In the third season, we present a new series of criminal events and unique investigations where Hayes looks after the Purcell case in 1980 and there may be many new implications, including the potential evidence she left in a foreign session on the subject of local children. On the other hand, he appears to be focusing attention on two obvious suspects, and the parents of the missing children receive a hidden memo that could change things.
While I appreciate Mahershala Ali's solid performance and the technical excellence of this gorgeous production, there is no sense of urgency or connection. Everyone is sleep walking through the case.
People aren't going to freak out about this the way they did about the first two seasons, for better or for worse. But judging from the Season's Three opening one-two punch, they're apt to quiet down and listen.
But despite a tremendous lead performance from Mahershala Ali, it doesn't quite reach the heights of Season 1, either. More than anything, it feels unnecessary, hitting the same self-consciously grim notes we've seen plenty of times before.
Saulnier's influence will be missed, but still, with Ali's compelling lead performance and a captivating new mystery, True Detective has its mojo back.
