Why Audiences Love The First Season of TRUE DETECTIVE and What It Teaches Screenwriters

[@funkyboodah]

[5:11] "It's deadly to listen to criticism at the wrong point." - great insight

[@dwsimmy2599]

I'll tell you what I loved about True Detective: the atmosphere. The desolate landscapes, the web of conspiracy that implicated higher authorities, the way it was pieced together across three separate years with mistakes and misdirections, perfectly created a sense of foreboding. It also made me root for Rust and Marty in spite of their flaws, because you saw them at least trying to sincerely do good in a world filled with evil that they could barely put a dent it. Even in the end, they weren't able to bring down the entire conspiracy, because "that ain't what kind of world it is".

[@faszkivan1]

this was one of the best insights i've ever heard about td. i dig that he said it's a love story between rust and marty. because it is! the main theme of season 1 is two very different people connecting and understanding each other in the end.

[@jackdolah2031]

True detective greatest script ever written

[@deaththink]

See the 1960s series the prisoner.

[@AndromedaImagination77]

thought they seem to be "dark heroes" I think it's because they've seen the horrors of the world. They are not themselves "dark" but they've seen the world for what it really is, and are not afraid to alienate themselves to the rest of the masses living in a bubble.... I think that's a key element why we like them. Plus they are so intelligent they do see the world clearly and they don't mind if everyone else tries to gaslight them. I think anyone knowing how the world works today, find this kind of characters fascinating because it's our inner voice of calling everything else out there BS!

[@EisforEvil]

This guy gets it.

[@deeseant]

Super hero movies are failing? It's kinda weird cause the ones where it's more gritty and dark and kinda shows everyone's isn't perfect (Batman v superman, suicide squad... the only ones I can think of that failed.) The perkier ones where the hero's are more pure like all the marvels stuff seem to be doing great

[@garad123456]

I also thought that sounds weird. I don't know any statistics but recently I think there have been LOADS of superhero movies. They even remade the spider man trilogy although it had been done just like a decade earlier (although they killed the redo plans after 1 or 2 films). But there are all these movies the wolverine stuff and everything, I don't follow them, but to me it seems there are loads. Batmans have been a big thing for a long time, heath ledger etc.

[@posefile8873]

So this didn’t age well🙄.... another otherwise intelligent Hollywood type letting his apparent prejudice and distain show for superhero movies. Superhero movies are neither “failing”... nor are they’re characters “all good”. Another elitist painting an entire genre with his ignorant and biased brush...

[@posefile8873]

Lol... yep; Batman v. Superman and Suicide Squad didn’t fail because they were “gritty and dark”... they failed because they were poorly written.

[@skullquarry]

@@posefile8873 Your opinion sucks.

[@pettaspro]

YAY!!! Peter's interviews are among your best. So glad we've got more :)

[@vvblues]

You can always tell the screenwriters who never grew up reading Marvel Comics. All the characters were terribly conflicted and had lots of dark and gray areas.

[@SDCDIABLO]

no...just no, go watch your bullshit disney movie superguy vs spider dude fucking gabage that has ruined hollywood and film as a whole lol

[@posefile8873]

Spencer Kaufman Awww... another butt-hurt film elitist who’s misplaced anger at the Hollywood gatekeepers having little to no imagination is being placed at the feet of Stan’s magnificent creations...

[@flyingnorseman]

I bought the series on Amazon. Two of my favorite actors in their most memorable roles. Each time I watch an episode I see something else brilliant I missed the times before. The ironic nature and contrast between characters are thick on the level of Sicario. It was most unnerving and deeply philosophical. It entertains but still would hold the attention of Jung or Nietzsche.

[@Palendrome]

Same. I've watched it through 3 times, twice recently, and I still notice things.

[@KaranSingh-xc8bd]

Your thoughts on intertrwined nature of good and bad is so much rhyming the epic characters of Mahabharata.

[@no1SirStone]

Love his take on characters, and the evolution of storytelling, and the duality ( or even multiple dimensions) of human nature. The most sensible and "realist" perspective I've heard from anyone in some time...

[@JorgePrietoNYC]

Great analysis of True Detectives, which I saw and loved. He is right, dark heroes are in demand, especially on TV. Viola Davis character in. How to Get Away with Murder and right now Abc's Wicked City are perfect examples, like all the ones , Mr. Russell, sites. Thank you both, excellent post.

[@martinjimenez9343]

thank philosopher David Banatar's book "Better To Have Never Been" as part of inspiration for True Detective Season One, excellent profile of Banatar in the New Yorker magazine...should read his "opus?" "The Human Predicament"

[@veilofreality]

Is a new full Interview with Peter Russell, going to pop up soon? Would really love that! Anyway, thank you Film Courage, you are doing an amazing service to aspiring writers and filmmakers, everywhere! Greetings from Japan!

