What Is the Story About?
The fourth season of the most revered Thriller series : True Detective is set in the fictional town of Ennis, Alaska, during the days where there are no sunrises. Aka Night Country. The show follows the investigation that sparks off after the disappearance of eight scientists from a research station and the unresolved murder of a protesting native woman years ago.
Performances?
Pilot episode already down, Jodie Foster and Kali Reis are really bringing their A game to the series. The veteran actress nailing her part is no surprise. The attitude of Chief Liz Danvers is so on point in her hands and the pilot gives a sneak-peek to her ordeal with unattended trauma and tragedy.
Kali Reis as Trooper Navvaro nails the part of a troubled cop who is obsessed with an unsolved murder cold-case involving one of her natives. Both the characters don’t really find a middle-ground, but tries to put their skills forward to find the common link between an unresolved case and the missing case of scientists.
Analysis
Created by Nic Pizzolatto, written and directed by Issa López, True Detective : Night Country is the first season in the True Detective Series without Pizzolatto as showrunner or writer, but still serves as an executive producer. The show also is the first in the series to have a sub-title ‘Night Country’, set in a fictional night-town in Alaska.
True Detective : Night Country starts with a group of sheeps running wild during the last sunset. This quite clearly hints that the series is set at a point of time in Alaska’s fictional village Ennis where it’s just Night for a large number of upcoming days. The camera then pans to a research station and introduces characters one by one. One of the scientists, visibly bewildered utters ‘She’s awake’ and the next thing we see is that all the scientists in the station go missing.
Detective Chief Liz Denvers appears at the crime scene and now Trooper Navvaro (who also has a history with Liz) both coincidentally seem to connect the scientist missing case with one of the Ennis’ cold-cases, the brutal murder of a native woman named Annie.
The show takes a look at the lives of Liz and Navvaro, Liz being survived by a 15 year old girl who is not her daughter, Navvaro carries deep scars that the case of Annie’s unresolved murder left her with. Both the detectives don’t get along together but are equally haunted by Annie’s case. The show also explains in brief what happened to Annie while dropping hints of cult practices, faith, superstitions and the spirits.
Unlike the previous seasons, we have two women spearheading the mystery in True Detective : Night Country and evident hints of supernatural, spiritualism throughout the show. Lest forget that both Liz and Navvaro are battling trauma and mental health issues much like their predecessors.
Without further spoiling the show, True Detective : Night Country gets its setting and atmospherics right. While its biggest strength is still the cast, let’s see where the show moves from here. Having said that, the pilot episode definitely makes for a promising season. If you’re a fan of crime thrillers, True Detective season 1 and season 3 are real good watches. You could also start True Detective : Night Country as it promises to be a good watch so far.
Music and Other Departments?
True Detective : Night Country has alluring camera-work that retains the mystery and atmospherics of a True Detective series successor. Alaskan snow looks like an element of mystery in itself so far. The music also tails the intrigue factor adequately. However, one could judge more once the remaining episodes drop.
Highlights?
– Storytelling
– Jodie Foster & Kali Reis
– Location where the show is set
– Elements of Cult and Superstition
– Cinematography
Drawbacks?
– Nothing much so far.
Did I Enjoy It?
Yes. Definitely.
Will You Recommend It?
Definitely. If the pilot episode is anything go by, True Detective : Night Country could just be the thriller series of the year with award winning performances.
True Detective : Night Country Series Review by Binged Bureau
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