Here’s how to watch every season of True Detective

True Detective solidified its place amongst the TV greats from the moment the credits rolled on its gripping first episode back in 2014. But the lukewarm reception of the second season one year later put the series on ice for about four years.

Still, the goodwill earned from the first season meant that there was a faithful contingent of fans who would be tuning in for the third season no matter what. When Season 3 eventually premiereed in 2019, those loyalists were rewarded with a season that didn't bear quite as much gravitas as the first, but nonetheless a solid season of television that would probably be more revered in a timeline where True Detective Season 1 didn't exist. 

Thankfully, through all its ups an downs, the True Detective series persisted and 2023 we got the most instalment to the franchise. The fourth season otherwise known as True Detective: Night Country, a spookier spin on the formula, led by Jodie Foster and Issa Lopez. 

At the time of writing, all four seasons of True Detective are available to stream on Binge. While seasons one to three are available to Foxtel and Foxtel Now subscribers, or available for purchase through digital stores like Apple TV, Google Play, Fetch TV and more. 

As a beloved HBO original, True Detective is a Foxtel/Binge exclusive here in Australia, and will continue to be so until Foxtel runs out of money. Currently, you can catch all four seasons of True Detective on Binge but the fourth season is yet to arrive on-demand via Foxtel and Foxtel Now, though that could change within a matter of days. 

Alternatively, you can purchase all four seasons of True Detective digitally through Apple TV, Fetch, Microsoft or Google Play. 

Like American Horror Story and Fargo, True Detective is an anthology; a TV series where each season tells a new story with a new cast of characters and setting. Famously, True Detective debuted with one of the strongest first seasons of all time, a season that will go on to be remembered as one of the best stories ever told on the small screen. 

Starring Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey (at the top of their game) in the lead roles as homicide detectives Marty Hart and Rust Cohle, True Detective Season 1 follows a murder investigation over seven years. Across eight episodes we follow the detectives across two timelines: 1995 where a 28-year old girl is found murdered and her body staged in a field in Lousiana,  and 2012, where the two, now estranged detectives, are compelled to return to the case when another murder and more evidence is discovered. 

McConaughey's performance as the troubled and enigmatic Rustin Cohle led to what's affectionately known as "The McConaissance," a new era of high profile roles and award nominations for the actor previously known primarily as a pretty face in Hollywood. 

McConaughey's performance in True Detective is worthy of every bit of praise he's recieved in the years since but there's no doubt that the duo of writer/creator Nic Pizzolato and director Cary Joji Fukunaga is what makes the season as a whole so memorable. 

Season 2 didn't earn nearly as much praise. With another stacked cast that included Colin Farrell, Rachel McAdams and Vince Vaughan, True Detective Season 2 ultimately felt like a rushed attempt to ride the coatails of season one's success. It's by no means bad television but it's characters and dialogue were a woozy imitation of the season before, in a different time period on another murder case. It was widely noted that, while creator Nic Pizzolato remained, Season 2 was overseen by a new director each episode, with no Cary Fukunaga in sight. 

After a decent four-year hiatus, True Detective Season 3 premiered in 2019 and the wait was worth it. Starring Mahershala Ali and Stephen Dorff, Season 3 tweaked the format by telling the story over three timelines. Inspired by the Satanic Panic of the 1980s, Season 3 follows another two troubled detectives (these gumshoes can't catch a break) as they investigate the disappearance of two missing children. It turns out a bit of time off was what the doctor ordered and while it didn't quite cop the same critical acclaim as the first season, Season 3 is widely considered a triumph and a return to form. 

That brings us to 2023's fourth season of True Detective, subtitled True Detective: Night Country. With Jodie Foster and Kali Reis taking the reins as the troubled detectives, Season 4 leans hard into the eery and unexplained early. Set it Alaska, the fourth season begins with the disappearance of eight men at a research outpost (taken by some mysterious thing, perhaps?) 

Season 4 has once again reignited interest in the series and has been successful enough for HBO to greenlight a fifth season led by Night Country creator Issa Lopez. 

Even though True Detective is yet to reach the heights of its debut season, it's still damn good television that viewers welcome with open arms each time a new instalment is announced. 

Owned and operated by Foxtel subsidiary Hubbl, Binge is an on-demand streaming service and the more affordable way to get Foxtel's premium drama and blockbuster movies. Binge is a lot easier to recommend these days, now that if offers 4K streaming, just don't bother saving money with the ad-supported plan (the ads get annoying fast.)