Facing Up to Oneself. True Detective, Season 1.

“I know who I am… after all these years, there’s a victory in that,” said a ratty-looking Rust Cohle, working four nights a week as part-time bartender and drinking in between — or so described the same former clean-cut detective, former junkie, former father, former cop-car philosopher.

There is a victory in facing up to oneself, looking oneself in the mirror without delusion, regardless of what looks back. In Rust’s case, as is all too common, he faced the horror and indignity of looking in the mirror and seeing humanity reflected back.

We don’t know the full extent of humanity’s capabilities — we have only seen glimpses, here and there, from time to time. Why would we be shocked at brutal rape, torture, debasement? We should know ourselves better than that — shame, but not shock, is called-for. Shame, but not shock, is what the first season of True Detective delivers.