True Detective: Three Ways It Can Survive Without HBO
By Josh Hill
True Detective is one of the hottest shows on television, but could it work as a graphic novel after the show goes off the air?
One of the best shows on television at the moment right now is the HBO series True Detective, but it’s already been stated that the show will only last three seasons and then end its run. But while the show has the ability to basically last forever, there are ways that the series could live on beyond its time on HBO.
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It’s not easy to take a story that is successful in one medium and translate it to another, but that’s what True Detective might have to do. If the series only lasts three seasons on HBO, there could be need from fans for more material that will have to be filled by another medium.
S0 what could those mediums be? We take a look at a few that might work if True Detective indeed ends after three seasons on HBO.
Next: Graphic Novel
Graphic Novel
This is a seriously cool and possible idea that almost needs to be pursued immediately. Graphic Novels are very valid mediums of storytelling, and they seem to get further validation with each passing year. Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy picked and chose from various Batman graphic novel storylines as have many other films.
Maximum validation of graphic novels as legit mediums to continue a story is being seen in Chuck Palahinuk penning a sequel to Fight Club but doing so in graphic novel form. True Detective and HBO should take notice of this, as the series continuing on as graphic novels penned by today’s best artists and authors is something that would no doubt appease fans of the show.
Next: Movie
Movie
This is commonly what fans of cancelled shows or shows that have ended prematurely ask for. We’ve seen it with fans of Arrested Development, Firefly and Veronica Mars — with the latter successfully producing a film. Fellow HBO series Entourage has a movie coming out soon and there is talk of Game of Thrones wrapping things up on the big screen rather than simply on HBO.
It’s hard to see a True Detective movie working, as the eight episode format for the first season worked so much better than a two-and-half hour film. With most series, it’s possible to end things with a film or spin off into a film, but True Detective is on too grand of a scale from a storytelling standpoint to have this make much sense.
Next: True Detective Won't Survive Without HBO
It Doesn’t Survive Because It Can’t
While we want to see True Detective survive behind the current three seasons planned, there’s a pretty good chance that doesn’t happen. When shows end, they typically end for good and that’s what True Detective will likely do.
That being said, it seems that HBO is taking a cinematic approach to the production of the show and is taking its time in getting things together. That’s bad in that it will be a while before fans get new material but good in that a drawn out production process could ensure True Detective is around for three seasons beyond simply three years.
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