True Detective Test

The IDRLabs True Detective Test is inspired by psychometric methodology and based on research into the characters in True Detective.

The test provides feedback such as the following:

Rustin Cohle, a brooding and existential detective-savant, is the detached, enigmatic protagonist of the first season of True Detective. Nihilistic and haunted to the point of obsessive introspection, Rustin is naturally reclusive and prefers to eschew the traditional brotherhood of law enforcement and keep to himself. Trials from his troubled past have sharpened his mind, allowing him to see beyond the mystery of the brutal murder case he’s working on and unravel the clues that lead him to the killer. Alongside solving the case, Rustin grapples with existential questions about the nature of reality, morality, and the human condition. His philosophical outlook, characterized by a bleak, cynical view of life, sets him apart from his partner Martin Hart as he confronts the darkness within both himself and society. Rustin gravitates towards helping those who suffer, taking an interest in his partner’s wife, who is a victim of her husband’s adulterous behavior. Despite his isolation and haunted demeanor, Rustin's dedication to his work and relentless pursuit of justice underscore his complexity, making him one of TV’s great characters.

Martin ‘Marty’ Hart, the popular, charismatic detective in denial about the inner turmoil and moral conflict in his personal life, plays the perfect foil to his partner Rustin’s existential ramblings. Marty is obsessed with living up to a winning image of himself as the heroic cop who loves his family and America, when in fact his actions indicate a man who doesn’t believe in those things at all. A good-looking, former college athlete, Marty is going through a midlife crisis and is desperately trying to chase his youth through an affair with a younger woman. Marty is not an egotistical or ambitious man, and he takes pride in being able to maintain a healthy work-life balance - excusing the days when he comes into work hungover. He is shown to be quick to anger at times, but the undeniable respect and loyalty he shows to Rustin, who is not popular within the police department, ultimately make him a sympathetic character. By offering more of an everyman’s perspective next to Rustin’s philosophical, alienated ideas, Marty cements himself as a vital part of the show’s much-loved first season.

Ray Velcoro, the deceptively brilliant detective with a dark past, is the uncompromising, aggressive, and heroic protagonist of season two of the show. Velcoro is a deeply troubled and morally ambiguous man whose life is defined by trauma, violence, and relentless inner turmoil. Haunted by the murder of his wife, Velcoro navigates a world rife with corruption and betrayal, often resorting to brutal means to achieve his ends. Despite his propensity for violence and self-destructive behavior, Velcoro displays a fierce loyalty to those he cares about, particularly his son, driving him to confront his own demons in a quest for redemption. When not sagging into the booth of a local watering hole, Velcoro is shown to be a competent and effective investigator. After the tragedy of his wife’s murder, he loses his desire for further romantic relationships and seems to exist to carry out his duties as a member of law enforcement and watch his son grow up. His complex relationships, cynical outlook, and existential struggles serve as a compelling lens through which to explore themes of justice, morality, and the search for meaning in a dark and unforgiving world.

Ani Bezzerides, a no-nonsense detective with a traumatic family background, is a complex and resilient character whose journey is marked by a relentless pursuit of the truth. Fiercely independent and unapologetically confrontational, Ani is often found challenging the patriarchal norms and systemic corruption that pervade the world around her. She is deeply mistrustful of men due to many previous bad experiences, and as a result, she always carries knives with her to protect herself. Despite her cynical exterior, Ani harbors a deep sense of integrity and justice, driven by a desire to uncover the dark secrets lurking beneath the surface. She tries to be a mother figure to her sister, attempting to provide a level of support that she was never afforded as a child due to her mother’s death. She also seems to believe her job is a virtuous compensation for personal downfalls like her failed marriage, although it is clear she deeply cares about police work. Her tumultuous relationships, both personal and professional, serve as a backdrop for her ongoing struggle to reconcile her own demons while navigating the murky waters of a morally ambiguous landscape.

Wayne Hays, the complicated and intelligent lead detective in the case of the murder of two missing children, is the much-loved protagonist of season three of True Detective. Wayne's journey unfolds across multiple timelines, revealing the intricacies of his character as he confronts his past and wrestles with the moral and existential dilemmas that define his existence. Wayne is a peaceful, calm man who tends to play the role of a good cop, while his partner, Roland West, usually plays the role of a bad cop. His relationship with Roland indicates a deep understanding and respect between the two, despite the trials and tribulations of working on a difficult case together. In the later timeline, Wayne relives his traumatic experiences in a series of hallucinations, seeing ghosts from his past and struggling to decipher whether the visions he sees are accurate to the events of the crime or figments of his own imagination. Through Wayne, "True Detective" explores themes of memory, loss, and the elusive nature of truth in a world shrouded in darkness and deception.

Roland West, the complex and enigmatic sidekick, is a loyal friend and a valiant policeman whose resilience is matched only by his own flaws and vulnerabilities. As a seasoned detective partnered with Wayne Hays, Roland embodies a rugged pragmatism and street-smart savvy that complement Wayne's introspective nature. Despite his gruff exterior and penchant for rule-bending, Roland is fiercely devoted to his work and to those he considers allies, forming a deep and enduring bond with Hays over the course of their tumultuous partnership. As a Vietnam veteran, Roland is more aggressive and quicker to resort to violence, but despite his hot-headedness, his intentions are good. Beneath his tough exterior lies a man grappling with his own demons, haunted by regrets and longing for redemption in a world fraught with moral ambiguity and existential uncertainty. Through Roland, "True Detective" explores themes of loyalty, friendship, and the search for meaning amidst the darkness of human nature.

Liz Danvers, the hard-nosed, experienced police chief of a remote Alaskan police department, is the inscrutable protagonist of True Detective. Bold, decisive, and unafraid to go beyond the rules to solve a case, Liz’s charismatic leadership is offset by her head-strong insistence on ignoring the theories of her fellow colleagues to reinforce her own authority. Liz is highly demanding of her fellow officers, pressuring them into working all hours of the series’ endless night - a destructive work pattern she herself has absorbed into her own life to forget the tragic losses of family members in her life. Liz’s relationship with morality is confused. She is a dedicated law enforcer who hates breaking the law, but a plethora of extramarital affairs indicate that her morals do not stretch to treating other people in the town with respect. Her knack for solving crimes comes from an innate questioning nature, where she is constantly searching for the right question to help her find the answer to the mysterious happenings she is investigating.

Evangeline Navarro, the tough but sensitive partner to Liz Danvers, is a complicated character searching for answers in the ongoing case and her own past. Originally a higher-ranking officer, Evangeline was demoted after a particularly gruesome case she was working on was pushed aside by the police department, despite no murderer ever being found. She is fearless in her pursuit of justice and completely unafraid of standing up to senior officers. Evangeline’s softer side is most visible through the loving care she shows towards her troubled sister and the genuine sadness she feels for the victims of the cases in which she works. Her indigenous background makes her an outsider in the police department, but it affords her a unique spiritual understanding of the otherworldly goings-on that she is investigating. Her lack of knowledge about her cultural roots creates confusion for Evangeline, but as she progresses through the case, she absorbs more and more of her indigenous identity and progresses towards a self-knowledge that few other characters in the show possess.

The True Detective Test is inspired by research into relevant literature and methodological practices. While the True Detective quiz is inspired by fields of research, it cannot be used to provide clinical assessments or an accurate evaluation of your personality. Clinical assessments should always be done in cooperation with a mental health professional. For more information about any of our online tests and quizzes, please consult our Terms of Service.