True Detective (season 4)

  1. Home
  2. English Wikipedia
  3. True Detective (season 4)

True Detective
Season 4
Promotional poster
Starring
Country of originUnited States
No. of episodes6
Release
Original networkHBO
Original releaseJanuary 14 (2024-01-14) –
February 18, 2024 (2024-02-18)
Season chronology
← Previous
Season 3
List of episodes

True Detective: Night Country is the fourth season of True Detective, an American anthology crime drama television series created by Nic Pizzolatto, which premiered on January 14, 2024, on HBO. The season is set in the fictional town of Ennis, Alaska, and follows the investigation behind the disappearance of eight men from a research station. The season stars Jodie Foster and Kali Reis as Detectives Liz Danvers and Evangeline Navarro. It is the first season to carry a subtitle.

Night Country was created by Issa López, who serves as showrunner, writer, and director. It is the first season without the involvement of Pizzolatto; however, he is still credited as an executive producer.[1]

Production

Development

Issa López, showrunner for True Detective: Night Country

Initially, Nic Pizzolatto was directly involved in a fourth season of True Detective, but ultimately Issa López would be selected as showrunner, writing and directing the whole season. Pizzolatto would remain as an executive producer, marking his first season without a writing credit.[2]

Before the release of the third season, Pizzolatto explained that he had a "really, really wild" idea for a potential fourth season.[3] After the season finished airing, he explained that he decided to drop his idea, intending to use a new idea after discussing with an unnamed actor about the project.[4] In July 2019, Casey Bloys, HBO president of programming, explained that "If Nic has an idea that he is excited about, we will talk about it but not rushing into anything."[5]

In January 2020, Pizzolatto signed an overall production deal with Fox 21 Television Studios and FX Productions, putting into question his involvement in a potential fourth season.[6] By the next year, HBO began exploring ideas for a fourth season with other writers, including Lucía Puenzo and Sam Levinson.[7] Bloys later said, "There's something in the True Detective area, there's things we're feeling good about. I would say stay tuned on that one."[8]

In March 2022, HBO announced that a fourth season entered into development, which would carry a subtitle, Night Country, a first for the series. López would write and direct, and also executive produce the season alongside Barry Jenkins, Adele Romanski and Mark Ceryak.[9] In June 2022, HBO officially greenlit the season, with López serving as showrunner.

When preparing season 4, subtitled Night Country, director and writer Issa López chose to create a "dark mirror" of the first season: "Where True Detective is male and it's sweaty, Night Country is cold and it's dark and it's female."[10] In an interview with The A.V. Club, López credited John Carpenter's The Thing, the Overlook Hotel from The Shining, and the spacecraft Nostromo from Alien as inspiration. She said (to HBO), "Guys, me being who I am, I'm going to tap into that and go for it," referring to the supernatural elements of True Detective's first season, which has Carcosa and the Yellow King.[11] López has also cited the Dyatlov Pass incident and Mary Celeste as inspirations for the season.[12]

Another inspiration was Billie Eilish's 2019 song "Bury a Friend", which López described as "such a dark, moody, fun, sinister little song that I thought it could absolutely work." It was used to score Night Country's title sequence. López started to listen to Eilish during the COVID-19 lockdown, when she wrote the season, and noticed how similar in theme "Bury a Friend"'s lyrics were. In a 2019 interview, Eilish said she wrote the song from the perspective of the monster under the bed.[13] López was recorded to say "It's perfectly possible that the events of the show happened because I was listening to Billie."[14][15]

Casting

In May 2022, Jodie Foster was confirmed to star in the season, marking her first adult TV role and her first starring role in a TV series since 1975.[16] Foster described her character, chief Danvers, as awful; an "Alaska Karen".[17]

In June 2022, it was reported that Kali Reis would join Foster as co-lead, in a role originally conceived as Latina[18][10] and as a "hardass" military veteran.[19]

In September 2022, it was reported that John Hawkes, Christopher Eccleston, Fiona Shaw, Finn Bennett, and Anna Lambe would also appear in the season.[20] In October 2022, Aka Niviâna, Isabella Star LaBlanc and Joel D. Montgrand joined the season.[21] Eccleston stated, "I'd never have taken such a small part if it wasn't for Jodie. [A]ll my scenes are with her, and she's been a heroine of mine for many years."[22]

Filming

The season was filmed in Iceland and Alaska with a budget of $60 million.[23][24] Filming began in November 2022 and wrapped in April 2023.[25][26] The conditions included nighttime shoots at −23 °C (−9 °F), with director López commenting, "I'm Mexican, so I'm really not fond of the cold." She said that viewers would find the environment authentic "because we were there, because the actors were cold, because the filmmakers were cold".[11]

