True Detective season 3 premiere spoilers: First look at two-hour episode

HBO has unveiled the first details regarding True Detective season 3 and its January 13 premiere and we like to think of this as the network’s way of trying to set a strong foundation after a less then stellar season 2. There are two different episodes airing on the night, and these should help to kick off the story for Wayne Hays, a prolific detective who is very much exceptional at what he does. Yet, some cases will challenge even the best cops, and basically we’re going to see a case continue to haunt the man for several decades of his life.

Consider the synopses that CarterMatt has for you below for these two episodes as scratching the surface of the story that will be told.

Episode #17 (season 3, episode 1): “The Great War and Modern Memory” – “The disappearance of a young Arkansas boy (Phoenix Elkin) and his sister (Lena McCarthy) in 1980 triggers vivid memories and enduring questions for retired detective Wayne Hays (Mahershala Ali), who worked the case 35 years before with partner Roland West (Stephen Dorff). What started as a routine case becomes a long journey to dissect and make sense of the crime.”

Episode #18 (season 3, episode 2): “Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye” – “Hays (Mahershala Ali) looks back at the aftermath of the 1980 Purcell case in West Finger, Ark., including possible evidence left behind at the Devil’s Den, an outdoor hangout for local kids. As attention focuses on two conspicuous suspects – Brett Woodard (Michael Greyeyes), a solitary vet and trash collector, and Ted LaGrange (Shawn-Caulin Young), an ex-con with a penchant for children – the parents of the missing kids, Tom (Scoot McNairy) and Lucy Purcell (Mamie Gummer), receive a cryptic note from an anonymous source.”

These two synopses give you somewhat of a sense as to what is going to be going on here with Hays, and also some of the other people who are a part of the show and the story. A big part of what’s going to make this series exceptional, beyond of course the writing, is the cast. In between Stephen Dorff, Scoot McNairy, and Mamie Gummer, we have a number of perfectly-placed character actors in this story. This feels different from the second season in that it doesn’t feel as much about just courting big names. It’s about bringing on board the right names.

We’re excited for season 3 — sure, there are reasons for some apprehension given the past that we’ve seen with this franchise, but there is nonetheless still enough of a reason to have hope that this could be a fantastic reinvention of the franchise that proves that True Detective is one of the most fascinating series out there. The only thing that we’re concerned about is that there is too much cryptic dialogue and mystery for the show’s own good.

Related News – Have you had a chance to check out the official season 3 trailer just yet?

What do you want to see on True Detective and the show’s January 13 premiere? Be sure to share right now in the comments. (Photo: HBO.)