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Does True Detective Have the Perfect Number of Episodes?

By Reuben Levine

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Episode count is usually something we take for granted in North America. Most broadcast series have episode numbers that run into the 20’s and last for multiple seasons, while cable tends to feature series with episode counts usually only as high as 12 or 13. This has been changing lately as broadcast has been experimenting more with a shorter amount of episodes. What this tells us right off the bat is that episode count can be a very important factor in the production and possible longevity of a series.

The first season of True Detective features a scant eight episodes, at least two less than average. This is a fact that is more disappointing on paper than it is in practice. As we all know by now, the eight episodes of season one tell a complete story with a pace deserving of the content. Neither rushed nor sluggish, True Detective seems to operate at the perfect speed. And this is not a coincidence.

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Season two, which is set to premiere in January, will also feature eight episodes. This is a number that was likely chosen with delicacy, and so far it’s worked very well. It’s the perfect amount of time to tell the story and give it impact. Whether that time is always spent wisely is another matter, but for all intends and purposes True Detective functions perfectly with a shorter episode count.

If True Detective is only going to go on for three complete seasons, we may only have 24 episodes to show for it. That doesn’t sound like a lot, but True Detective has figured out a way to make that number count. We can only hope that season two continues to impress with its eight episodes, but so far we have no reason to believe that it won’t.

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