Cast

Main cast

Jodie Foster and Kali Reis, who play the lead detectives

Recurring cast

Episodes

See also: List of True Detective episodes
No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateU.S. viewers
(millions) [27]
251"Part 1"Issa LópezIssa LópezJanuary 14, 2024 (2024-01-14)0.565
In the remote town of Ennis, Alaska, the eight scientists working at the Tsalal Research Station disappear, with a woman's severed tongue left at the scene. Local police Chief Liz Danvers deduces that the tongue belonged to an Indigenous woman. Alaskan Native trooper Evangeline Navarro believes the victim to be Annie Kowtok, an Inupiat woman who was stabbed to death and her tongue cut out after protesting against the construction of a local mine; the case remains unsolved after six years, which Navarro blames on Danvers. Danvers uncovers photographic evidence of a relationship between Annie and Raymond Clark, one of the missing researchers, and returns to Tsalal, where she finds Navarro also inspecting the facility. The two argue over Annie's case until they are summoned to a frozen lake. Rose Aguineau, a woman living on the edge of town, has discovered the naked bodies of the researchers, frozen in a solid mass, with their clothes carefully folded on the snow.
262"Part 2"Issa LópezIssa LópezJanuary 21, 2024 (2024-01-21)0.678
As authorities check on the corpses, Danvers discovers that the bodies have strange injuries, with burnt eyes, self-inflicted bite marks and ruptured ear drums. She also notices a spiral symbol on one victim's forehead but does not understand what it means. Danvers is suspicious as her superior Ted Connolly seems to want to hurry to close the case without a proper investigation. As they try to remove the bodies from the ice, one of the officers accidentally breaks a victim's arm off at the elbow. To the group's shock, the victim is still alive and screams in pain. They realize that Raymond Clark is not among the frozen corpses.
273"Part 3"Issa LópezStory by : Issa López
Teleplay by : Issa López and Alan Page Arriaga		January 28, 2024 (2024-01-28)0.602
The frozen scientist dies without providing helpful information. While incompetent Deputy Hank Prior leads the search for Clark, his earnest son Deputy Peter Prior asks his mentor Chief Danvers about the murder-suicide case that drove a wedge between her and Navarro. Navarro and Danvers seek out a local hairdresser for insight on Annie -- which leads to a tip. Navarro's relationships with her on-again, off-again boyfriend and her beloved schizophrenic sister Julia are explored.
284"Part 4"Issa LópezNamsi Khan and Chris Mundy and Issa LópezFebruary 4, 2024 (2024-02-04)0.722
When Julia's mental health struggles worsen, Navarro brings her to a local facility, promising that this time will be better. Plagued by terrifying visions of the dead, Julia walks out into the ocean and commits suicide. Later, Navarro has visions of her sister which she cannot distinguish from reality. Danvers and Navarro confirm the location of Annie's murder. Danvers struggles in her relationship with her Inupiat stepdaughter Leah, who wants to explore her Native heritage, despite Danvers' disapproval. Peter Prior's relationships with his father and young wife Kayla are severely strained as he knows Hank is corrupt and he has little time to spend at home, leaving his wife alone with their baby.
295"Part 5"Issa LópezKatrina Albright & Wenonah Wilms and Chris Mundy & Issa LópezFebruary 9, 2024 (2024-02-09) (online)
February 11, 2024 (2024-02-11) (HBO)		0.371
As Peter digs into the links between Tsalal and mining company Silver Sky, Navarro rescues Leah from a local protest that has turned violent. At a meeting with Silver Sky exec Kate McKitterick and Ted Connolly, Danvers is warned not to pursue the case any further. Danvers' suspicions about her supervisor are confirmed so she brings a potential witness, Otis Heiss, to her home to keep him away from Connolly. Hank is sent to murder Heiss and turns his gun on Danvers but Peter shoots his father before he can murder Danvers too. Peter is left behind to conceal the killings while Danvers and Navarro rush to find ice caves that hold evidence of Annie's murder.
306"Part 6"Issa LópezIssa LópezFebruary 18, 2024 (2024-02-18)0.983
Danvers and Navarro find a hidden underground lab where Annie was murdered, connected by tunnels to the Tsalal scientific facility. They capture missing scientist Raymond Clark, Annie's former lover. Clark confesses Annie discovered the facility's bogus pollution data and their world-changing secret research. All the other scientists took part in stabbing Annie but it was Clark who finally smothered her to death. He claims they didn't cut Annie's tongue, suggesting Deputy Hank did, but commits suicide before he can provide more evidence. Peter receives support from Kayla and disposes of Hank's body with Rose's help, who warns him of lingering grief. Danvers falls through ice into the ocean below, but Navarro saves her, each woman having a vision, Danvers of her long-lost son and Navarro of her dead mother. Danvers and Navarro find evidence linking a Tsalal cleaning lady and Indigenous women workers from the local crab factory to the researchers' attack. The women admit that they discovered the secret lab and avenged Annie by forcing the researchers out into the cold, believing Annie's spirit punished them. Danvers and Navarro close the case, citing natural causes for the researchers' deaths. Danvers leaks a video left to her by Navarro in which Clark has exposed the Silver Sky mine's pollution, leading to its closure. Danvers is questioned about Otis Heiss's murder, with Hank as the prime suspect. When they ask her about Navarro's whereabouts, Danvers claims she has no idea where she is. Before closing the case, Navarro had promised Danvers to return but the ending does not confirm if she returns as a spirit or in mortal form.

