The first season of HBO’s hit drama series, ‘True Detective,’ attracted audiences with its dark and intense storyline, focusing on the lives of detectives Martin Hart and Rust Cohle as they pursued a relentless killer. At the heart of the series was Michelle Monaghan’s portrayal of Maggie Hart, wife of detective Martin Hart, adding a multilayered dimension to the show.
However, as the show gained popularity, it was not without controversy. Critics and viewers pointed out that the show’s perspective seemed limited to white males, and women were portrayed as objects. They also argued that the show lacked a female perspective and had a misogynistic tone. Monaghan found herself at the center of this debate, being the sole main female character in the series.
In response to the backlash, the actress defended the show and its approach to the characters in a 2014 conversation with Vanity Fair, saying:
“I really thought that that was just such a misguided criticism. I kept waiting and [saying] ‘O.K., just keep watching, just keep watching.’ I thought people might view it differently after they saw the season as a whole.”
She then shared what they thought about the show from the very beginning:
“We read the first page, and we thought, Wow, this is extraordinary.”
Still, even Monaghan was taken aback by the intensity of the fan engagement, as she explained:
“I did not expect for it to take off and resonate the way that it did, especially with conspiracy theories and things like that. People thought maybe my character [was behind the murders]. I was stunned.”
Her performance of Maggie Hart earned her a nomination for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries, or Television Film at the 72nd Golden Globe Awards.
The series continued with different actors and storylines in the subsequent seasons. The fourth season, set to air in 2023, will feature Jodie Foster and Kali Reis as the new lead detectives, and it is set in the fictional town of Ennis, Alaska,