True Detective: Night Country has had its ups and downs. The slow-burn mystery might be the strongest entry since Season 1. Still, it has imperfections that ultimately left its finale feeling lackluster. True Detective 4×04 was a high point, delivering an episode so effectively chilling it was stressful to watch. Come True Detective 4×05, that atmospheric dread and intrigue the series built so well started to unravel with Hank’s (John Hawkes) nonsensical villain reveal. That messy writing trickled into the next episode, hurting True Detective 4×06.
A good chunk of the episode occurs in the ice caves and Tsalal Research Station, where Navarro (Kali Reis) and Liz (Jodie Foster) take turns ruthlessly interrogating Raymond Clark, the sole scientist to survive the Tsalal deaths. It’s here we finally get the full story on Annie. After destroying research equipment and threatening to out the sinister deal brokered between Tsalal and Silver Skyline Mine to pollute the permafrost, the scientists kill her, Clark included. With the terrible deed completed, they turn to Silver Skyline Mine for help disposing of their problem and getting their research back on track. This is where Hank came in to move the body and stage it as a hate crime of sorts. (No wonder he was keeping the Annie K file hidden at his house. Major red flag).
True Detective 4×06’s Big Reveal Is a Mixed Bag
Liz and Navarro continue to shine. Foster and Reis’ chemistry is rock solid, and the moments where they share the screen are the series’ strongest. Together, they learn that a group of indigenous women, led by the two women Navarro helped in Episode 1, avenged Annie’s murder by storming the Tsalal Research Station and forcing the men into the snow.
Parts of this work. Navarro and Liz decide to look the other way and harbor another secret between them. The room has a mutual understanding: Women must look out for other women. All of them are up against the common enemy of corruption and greed. Connley’s (Christopher Eccleston) involvement (no matter how limited) proves the conspiracy between Silver Skyline Mining and the Tsalal Research Station runs deep in Ennis’ politics.
Still, it’s hard to watch the big bads walk away without so much as a slap on the wrist. Yes, Navarro and Liz leak Raymond Clark’s confession implicating the mine, but Night Country doesn’t follow through long enough to deliver a satisfying conclusion on that front. It’s no secret big corporations frequently get off easy in real life, but this is fiction, and an extra dose of justice could have gone a long way. It also could have helped unite the pollution and protest storylines, which ultimately took a backseat to the greater mystery.
True Detective 4×06 tries to tie a neat bow across all its storylines. Unfortunately, it’s not always so neat. Seeing Liz and Leah (Isabella LaBlanc) finally getting along is heartwarming, but the journey to their reconciliation feels sudden. The same can be said about Pete (Finn Bennett) and Kayla (Anna Lambe). If anything, their crumbling marriage felt like a plot device. As a result, their quick makeup does, too. And despite making Connley and Kate (Dervla Kirwan) such a big part of the previous episode, they don’t even make appearances in the finale.
Night Country Doesn’t Shy Away From Ambiguity
A condensed storyline is to blame. Unlike previous seasons, Night Country only had six episodes to tell its story. Issa López has proved herself to be a competent writer and director. With more time, these subplots could have achieved the emotional resolution they deserve. Instead, you’re left wanting just a little more from everyone, making Navarro’s ambiguous ending somewhat frustrating.
As with anything ambiguous, it’s bound to be divisive for audiences. Navarro’s ending feels poetic, but it also feels flawed. The most obvious interpretation is she walked onto the ice like her mother and sister before her. The tear-jerk you get from witnessing Qavvik (Joel D. Montgrand) find his toothbrush is complicated by the commentary on generational trauma. The same can be said about the supernatural elements. Were they real? Were they not real? Why did Liz also see the one-eyes polar bear? Surely, she can’t see dead people too.
The series doesn’t seem concerned with answering these questions. When you step into the titular Night Country, it’s almost like stepping into The Twilight Zone. If you like your mysteries with a dose of ambiguity, you’ll be happy with the finale. If you don’t, you should take Ennis, Alaska, off your fictional travel list.