Season 2 of True Detective was a garbage dump. No joke. I was somewhat fine with Season 1 – the storytelling and “resolution” of the story was uneven, to say the least, but the stellar performances of Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson absolutely saved Season 1 and made it must-watch TV. But the quality fell off a cliff in Season 2 and writer-creator Nic Pizzolatto basically became a walking punchline of douchebag showrunners. Season 2 was so bad that there was even talk of HBO canceling the show, except at the end of the day, they already had a contract with Pizzolatto for more seasons, so they were like, “Eh, let’s do this again but this time, let’s get a Pizzolatto Wrangler.” I had no interest in watching another season, but that was before this interesting news: Mahershala Ali might do Season 3. Okay. We might be alright.
Does the idea of True Detective season three entice you? What if we told you it could star Oscar-winner and general charming human Mahershala Ali? According to The Tracking Board, the star is reportedly in early talks to star in a third installment of the HBO crime anthology series, which earned rave reviews for its first season but wasn’t quite as well-recieved in its second. The first season starred Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson, and season two starred Colin Farrell, Rachel McAdams, Taylor Kitsch, and Vince Vaughn, so Ali’s movie star status would fit right in. In fact, in this post-Moonlight world, Ali is probably one of the biggest stars they could sign.
The series debuted in 2014, aired a second season in 2015, and then has been in limbo ever since.
HBO has not officially greenlit a third season yet, but in March, EW reported that creator Nic Pizzolatto had written the first two episodes, and that Emmy-winning producer David Milch had joined the show to collaborate with Pizzolatto. While this would be Ali’s first starring role on a TV show, he has appeared in several episodes of Netflix’s Luke Cage and House of Cards, as well as the HBO series Treme. HBO has not yet returned a request for comment.
I don’t hate the idea of Oscar-winner Mahershala Ali going to television, especially if it’s “prestige television” on HBO, and especially if it’s a one-and-done situation, where he would only have a one-year commitment. Plus, if HBO follows through and puts some people in place to successfully “wrangle” Nic Pizzolatto’s worst urges, the story might actually be interesting. Plus, casting Mahershala would solve one huge problem with the series, which is that the show often came across as Morose White People Being Angsty and Deep. I wonder in what part of the country Season 3 would take place? Season 1 = Louisiana, Season 2 = Los Angeles and surrounding areas. Season 3 = I don’t know, maybe the mid-Atlantic? Or Texas?
Photos courtesy of WENN.
“Plus, casting Mahershala would solve one huge problem with the series, which is that the show often came across as Morose White People Being Angsty and Deep.” I watched a few episodes and came away with the same feeling.
Yes, pls- on two conditions-
1.Rein in Nic Pizzolatto so he doesn’t tank the next season like he did season two.
2. Pay Cary Fukunaga any amount of money he asks to bring hi back as director. This would also help you achieve success for #1.
Season one was successful not just because the actors turned in some great work, but also because Cary was a great director and helped offset some of Pizzolatto’s worst impulses.
Absolutely right about Fukunaga!
See, I am not sure Fukunaga can be bought with any amount of money at this point. He and Nic did not part ways well. While I would give this show another try if Mahershala is the lead but if I was an Oscar winning avmctor I am not sure I would risks getting involved in Pizzolatto’s deep existential white shit if Cary is not there. I am not sure this is what I wish for Mahershala, is what I am saying because I agree, the first season worked because Cary masterfully kept Nic’s impulses and ego in check. I inderstand this is one of the key reasons why they parted ways and Cary is not intended on coming back
I think this is a great idea. Oscar winners doing television is not the stigma it used to be. There are far more challenging roles and unique story ideas than what we are seeing on the Big Screen.
If they get Angela Bassett or Anika Noni Rose then they can sign me up for Season 3.
Season 2 was a waste of time and this post just reminded me how much I hated last season. Thanks Kaiser!!!
Colin was probably the best part of the season, but that is not really a compliment. The cliche writing and its need to be “weird” was its down fall. Oh and Vince Vaughn was terrible.
I was thinking Angela Bassett too! She’s one of those actors that pretty much always raises the quality to 11 of everything she’s in.
Also, requisite- Idris Elba plz. They can all sexily solve crimes together.
Angela really does make everything better. Plus, I need her to get off of American Horror Story. She is too good for the little work they give her.
@Aiobhan Targaryen This. She’s consistently one of the best things about AHS and yet she’s given pretty much nothing to do. They waste her every year.
Anika Noni Rose. There just needs to be more Anika Noni Rose in everything.
But Nicky Pizza already plagiarized all he could and I seriously doubt Cary Fukunaga would ever work with him again. I don’t think I want to see wonderful Mahershala saying one of those preposterous lines of season 2: “Don’t ever do anything out of hunger, not even eat” or something to that effect, yuck.
I read this with great interest, and I say what I always do when a performer I admire has a new project. I hope the script is worthy of Mr. A’s talents. I loved Season One. I am a native Georgian, and Southern Gothic gets me every time. But a new, original location would be good.
For his sake, I hope not.
Sounds interesting, but it’ll depend on Nic Pizzolatto’s writing. I’m on the fence about him: is he a solid storyteller and had a bad bit of luck with season 2? Or was season 1 the fluke? He can’t seem to write outside his angsty white man staple, though, and even that gets ropey if he adds another layer to the mix (eg. angsty white gay man = the writing falls to pieces) and he cannot write female characters, like, at all. Maybe he needs a writer’s room if HBO want to resurrect the programme?
As for the setting, going by Louisiana and L.A. it’ll probably be another environ beginning with “L”. (jk…)
Yes, please! I was so disappointed when he was MIA for the latest season of House of Cards, and it reminded me of how much charisma and gravitas he brings to everything he’s in.
I think buddying him up with Gina Rodriguez, Tatiana Maslany, or Angela Bassett (in a perfect world, all three) would be awesome/interesting/hot.
Fukunaga or gtfo. I’d trust this show again if, and only if, he was directing. They should just go the Twin Peaks route and accept that there is no True Detective without Fukunaga at this point.
Pizzolatto has zero humour and the first season was good because Cary let the actors react with some.
I don’t want him putting Mahershala through more turgid, humourless, white nonsense.
Sorry but I hope this doesn’t happen.
I’m also getting a little tired of producers et al. using a POC cast to lure viewers only after they’ve essentially destroyed the show in question, and figure they’ve got ‘nothing to lose’ (or before they jettison said POC cast for a whitewashed one).