The third season of HBO's "True Detective" ended with a relative whimper compared to how thunderously it came out of the gate. Granted, this season was the first time since the show's 2014 debut that it really had something to prove: that it was still relevant, that Season 2's disappointment was a fluke brought on by a rushed schedule, and that HBO still had a viable franchise it could fall back on with "Game of Thrones" on its way out and "Westworld" arguably foundering in the wake of a divisive second season.