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Season 3 – True Detective

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Jan 2019

Crime

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

84%

Tomatometer

110 Reviews

59%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

Anthology series in which police investigations unearth the personal and professional secrets of those involved, both within and outside the law.

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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

Dec 13, 2019

3/4

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

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Brian Tallerico

RogerEbert.com

Dec 13, 2019

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.

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Ellen Gray

Philadelphia Inquirer

Dec 13, 2019

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

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Victor Pineyro

Seventh Art Studio

Apr 7, 2022

8/10

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

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Taylor Baker

Drink in the Movies

Sep 9, 2021

60/100

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

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Kieran Fisher

Film School Rejects

Dec 17, 2019

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...

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Owen E

@RT96253528 Sep 13, 2026

Whilst not being able to live up the gritty splendour of the first season, season 3 nails the dramatic buddy cop trope - albeit with a much weaker plot, generally. It is difficult to go from a multi-state, century spanning sacrificial death cult, to this - but it still makes for a good watch thanks to the great acting of the two main case men.

Tristan B

@tristan3 Jun 17, 2026

[BOT] An absolute classic.

Redeadge S

@RT69242883 Mar 11, 2026

Honestly I really loved it. It’s not quite as good as season 1 but this is far from bad. I really loved Mahershala Ali. Definitely the best part of the season. Very good.

Carlos V

@CarlosValenca Jan 31, 2026

Excelente temporada, mantendo o clima investigativo e tenso das temporadas anteriores. Gosto como essa série mostra o submundo doente americano!!

Theodore F.

@Sirhotness Jan 9, 2026

A much needed improvement over season 2.

Max D.

@Vicky_Squeez7 Jan 4, 2026

Gripping, engaging, and one of the best mysteries to ever watch! This amazing cast is able to give raw powerful emotional connections to the audience and yet keep us on the edge of our seat wondering how the story can develop further in this investigative twisting narrative driven short series. A must watch for any fan of cinema

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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

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.

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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.

Details

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 Apr 26, 2024

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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