Here we are, back in the land of True Detective a decade after the much lauded first season of the series premiered on HBO. What would follow were two additional seasons, one atrociously bad and one that wasn’t quite as bad, but still neither series would capture the strengths and the pop culture cache of the initial season of the show. So, why embark on episode recaps of season four, subtitled Night Country, after two disappointing seasons of the anthology series? Well, all signs point to this installment being much more in-line with season one – from the clear supernatural overtones to the reliance on ambiance in addition to complex characters populating the canvass. So, I figured, why not give weekly recaps a go this time around and see where it gets us.
And I have to admit, we’re off to a pretty solid start right out of the gate. Our mystery this time around is just what happened to the scientists stationed at the Tsalal Research Station in Ennis, Alaska, all of whom seem to have disappeared from the station without a trace. At the close of the premiere, we discover three of the men have somehow ended up frozen in a lake – their dying screams etched on their frozen faces. But it’s a classic murder mystery trope: a group of people in a remote location disappear without a trace. Was it foul play or was there something otherworldly at work? I guess we’ll find out. In season one, the various hints that something supernatural was responsible for the killings ultimately turned into a very human crime, and I’m intrigued to see how the thread of the missing scientists eventually connects to the death of Anne Kowtok, the Native woman who was murdered six years ago.
In terms of characters, boy do we have a motley crew this time around. In the grand tradition of police dramas, each and every cop we encounter has a heap of trauma and plenty of anger to boot. This is not a group you’d like to spend time with – and judging from how small Ennis appears to be, you likely wouldn’t have much of a choice were you to live there. Our two central detectives are Liz Danvers (Jodie Foster), who has some serious beef with her subordinate Hank Prior (the always interesting John Hawkes), and who has a step-daughter (at least it appears to be a step-daughter) who she can’t control. Oh, and Liz also seems to have a heck of an anger management issue to go with all the other stressors in her life. Then there’s Evangeline Navarro (a great Kali Reis), taking on the role of the younger cop who cares a bit too much but is also pretty destructive and doesn’t necessarily play by the rules. Evangeline is still chasing answers in the Anne Kowtok murder all these years later, blaming everyone else in police force for it not getting solved even though she was one of the lead detectives on it. Her obsession with the case also apparently led to her torpedoing her career. Lots of interesting character threads to follow as the season unspools.
Having the duo of Foster and Reis leading the way (along with the great Fiona Shaw and Christopher Eccleston appearing as well) already has the series shaping up to be a strong True Detective mystery. The key is going to be, much like with season one, whether the series can continue to walk the line between the horrors of what humanity is capable of and potential supernatural elements throughout the season without fully losing the magic of the series when the ending is revealed. Season one lost a bit on the final reveal – can season four manage to avoid that? The chemistry between Foster and Reis – the deep-seeded anger and distrust between the duo – has already made this one a must watch in my book. We know they will be forced to work together to solve just what is going on (in the great tradition of cop shows), so I’m eager to see just what these two come up with. And how destructive their characters will end up being to themselves and those around them in the process.
-
Writing
-
Acting
-
Direction