[@filmcourage]

+veilofreality Wow, not sure we have many people watching this channel in Japan. Thank you for the shout out. This is our first clip in a new interview series with Peter Russell. In total we believe it will be 90+ minutes. We are in the early stages of working on it so we have a lot more to work on and share. We appreciate your good words and support. Are you a screenwriter or filmmaker?

[@veilofreality]

Thanks for your reply and for asking :) I have worked a little both as a screenwriter and filmmaker, back in Italy (I'm now living in Japan but I'm Italian..) At the moment I'm working on a 'cinematic graphic novel', but as you know better than me, the tools of good story telling apply universally to any format.. Keep up the great work, guys! Arigato/Ciao! :)

[@DARKLYLIT]

After ignoring all the "hype" about True Detective, Peter's interview inspired me to watch Season 1 and, surprisingly, I found it to be some of the best writing I've heard/seen in a long while. Amazing work, but Peter's right about Season 2. Not only was the writing unlike anything in Season 1, the casting was terrible. How does Rachel McAdams even have a career? And Vince Vaughan?? How can anyone take that guy seriously? I watched about 30 minutes of the first episode and had to shut it off. Rachel McAdams and Vince Vaughan are so TERRIBLE. Poor casting can't help even the greatest script.

[@highwayexit]

Not true. When a script is truly great, it doesn't matter who plays the character, because are in themselves so compelling and driven, it won't be hard to act.

[@timy9197]

They are both great in comedies

[@scottslotterbeck3796]

Acting is so crucial. I din't care how good a script is. I wrote a play once, and one of the actors could not get her lines out well. It was a comedy, and it failed.

[@mikenarouei]

So what was Taxi Driver a romcom?

[@matthewharper7333]

Oh, I thought he was going to say that writers should rip off Ligotti.

[@WhosNick]

Superhero/Comic Book properties are the most lucrative on the big and small screen currently. Just look at this year's Daredevil, it was Netflix's most watched show ever. I don't see any end in sight for superhero content.

[@sash9249]

Whos Nick His perspective on superheroes is quite broad and stereotypical. Your point about Daredevil is an apt one, because he's incredibly flawed and conflicted and layered hero. I doubt he's seen an episode of DD lol.

[@cinemar]

When do they kill a cat in True Detective?

[@scottslotterbeck3796]

Ha ha ha.

[@carl2488]

What's Nic Pizzolatto up to now then?

[@RudolfKlusal]

Exactly!

[@URBONED]

I disagree about his points of season 2. I personally think the reason it didnt work because all of the leads were depressed and unlikeable characters that all do bad stuff. I couldn't sympathize with any of them except for Colin Farrell's character. They felt like 3 of the same character and their hate for everything just made it lose its touch.

[@noramarie6950]

I've spent probably close to 100-120 hours of my life since 2014 watching and rewatching True Detective. I don't think I speak for everyone when I say that season two just fell on the wrong audience. Standalone, it was genuinely a good watch and had it been a story in a separate franchise it would probably have been received better. Season one attracted a very particular type of people and with the neo-noir themes, it didn't feel like a typical crime show that was out at the time. By the time season two came around the people who had fallen in love with Rust and Marty expected the same type of series. I am guilty of this as well, but I knew that my best friend and I would never get the closure we wanted from season one. When season two came, a part of us wanted Heart and Soul back even though we knew we wouldn't get them. Season two was too soft compared to the first season. It didn't have the same aesthetics, the same character arcs or the same stakes. I think that's what struck the fanbase so hard. The fact that it practically went from hardcore BDSM to vanilla. Eight hours of pure and utter gut-wrenching bliss before I could never watch True Detective season 1 for the first time again. True Detective (and a book series called Heartsick by Chelsea Cain) will always be the reason I got into writing, and more recently into scriptwriting. That godforsaken show will always be the point in my teenage years where I realized I'd never be the same person ever again.

[@issam1398]

Nic is a genius and excellent analyze

[@Johnn84]

I am that person that don't think we actually are bad people, it´s just that we humans adapt to this life differently - life is hard. Rust searches for meaning and are not afraid to ask questions, while Mat avoid difficult subjects by trying to enjoy life as best he can - and both have probably right. It´s a fine balance to search for truth and also make sure you enjoy life. I think we need both truth and love to be happy. What they both miss is hope - and that is what most of us suffer from. We can not be fully happy without a hope of a good future, we are to smart to not think of the future. In the end, they both get a small glimpse of hope, that despite their dark reality, there might be something "out there", that is greater then us, and gives us hope that all of this was not a meaningless suffering, but will be worth it.