Release

A first look was unveiled in December 2022 during an HBO sizzle reel.[28] In April 2023, the first trailer for the season was released.[29]

The fourth season premiered on January 14, 2024. It was originally intended to premiere in 2023.[30]

In the United Kingdom, it premiered on Sky on January 15, 2024.[31][32]

Reception

On Rotten Tomatoes, the season has an approval rating of 92% based on 182 reviews with an average rating of 8.15/10. The website's critics consensus reads, "Frighteningly atmospheric and anchored by Jodie Foster and Kali Reis' superb performances, Night Country is a fresh and frosty variation on True Detective's existential themes."[33] On Metacritic, the season has a weighted average score of 81 out of 100, based on 45 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".[34]

David Bianculli of NPR deemed Night Country the best entry of True Detective since season one, comparing its focus on the direction, mood, acting and writing.[35] USA Today's Kelly Lawler agreed, saying it is "as excellent as, and perhaps transcends, that striking first season a decade ago."[36] Caryn James wrote for the BBC that Lopez "created a fierce, absorbing, richly imagined new show of her own."[37] In the Slant Magazine review, Ross McIndoe sums up: "Like the best seasons of True Detective, Night Country thrives on its ability to exist as both a brisk, thrilling genre piece and a weighty, philosophical drama."[38]

Inkoo Kang writing for The New Yorker considers the season to be "a feminist revision of a series best known for its macho poetry and its ogling eye" and that López "transforms True Detective from a lot of mystical mumbling into a show with something to say".[39] Alison Herman of Variety wrote that Lopez's take on the anthology series invigorated the "hardened female cop in a blue-collar community" archetype by placing it in a new context.[40] Kristen Baldwin of Entertainment Weekly praised Foster's performance for eschewing cliché and rendering a "mesmerizing and often-hilarious antihero."[41]

Adam Graham of The Detroit News commended Foster's "full detective mode" performance and the contrast offered by Reis but wrote, "Some of its supernatural underpinnings lead to dead ends and López is sometimes at odds with herself over the direction of her storytelling."[42] CNN's Brian Lowry similarly felt the performances and chemistry between Foster and Reis worked "reasonably well", but criticized the slow pacing as the season's ultimate failure.[43]

Mike Hale of The New York Times was less enthusiastic: "The mystery steadily dissolves into preposterousness, the characters sink into incoherence, and the horror isn't original or evocative enough to carry things on its own."[44] Dylan Roth of Observer.com wrote, "While Night Country offers plenty of intrigue on the macro level, the individual characters and relationships are more grim than they are engaging. Everyone has texture, but no one has chemistry."[45] Nina Metz of the Chicago Tribune believed the "blunt" traits of the leads were ultimately "stand-ins for character development".[46]

Nic Pizzolatto received attention for his unfiltered criticism of the fourth season where he called its connections to earlier seasons "so stupid" and wrote "can't blame me" for its perceived weaknesses. He later deleted his comments after getting backlash from fans, but after the finale of the season doubled down on his criticisms by sharing several negative opinions of other users of social media. This prompted Paul MacInnes writing for The Guardian to describe it as "Nic Pizzolatto throwing a tantrum over his own show," while Vulture writer Roxana Hadadi noted how season 4’s reception by critics compares favorably to Pizzolatto's own seasons 2 and 3.[47][48] Responding to Pizzolatto's negative comments, showrunner López stated:

"I wrote this with profound love for the work he made and love for the people that loved it. And it is a reinvention, and it is different, and it's done with the idea of sitting down around the fire, and [let's] have some fun and have some feelings and have some thoughts. And anybody that wants to join is welcome."[48][49]

