Does True Detective Need Nic Pizzolatto?

By Reuben Levine | Dec 22, 2014

The success of True Detective lives and dies with Nic Pizzlatto. There are many parts that come together to make True Detective work, but none are more important than Pizzolatto. As the creator, show runner, and sole writer, Pizzolatto is in charge of every utterance that his characters make.

The easy answer to the above question is to answer in the affirmative, but it doesn’t have to be that cut and dry. True Detective is currently HBO’s darling, and it’s one of the more unique programs to hit the network. True Detective will always need Pizzolatto to be there and guide it, but it doesn’t need to be entirely his responsibility.

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A production like True Detective is a huge undertaking for a single person, regardless of the number of other people working on the show. True Detective currently lives and breathes with Pizzolatto, which is just as much of a curse as it is a blessing.

Pizzolatto’s tight writing guides True Detective and it’s what builds it up. The A-list actors and direction then bring it to life. Many British series also operate in such a way, with a series frequently lasting only two or three seasons and featuring only one or two writers. On one hand, it makes sure that the production has a unified voice and can be more personal.

On the other, it’s a huge undertaking which comes with its own stressors. If Pizzolatto were to step back from a central role at True Detective, even though it is effectively entirely his own creation, it could smooth production. Even though the first season of True Detective was a huge hit, writing in a vacuum isn’t always the wisest choice.

True Detective can survive without Pizzolatto at the helm. He brought it into the world, but sometimes the best thing you can do is take a step back. Our hopes are high, but we’re going to have to wait a bit longer to see if Pizzolatto can continue down this path on his own once season two hits.

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