True Detective (2014) follows detectives Rust Cohle and Martin Hart as they reopen a haunting Louisiana murder investigation spanning nearly two decades. Starring Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson, this atmospheric crime drama blends serial-killer mystery, psychological thriller, police procedural, suspense, and dark philosophical drama into an unforgettable eight-episode first season.
The disappearance of a young brother and sister leads to a frantic search which will haunt one detective for the rest of his life.
Hays looks back at the aftermath of the 1980 Purcell case in West Finger, Arkansas, including possible evidence left behind at the Devil's Den. As attention focuses on two conspicuous suspects--Brett Woodard, a solitary vet and trash collector, and Ted LaGrange, an ex-con with a penchant for children--the parents of the missing kids, Tom and Lucy Purcell, receive a cryptic note.
Hays recalls his early romance with Amelia, as well as cracks in their relationship that surfaced after they married and had children. Ten years after the Purcell crimes, new evidence emerges, giving him a second chance to vindicate himself and the investigation.
Wayne and Roland investigate possible connections between the local church and the Purcell crimes as tensions in West Finger reach boiling point.
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 by her writing aspirations and his jealousy.
In 1990, Wayne and Roland revisit the Purcell case to uncover previously hidden or forgotten clues, while Tom looks for answers and two faces from the past resurface.
In 1990, following an apparent suicide, the Purcell case is deemed solved, but Wayne and Roland have other ideas, which leads them to a defining course of action.
Wayne struggles to hold on to his memories, and his grip on reality, as the truth behind the Purcell case is finally revealed.