References

  1. ^ Wigler, Josh (February 19, 2024). "'True Detective: Night Country' Team Explains Ambiguous Ending: "You Should Be Making Theories"". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
  2. ^ Hibberd, James (June 28, 2022). "HBO Officially Orders 'True Detective' Season 4, Casts Kali Reis". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on July 26, 2023. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  3. ^ Hibberd, James (January 9, 2019). "True Detective creator on season 3, being 'blown away' by Mahershala Ali". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on February 3, 2019. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
  4. ^ Travers, Ben (April 30, 2019). "'True Detective': Nic Pizzolatto Shifts Plans for Season 4 — and Eyes More Projects as a Producer". IndieWire. Archived from the original on May 23, 2019. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
  5. ^ White, Peter (July 24, 2019). "'True Detective': HBO Programming Chief On A Potential Fourth Season Of Nic Pizzolatto's Crime Drama – TCA". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on April 16, 2023. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
  6. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (January 28, 2020). "Nic Pizzolatto And Matthew McConaughey Reteam For 'Redeemer' Drama Series At FX; 'True Detective' Duo Ink FX Productions & Fox 21 TV Studios Deals". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on January 14, 2021. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
  7. ^ White, Peter (February 10, 2021). "'True Detective': HBO In Talks With Writers For Fourth Season, Keen To Find New Voices For Dark Crime Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 11, 2021. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
  8. ^ White, Peter (February 16, 2022). "HBO Content Chief On Future Of 'True Detective', 'Mare Of Easttown', 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' & 'In Treatment'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 16, 2022. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  9. ^ Otterson, Joe (March 18, 2022). "'True Detective' Season 4 in the Works at HBO From Issa López, Barry Jenkins". Variety. Archived from the original on July 26, 2023. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  10. ^ a b Busis, Hillary (November 8, 2023). "True Detective: Night Country First Look: "It's Cold and It's Dark and It's Female"". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on December 3, 2023. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
  11. ^ a b Izzo, Christina (January 8, 2024). "True Detective's new showrunner on shaking things up and why Jodie Foster is a "beast of an actor"". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on January 22, 2024. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  12. ^ True Detective: Night Country Official Podcast – Episode 1. HBO. January 16, 2024. Archived from the original on January 17, 2024. Retrieved January 18, 2024 – via YouTube.
  13. ^ Campbell, Rachel (January 30, 2019). "Billie Eilish announces debut album with new song". Alternative Press. Retrieved February 6, 2024.
  14. ^ Rosenberg, Josh (January 16, 2024). "Billie Eilish's 'Bury A Friend' Inspired True Detective Season 4's Opening Credits". Esquire. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
  15. ^ Travers, Ben (January 15, 2024). "Billie Eilish Had More Sway Over 'True Detective' Season 4 Than Just the Opening Titles". IndieWire. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
  16. ^ White, Peter (May 26, 2022). "'True Detective': Jodie Foster To Star In Season 4 Of HBO Anthology Series, Marks First Major Adult TV Role". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on August 11, 2023. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  17. ^ Huver, Scott; Walcott, Escher (January 10, 2024). "Jodie Foster Says Her True Detective Character Is an 'Alaska Karen': 'No Two Ways About It'". People. Archived from the original on January 17, 2024. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  18. ^ Otterson, Joe (June 28, 2022). "'True Detective' Season 4 at HBO Casts Kali Reis in Lead Role Opposite Jodie Foster". Variety. Archived from the original on July 26, 2023. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  19. ^ Hadadi, Roxana (February 5, 2024). "Interview: True Detective's Kali Reis Claims Another Victory". Vulture. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
  20. ^ Otterson, Joe (September 23, 2022). "'True Detective' Season 4 at HBO Adds Five to Cast, Including Fiona Shaw and Christopher Eccleston". Variety. Archived from the original on July 26, 2023. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  21. ^ Campione, Katie (October 26, 2022). "'True Detective': Aka Niviâna, Isabella Star Lablanc, Joel D. Montgrand Join Season 4 Of HBO Anthology Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on November 19, 2022. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  22. ^ Brown, Helen (January 20, 2024). "Christopher Eccleston on the sex scene that still upsets him: 'An A-list actress implied I was copping a feel'". The Independent. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
