True Detective is Dragnet (1987)

What Blasphemy you say?  What kind of idiot would claim that the best thing on TV in 2014 is just a rehash of a second rate 80's comedy?  This idiot that's who.  Ok (or is it okay, or O.K., is it capital letters or are lower case okay), True Detective has no doubt added to this golden age of TV-The Wire, Breaking Bad, Sopranos, Mad Men, etc..- with its movie level cinematography, top notch acting and its portrayal of characters who could have me glued to the teevee to watch them discuss their grocery lists, but one has to admit the show's plot has a lot of similarities to 1987's dragnet.
Here is what I mean:
For starters both stories are based in LA, okay that's not a good example.
Each story is about two new partners:

One a veteran of the homicide department and the other newly transferred over from some undercover work:

As the mismatched pair of detectives bond we find them investigating crime scenes where the bad guys leave behind a calling card:

Our heroes, however are up against, not just any cult, but a cult with some powerful people.  The Police commissioner in one story and a Governor/Senator in the other.

And not just the politically powerful, but they are up against a powerful public religious leader in this cult.

Our heroes are not deterred easily and will put in the hard work to solve these crimes.  Whether it takes them to a house of ill-repute,

or if it requires them to go back undercover,

to defy their superiors who tell them to stop their investigations,

 our heroes will do what it takes.  Luckily for them the new guy is an ace in the interrogation room and can squeeze suspects for lots of info

Eventually our heroes find out that this cult is sacrificing pure females

and has a love of horns

As we move to the final episode of True Detective, lets hope our heroes are able to take on the bad guys and bring them to justice, just like in Dragnet.