Review by Gary Tooze

Production:

Disc:

Video:

Audio:

• Deleted Scene from Episode 3 (6:17)

Disc 2

• Inside the Episodes (4,5,6) (14:04)

• Audio Commentary (Episode 4) Series Creator, executive producer, writer Nic Pizzolatto and Composer T Bone Burnett

• Audio Commentary (Episode 5) Series Creator, executive producer, writer Nic Pizzolatto, Composer T Bone Burnett and executive producer Scott Stephens

Disc 3

• Making True Detective (15:02)

• Inside the Episodes (7,8) (9:39)

• Deleted Scene (Episode 8) (3:40)

• Up Close with Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey (4 Episodes - 8:03)

• Up Close with Nic Pizzolatto and T Bone Burnett (14:25)

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Description: In 2012, Louisiana State Police Detectives Rust Cohle and Martin Hart 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.

Written and created by Nic Pizzolatto ('The Killing') and directed by Cary Fukunaga ('Sin Nombre,' 'Jane Eyre'), 'True Detective' stars Woody Harrelson as Martin Hart and Matthew McConaughey as Rust Cohle. The series also stars Michelle Monaghan ('Mission: Impossible III') as Maggie, Hart's wife; Kevin Dunn ('Veep') as Major Quesada, the supervising officer in 1995; and Tory Kittles ('Sons of Anarchy') and Michael Potts ('The Wire') as Dets. Papania and Gilbough, the investigators now probing Hart and Cohle for answers.

 

Image :    NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

Warner's Blu-ray package of the highly lauded HBO series True Detective is as clean and crisp as you might imagine from a new HD-broadcast series. The 8 hour-long episodes are housed on three Blu-rays.  Moving through non-linear timeframes, we get adjustment in style appearance looking, briefly, intentionally aged, haziness but as the series moves outdoors the visuals get very tight and brilliant. Adam Arkapaw's cinematography offers some unique touches and angles. This is transferred on dual-layered discs with reasonable bitrates for the 3-hours of feature content per Blu-ray. It is presented in the original 1.78:1 aspect ratio. 

If anything this looks even better than the original broadcast being in 1080P showing depth, realistic colors - supporting the precise art direction - and no flaws or noise at all. Perfect.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Excellent audio quality with a robust DTS-HD Master 5.1 track at 3646 kbps. Any action, and it's not abundant although there are effects sounds that surprise to the rear speakers. T Bone Burnett's score supports the series adding another layer to the atmosphere. Everything sounds pristine in lossless and there is notable depth augmenting the crisp separations. There are a couple of foreign language DUBs and some subtitle options signifying the three discs as being region FREE - playable on Blu-ray machines worldwide.

Extras :

 

 

BOTTOM LINE:
The rave reviews for True Detective are very worthy. As Michelle Monaghan staes in the extras - "it is so addictive... you just want more". Kudos to Nic Pizzolatto - this has elements of identity and introspection as well as an edgy Lynch-esque feel. Quite brilliant. The Blu-ray offers a lot even beyond the, almost 8-hours of the, show with the diligently procured bonus material. Mucho value and very strongly recommended! 

Gary Tooze

June 9th, 2014