[@kylewhitehead1684]

It's also deadly to listen to thee wrong critics. Anyone who talks about "good female characters" is clueless about storytelling and about storytellers and really doesn't have the interests of the story at heart. They should be given a swift middle finger and should be promptly ignored. The customer is most definitely not always right.

[@maggyfrog]

as soon as a "critic" puts more faith in the bechdel test than in creative vision, it's most likely going to be a really horrible opinion piece. season 2 of true detective was so forgettable. it should have centered on colin farrell's character and maybe it might have been something actually good. all genders don't always have to be in the lead roles in a work of fiction, like jeez, that's gonna depend on the story. the season 1 of true detective was so dark that i literally had to watch something lighthearted after i finished all the episodes to feel okay again. so good and dark and disturbing that season 2 fell absolutely flat and lifeless.

[@pillowmaker9861]

“Super hero movies are failing” ummm I think making almost 3 billion dollars is not considered failing

[@snakey973]

This really manages to say very little

[@ThatCreeNative1]

My thoughts exactly! Having someone not perfect, but they just feel so right. I uploaded my web series, however just episode one. Not gonna continue for the seasons (Summer, Fall and Winter) changed so much and many of my actors either slacked or cut/dyed their hair. But we might do it better once the snow melts and hopefully they understand that if they want it done? Then do it. Plus I'm gonna pay them. I got some money to make them get up from their asses and actually want to do it. But happy they did without it last time, this is fair though with me giving them money now. They just have to do their part now and show up. Anyway here is episode one: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qIvbp6Gsqsh-n6s My editing needs improvement and my friends acting. But we do the best with what we got, wish I could use that money for better equipment but I need it for them to be motivated.

[@setijakada7641]

"That's why superhero movies are failing..."

[@setijakada7641]

@callmecatalyst Super hero movies aren't making money this summer because people dont want to see them... There's this pandemic thing happening that's shut down the entire US economy... not sure if you've seen it on the news...

[@markoos88]

Superhero movies are failing? What's he talking about? I wish, mate!!

[@garad123456]

This... I feel like entire 2000's have been good times for superhero movies and its not slowing in later 2010's

[@elechu91]

Dexter :)

[@mateostanley4387]

"is this ... Owen wilson?"

[@wisperingbeard]

This guy makes a lot of good points. But there is so much more to True Detective than a simple story of two guys looking at the world from different perspectives. TD S1 was about the illusion of earth being this lit place where warmth rules and love makes it go round, but once you get a loftier perspective of the planet, we're actually floating in an endless cavern of darkness. Cole learned this after losing his daughter. It wasn't until he was face to face with true evil that he discovered his own nature and the power of good in man. That, in my opinion, is the undercurrent of the entire first season that drove us from episode to episode on the same journey as the main characters. Pizzolato did a masterful job demonstrating this.

[@furtherback6131]

I do not ever want to listen to this man again

[@sjn415]

hmm

[@bruh_hahaha]

Super-hero movies are failing? 😒

[@danielbull5597]

Superhero movies are failing? Really?

[@brabra2725]

DO NOT WATCH THIS VIDEO! MASSIVE SPOILERS ABOUT TRUE DETECTIVE SEASON 2 WITHOUT ANY WARNING

[@sunitaupadhyaya3287]

I watched S1 and S3 did not felt like watching S2

[@ahadmirza8929]

“Superhero movies are failing” ?

[@TrupimOkiemTV]

I actually watch less, focusing on quality and themes that I find interesting.

[@stevo728822]

In American drama all of life's issues are solved with a gun. A very myopic view of the world.

[@AmandaFromWisconsin]

Whatever you say.

[@scottslotterbeck3796]

No. ER, for example, didn't have guns. And Game of Thrones...

[@frogholdingmachinegun377]

True Detective rocks but this guy doesn't know what he's talking about.

[@sjn415]

Maybe he is the type of guy, that thinks "everything is everything, everyone is a hero" or some sht like that

[@ileutur6863]

@@sjn415 that's literally not what he said

[@sjn415]

@@ileutur6863 i agree a Lot with he says. But that singular part, "dark hero" 3min, i dont. Rust is a hero, hes not dark, he has a dark past. But he is not this bs: "good and evil". He is the only one confrotating the darkness, deep dark, and trying to Destroy. (Sorry about the english, not mt First language)

[@anton__r]

i mean its an audience thing but super hero movies are on the same level as bollywood, just that bollywood is actually comedy sometimes

[@paulshepherd9528]

... a bit bent... 'killing the cat'... shite simile. Being flawed and psychotic should not be equated. That's what is wrong with the world today... false equivalencies. BUT... the show was awesome :)

[@Hu1ud]

Super hero movies are failing lol. That aged poorly

[@roryt2939]

Spoiler alert!

[@koraykirik9448]

Listen to this guy talk makes me hate true detective. What a feat.