Where to Watch True Detective in Canada (2023)

HBO’s widely acclaimed anthology crime series “True Detective” delves into the minds of detectives as they pursue murderers while grappling with their own demons. In an exciting update, the show is finally returning for a fourth season that will unfold against the chilling backdrop of Alaska, with “Silence of the Lambs” star Jodie Foster in the lead.

Tune in to “True Detective” for suspenseful and mind-boggling whodunit tales. Find out where you can watch “True Detective” on streaming services in Canada.

What Is True Detective About?

As an anthology crime series, each season of “True Detective” presents different storylines and characters. Typically, the show centers around one or two detectives uncovering murder cases while they deal with their personal struggles. 

Season 1: 

Set in Louisiana, Detectives Rust Cohle and Martin Hart are tasked with covering a series of disturbing killings believed to be related to cults and religious sacrifices. The case spans almost two decades, challenging their personal lives and ultimately taking a toll on their mental well-being.

Season 2:

A new trio of detectives — Ray Velcoro, Ani Bezzerides, and Paul Woodrugh — join forces in California to navigate the criminal underworld and investigate an elaborate case involving drugs, murder, and political corruption. As they attempt to solve the case, a series of complex conspiracies start to surface and threaten to consume their personal lives.

Season 3:

The third season follows Detective Wayne Hays as he solves the disappearance of two children, Will and Julie Purcell, in a small town in the Ozarks during the 1980s.

“True Detective” was released on HBO in January 2014.

Who Are in the Cast and Production of True Detective?

American screenwriter-director Nic Pizzolatto created “True Detective” in association with HBO. Each season features an ensemble of talented Hollywood actors such as Matthew McConaughey, Woody Harrelson, Alexandra Daddario, Colin Farrell, Rachel McAdams, and Vince Vaughn. Here’s the cast of “True Detective”:

Season 1:

• Matthew McConaughey as Detective Rust Cohle
• Woody Harrelson as Detective Martin Hart
• Michelle Monaghan as Maggie Hart
• Michael Potts as Detective Maynard Gilbough
• Tory Kittles as Detective Thomas Papania
• Alexandra Daddario as Lisa Tragnetti

Season 2:

• Colin Farrell as Detective Ray Velcoro
• Rachel McAdams as Detective Ani Bezzerides
• Taylor Kitsch as Officer Paul Woodrugh
• Vince Vaughn as Frank Semyon
• Kelly Reilly as Jordan Semyon

Season 3:

• Mahershala Ali as Detective Wayne Hays
• Stephen Dorff as Detective Roland West
• Carmen Ejogo as Amelia Reardon
• Ray Fisher as Henry Hays
• Scoot McNairy as Tom Purcell
• Mamie Gummer as Lucy Purcell

What is the Rating for True Detective?

“True Detective” is rated 18A in Canada. The series contains extreme depictions of foul language, violence, gore, drug and alcohol use, nudity, and explicit sex scenes. 

How Many People Watch True Detective?

The first season of “True Detective” had an average of 11 million viewers, making it the most-watched HBO series at the time, surpassing “Six Feet Under.”

How Are the Reviews for True Detective?

The first and third seasons of “True Detective” resonated well with critics due to their intricate character developments and well-rounded, complex storylines. The second season, on the other hand, failed to impress the critics for its pacing and the lack of clarity in its narrative.

“True Detective” holds an overall rating of 74% on Rotten Tomatoes. See what critics say about the series.

• “For all the talk of this golden age of television, of which True Detective is supposedly so emblematic, this is less television than an epic movie told at luxuriant pace.” – Empire Magazine

• “It’s that the second season of True Detective feels ordinary while the first felt extraordinary… The ordinariness is a quality that weighs heavily on True Detective because its cop-show genre is all over TV.” – Philadelphia Inquirer

Where to Watch True Detective in Canada? 

“True Detective” is available on streaming services and video-on-demand platforms in Canada.

Is True Detective Available on Streaming?

Max

“True Detective” is on Max, the rebranded HBO platform. However, Max is only available in the US and select European territories, so you will need a VPN to access the service. To stream the film on Max, subscribe to any of its membership plans:

Plan	Monthly	Annual	Simultaneous Streams	Video Resolution	Number of Downloads
Ad-Lite	$9.99	$99.99	2 devices	HD	None
Ad-Free	$15.99	$149.99	2 devices	HD	30 titles
Ultimate Ad-Free	$19.99	$199.99	4 devices	HD to 4K	100 titles

Unfortunately, Max no longer offers a free trial since its relaunch. The platform is also compatible with almost every type of device, such as smartphones, smart TVs, laptops, gaming consoles, and streaming media such as Roku and Amazon Fire Stick.

Some of the best shows you can stream on Max include “The Sopranos,” “Succession,” “The White Lotus,” “Big Little Lies,” “The Last of Us,” and “Sharp Objects.”

Crave

Alternatively, you can also watch “True Detective” on Crave, the Canada-exclusive platform. To watch the movie on the service, subscribe to any of the following membership plans:

Plan	Monthly	Annual	Video Resolution	Simultaneous Streams
Basic with ads	CAD$9.99	CAD$99.90	720p	1 device
Standard with ads	CAD$14.99	CAD$149.90	4K	4 devices
Premium ad-free	CAD$19.99	CAD$199.99	4K	4 devices

Crave also offers a 7-day free trial to new subscribers that you can cancel at any time. The platform is compatible with different devices as well, including smartphones, smart TVs, laptops, tablets, and game consoles like Xbox and PlayStation.

Crave also houses content from various networks like HBO, Showtime, and Comedy Central. “American Psycho,” “Inglourious Basterds,” “The Shining,” “Beetlejuice,” “Oldboy,” “Pride and Prejudice,”  and “The Dark Knight,” are some of the most noteworthy movies you can stream on Crave.

Is True Detective Available for Rent (VOD)?

Complete seasons and individual episodes of “True Detective” are available for purchase on VOD platforms. 

Platform	Full Season	Per Episode
Google Play Store	CAD$22.99	CAD$3.99
Microsoft Store	CAD$22.99 – CAD$27.99	CAD$4.49

It is also available on Apple TV Plus.

Is True Detective Available on Cable or Free TV?

The fourth season of “True Detective” will air on the HBO channel in late 2023. 

Should I Use a VPN to Watch True Detective?

If you prefer to watch “True Detective” through Max, then you will need to use a VPN. 

Unraveling Minds and Mysteries

“True Detective” sets itself apart from other crime stories by masterfully intertwining the realms of crime and the human psyche. It shows that every crime is driven by a chain of psychological motivations, reminding its viewers that the search for truth can lead us to the darkest corners of our souls.

You can watch “True Detective” on the HBO channel, Max, Crave, and VOD platforms in Canada.