Few television shows of the last decade have bust through the doors of the viewing public with as much fervor or staying power as that of the first season of HBO’s True Detective. Helping to make that first season iconic was the character of Rust Cohle, played by Oscar-winner Matthew McConaughey.
Between the cigarettes and Lone Star beer swilling alone, Cohle’s character was bound to be a classic. McConaughey just seemed born to play the role, and even the scenes where not much was said were powerful moments.
HBO had a hit on its hands by the middle of that first season, and ordered up a second season with a completely different cast and storyline to be told. Let’s just say that when the season ended, most of the TV watching public was already missing Cohle, and now apparently so is McConaughey:
“I miss Rust Cohle, man,” McConaughey said on the Rich Eisen Show this Wednesday. “I miss watching him on Sunday nights.”
Eventually the weight of the first season crushed what went on in season two and it never stood a chance with fans of the first season.
Not that the second season was bad, it just had lofty expecations to live up to that the material couldn’t match.
That said, McConaughey wouldn’t mind reprising said role from the first season if the timing and situations were right:
“It would have to be the right context, the right way,” McConaughey told Eisen. “That thing—when I read [the original script] I knew in 20 minutes if I can play this guy, Rustin Cohle, I’m in.”
Will HBO bring back Cohle or the series itself for a third season? Recent suggestions indicate that the show may not even be back on our televisions or iPads this upcoming year, so this all may be a moot point unless show creator Nic Pizzolatto has something unexpected up his sleeve. Though bringing back McConaughey as Cohle would certainly be a draw, and might be enough to guarantee another season.
Here’s full video of McConaughey talking Rust Cohle and True Detective with Rich Eisen:
[UPROXX; Photo Credit: HBO]