  23. ^ Mitovich, Matt Webb (June 28, 2022). "True Detective Season 4: Kali Reis to Help Jodie Foster Solve Alaska Mystery". TVLine. Archived from the original on June 28, 2022. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  24. ^ Fry, Andy; Rajput, Priyanca; Evans, Chris (January 5, 2023). "International Production Guide". Kemps Film and TV Production Services Handbook. 2023 Edition: 33. Archived from the original on February 27, 2023. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  25. ^ Bentz, Adam (November 8, 2022). "True Detective Season 4 Set Photo Reveals Filming Start". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on December 19, 2022. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  26. ^ Hookstead, David (April 10, 2023). "'True Detective' Season 4 Finishes Filming, Release Timeline Possibly Becoming Clear". OutKick. Archived from the original on June 26, 2023. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  27. ^ "True Detective: Season Four Ratings (Night Country)". TV Series Finale. January 18, 2024. Archived from the original on January 22, 2024. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  28. ^ Schwartz, Ryan (December 21, 2022). "TVLine Items: New Chicago Med Doc, True Detective First Look and More". TVLine. Archived from the original on July 26, 2023. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  29. ^ Moreau, Jordan (April 12, 2023). "'True Detective: Night Country' Trailer: Jodie Foster Solves Bone-Chilling Alaskan Mystery". Variety. Archived from the original on July 26, 2023. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  30. ^ Nemetz, Dave (September 27, 2023). "True Detective Season 4 Lands HBO Premiere Date — Watch a New Trailer". TVLine. Archived from the original on September 27, 2023. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
  31. ^ MacInnes, Paul (February 23, 2024). "'Some of the sloppiest writing I've ever watched': how True Detective's creator turned on his own show". The Guardian. Archived from the original on February 23, 2024. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  32. ^ Craig, David (January 14, 2024). "True Detective: Night Country release date, cast, trailer and news". Radio Times. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
  33. ^ "True Detective: Season 4". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on January 19, 2024. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  34. ^ "True Detective: Season 4". Metacritic. Archived from the original on January 20, 2024. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  35. ^ Bianculli, David (January 9, 2024). "'Night Country' is the best 'True Detective' season since the original". Fresh Air. NPR. Archived from the original on January 15, 2024. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  36. ^ Lawler, Kelly (January 11, 2024). "Review: 'True Detective: Night Country' is so good, it might be better than Season 1". USA Today. Archived from the original on January 15, 2024. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  37. ^ James, Caryn (January 2, 2024). "True Detective: Night Country review: 'Fierce and richly imagined'". BBC. Archived from the original on January 15, 2024. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  38. ^ McIndoe, Ross (January 2, 2024). "True Detective: Night Country Review: A Propulsive, Performance-Driven Crime Story". Slant Magazine. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  39. ^ Kang, Inkoo (January 13, 2024). ""True Detective: Night Country" Finds the Heart of Darkness". The New Yorker. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  40. ^ Herman, Alison (January 12, 2024). "'True Detective' Gets a Rewarding Reboot in the Eerie 'Night Country,' Starring Jodie Foster: TV Review". Variety. Archived from the original on January 15, 2024. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  41. ^ Baldwin, Kristen (January 11, 2024). "Jodie Foster revives HBO's flagging franchise with 'True Detective: Night Country'". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on January 15, 2024. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  42. ^ Graham, Adam (January 11, 2024). "'True Detective: Night Country' review: Jodie Foster at the end of the world". The Detroit News. Archived from the original on January 15, 2024. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  43. ^ Lowry, Brian (January 12, 2024). "In 'True Detective: Night Country,' Jodie Foster gets snowed in by side plots". CNN. Archived from the original on January 15, 2024. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  44. ^ Hale, Mike (January 12, 2024). "'True Detective: Night Country' Review: Iced In". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on January 15, 2024. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  45. ^ Roth, Dylan (January 12, 2024). "'True Detective: Night Country' Review: Mystery, Misery, Horror, And An Endless Night". Observer. Archived from the original on January 15, 2024. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  46. ^ Metz, Nina (January 11, 2024). "'True Detective: Night Country' review: A long day's journey into ... just another cop show". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on January 14, 2024. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  47. ^ MacInnes, Paul (February 23, 2024). "'Some of the sloppiest writing I've ever watched': How True Detective's creator turned on his own show". The Guardian. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
  48. ^ a b Hadadi, Roxana (January 31, 2024). "Issa López Responds to Nic Pizzolatto Criticism of True Detective: Night Country". Vulture. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
  49. ^ Rosenberg, Josh (February 1, 2024). "True Detective Creator Nic Pizzolatto Isn't a Fan of Night Country". Esquire. Retrieved February 2, 2024.

External links

Information

Article True Detective (season 4) in English Wikipedia took following places in local popularity ranking:

About the page

Presented content of the Wikipedia article was extracted in 2024-02-27 based on https://en.wikipedia.org/?curid=71167544