For True Detective fans, Season 4, also titled Night Country, does something different. While Rachel McAdams anchored Season 2, Night Country already sets itself apart as a women-centric entry. Director, writer, and showrunner Issa López creates an atmospheric small-town mystery strengthened by Jodie Foster and Kali Reis‘ portrayals of their emotionally complicated investigators. And beneath the core whodunit lies commentary on the violence all too frequently committed against women, particularly indigenous women.
The setting is equal parts beautiful and claustrophobic. For non-Alaskans, the state’s “dark season” evokes chills, which is precisely where True Detective 4×01 picks up. When an entire crew of scientists disappears from an Arctic research base, Foster’s Detective Liz Danvers comes in to investigate. For horror fans, it’s going to be pretty darn hard not to draw comparisons to John Carpenter’s The Thing, but True Detective 4×01 separates itself with the introduction of small-town drama and the knife-cutting tension between Navarro and Liz.
Complicated Relationships Drive the Plot
Interpersonal relationships can become messy in small towns like Ennis, and True Detective 4×01 throws A LOT at audiences. Liz frequently butts heads with veteran cop Hank (John Hawkes) while she seems to value her mentor relationship with young officer Peter (Finn Bennett). Hank is Peter’s father, which explains their splintery interactions and Liz’s subtle tendency to play protector. “Speak up,” Hank snaps at Peter while he delivers findings, to which Liz immediately claps back, “I can hear him just fine.”
It’s an interesting, jumbled dynamic but one of many. Liz seems to have a problem with just about everyone in town, including her own daughter (Isabella LaBlanc). However, Liz and Navarro take the gold medal in broken relationships. As our main players, the narrative jumps between their individual stories. Liz displays that uncanny ability to “ask the right questions,” even if the Artic research base disappearances are giving her a hard time. Meanwhile, passion drives Navarro. The unsolved grisly murder of a young indigenous woman, Annie, still haunts her. Navarro’s relationship with Liz fractured because of the case and hasn’t recovered.
True Detective 4×01 suggests there will be a team-up in the future—especially since previous seasons have revolved around investigator pairings. One can only hope Liz and Navarro will recognize each other’s strengths and compensate for each other’s weaknesses. Until then, their interactions remain tense. Liz’s racist remarks toward Navarro don’t help matters. (Seriously, Liz, stop with the spirit animal jabs!) Yet, True Detective does what it does best by creating morally complicated protagonists, often with more flaws than not.
Even Navarro, who is easy to like, has issues. The unsolved murder case nearly drove her to madness, and everyone in town knows it. While she claims Liz’s racism resulted in the case being brushed off, that’s not entirely true. Liz claims the town killed Annie, so “no killer was ever going to be found.” Their argument at the research base exemplifies the extent of their animosity, with each of them defending their positions. Foster and Reis play it perfectly, allowing audiences to feel the tensions already existing between Ennis’ indigenous and white residents.
Jodie Foster and Kali Reis’ Performances Are Highlights
Foster’s competency in the part isn’t surprising. The Silence of the Lambs proves she is more than comfortable in law enforcement roles. Not to mention, her impressive filmography speaks for itself. Reis comes from a much different background as a world champion boxer turned actor. Based on her limited IMDb credits, Reis is a rookie actor by all definitions. However, she holds her own against Foster, who has been on screens big and small since childhood. Reis delivers her lines with authority, successfully portraying a hardened character with a secret soft side she clearly doesn’t want many people (if any) to see.
True Detective 4×01 Doesn’t Skimp on Horror
Those familiar with True Detective‘s usual vibe might be thrown off. This season serves horror and a little something else. What that something else is, well, that’s more difficult to describe.
At points, True Detective 4×01 feels like an episode of Twin Peaks. At other times, you almost expect supernatural creatures to emerge from the snowy landscape à la 30 Days of Night. López, of course, has already displayed her competency for the genre with Tigers Are Not Afraid. Those who like their mysteries drenched in darkness have a lot to look forward to as True Detective: Night Country continues.
True Detective: Night Country airs Sundays at 9/8c on HBO.
