John W

My favorite season of TD. Compelling characters and a story that transcends murder mystery and becomes a story about the human condition, life, and love.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/22/24

Full Review

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Nic Pizzolatto

Creator

Mahershala Ali

Wayne Hays

Stephen Dorff

Roland West

Carmen Ejogo

Amelia Reardon

Scoot McNairy

Tom Purcell

Josh Hopkins

Jim Dobkins

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Episode 1

Aired Jan 13, 2019

The Great War and Modern Memory

The disappearance of a young Arkansas boy and his sister in 1980 triggers vivid memories and enduring questions for retired detective Wayne Hays, who worked the case 35 years before with partner Roland West.

Details

Episode 2

Aired Jan 13, 2019

Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye

Hays looks back at the aftermath of the 1980 Purcell case, including possible evidence left behind at an outdoor hangout for local kids; as attention focuses on two conspicuous suspects, the parents of the missing children receive a cryptic note.

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Episode 3

Aired Jan 20, 2019

The Big Never

Hays recalls his early romance with Amelia, as well as cracks in their relationship that surfaced after they married; 10 years after the Purcell crimes, new evidence emerges, giving Hays a second chance to vindicate himself and the investigation.

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Episode 4

Aired Jan 27, 2019

The Hour and the Day

Hays and West see a possible connection between the local church and the Purcell crimes; as the detectives search for one suspect and round up another for interrogation, Woodard is targeted by a vigilante group.

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Episode 5

Aired Feb 3, 2019

If You Have Ghosts

Wayne finds himself in a no-win situation as new clues emerge in the Purcell case; Roland wrestles with how to keep evidence secure as lawyers demand a new investigation; Amelia finds her relationship with Wayne imperiled.

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Episode 6

Aired Feb 10, 2019

Hunters in the Dark

Wayne and Roland revisit discrepancies in the Purcell case that were hidden or forgotten, and take another look at Tom Purcell and Lucy's cousin, Dan O'Brien; the glitter of Amelia's book release is tarnished by a voice from the past.

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Episode 7

Aired Feb 17, 2019

The Final Country

Wayne and Roland track down a man who left the police force in the midst of the Purcell investigation; Amelia visits Lucy Purcell's best friend in hopes of gaining insights into the whereabouts of the mysterious one-eyed man.

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Episode 8

Aired Feb 24, 2019

Now Am Found

Wayne struggles to hold on to his memories, and his grip on reality, as the truth behind the Purcell case is finally revealed.

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