True Detective (TV Series) Night Country: Part 1 (2024) User Reviews

An intriguing start but should drop the racial tropes

[TartanScorsese · 7/10 · 16 January 2024]

I thought this first episode was pretty good. The acting is mainly very good and I like the way the show blends a detective drama with creepy supernatural suspense. It's maintained my interest and I will keep watching, for now....... Unfortunately, the episode was quite excessive in using the age-old racial stereotype of "I have darker skin than you, therefore I'm gonna act badass and treat you like a privileged geek". It's boring and a bit racist. Another minor gripe was with the terrible CGI animals, I haven't seen CGI that poor in years.

On a more positive note, as we all know Jodie Foster thrives in police roles, and this is no exception. I suspect she will make it a worthwhile watch regardless of the downfalls.

Enjoying it so far

[angusdaley · 8/10 · 15 January 2024]

Look, nothing's ever going to come close to season 1, perfection is very hard to replicate. But season 4 is shaping up nicely (Only 1 episode is available so not a lot to go on to be fair) Foster is believable as a hardened detective, Reis is looking like she'll be a interesting character and the overall feel of the show is feeling more like season 1 than either of the other 2 follow ups.

Alaska seems like the perfect setting for a dark, creepy and compelling series and I'm loving the mysteries that are starting to unfold already. Really looking forward to seeing how the rest of the series progresses but have to say episode 1 is a great start. 8/10.

True detective returns after hiatus with the legendary Jodie Foster, darker subject material, and more suspenseful mystery.

[tresm87 · 8/10 · 15 January 2024]

The last 2 seasons of TD have not lived up to the classic first season in any iota though both had solid aspects. After hearing Jodie Foster was starring this season and the Alaskan setting I knew the season could be a darker and more unsettling entry. One episode in and I can say it's the closest to the first season already in atmospheric brooding suspense and overall foreboding feel. Something of which I didn't feel in the last 2 seasons. Foster is of course fantastic with her intensity and dedication. The cast overall has plenty of great supporting roles as well. What really separates this is the visual appeal with all of the frozen and bleakness throughout. It's the type of environment needed for mystery and crime subjects. Overall off to a great start . Can't wait to watch the rest.

I think the incels don't like this one...

[kendalljohnson89 · 8/10 · 2 February 2024]

I can't put my finger on why so many men dislike this show...i really wonder what it could be?

Jokes aside, it's a solid show. If you like True Detective you should like this one. Callbacks to S1, it's creepy, there's an interesting mystery, hard policing. It's literally everything you love about TD. If this were two dudes it would easily have 7-8 average rating. The show is very well paced, has some connections to things happening in the real world and features some really good acting. Please do yourself a favor and RELAX. It can't touch S1 because nothing can. It's still a really good show.

An intriguing if flawed start.

[omniamutatis · 8/10 · 16 January 2024]

The first few minutes are really great at setting the mood for the rest of the series. Which is to say, it's just as disjointed as it is intriguing. Different characters are constantly being introduced, plotlines set up and then on to the next scene. It's the first episode so I expect to feel a little lost. I think what hurts the episode is that it plays like 3 episodes crammed into one due to the shorter season length. Which means very little that is introduced is given any time to really hook you. I want to be invested in these characters. Any of them. But everyone is so antagonistic or vague that I have no idea how to feel about them.

I love that this season is leaning harder on hints of the supernatural but I think it presses too hard in that direction. The first season suggested the possibility but always held back just enough to make you wonder. This season will have to twist itself quite a bit to debunk some of the events of this episode. Thinking about it, this first episode plays out more like a Stephen King story than a True Detective one.

Those are the reasons I didn't give it 9 or 10 stars. Overall, I enjoyed the episode. The atmosphere is great, some of the acting is on point while some is merely passable. It's hard to really judge any other aspect until I see more episodes but I'll definitely be tuning in next week.

Not great, not terrible

[MyAccountUsername · 6/10 · 15 January 2024]

I went into this with high hopes, having just rewatched the first series. I really enjoyed the supernatural/paranormal themes of season one, and I think Jodie Foster is a tremendous actress, so I was very excited for this new episode, and instead I'm disappointed. The production values look cheap (the CGI reindeer herd was laughable), they're going far too hard on the supernatural elements instead of letting it fester in our minds, and way too much screen time is spent on characters who aren't the detectives. The scriptwriting is very lacklustre as well, I haven't seen seasons two and three but this comes nowhere near the genius that was series one - it feels like a Netflix Original mid-budget ripoff that's cancelled after one season. I don't think I'll bother with the rest.

EDIT: Rewatched and bumped my review up to a 6, it still has some pretty big flaws but is much better the second time round.

I love the season 4 so far

[abee34 · 9/10 · 7 February 2024]

I am really enjoying the season 4 so far - it's intriguing and appealing on so many levels. The scenery of Alaska (and apparently Iceland where season 4 was shot) is beautiful - you can just feel the blistering cold blowing from a screen . The never ending snow and complete darkness of the Arctic winter adds to the suspense. The premise of the story is totally unique and original. The intertwined narrative of the history and culture of native people (Iñupiat) with the rest of the community is captivating. The super natural elements probably are rooted in culture, and this makes the story authentic. I am loving this season and the story - it's like no other. Kudos to the creators!

Why Lopez, why?

[micke-bystrom · 6/10 · 18 January 2024]

It's unfortunate that Issa López has gone around sharing the 4th season of True Detective as being connected to season 1, because she seems to have missed why the some aspects, like the supernatural, worked so great in season 1. It's because, I think, in that first season it's presented as just a part of the story and is never really explained. Instead it creeps up on you and the feeling of it is therefore much stronger.

It's not blatant finger pointing screaming "This is supernatural! Do you get it?". Which is what I feel Issa López and Nic Pizzolatto has created in the first episode. This card is overused and incorporate the supernatural into the story as a parody of such clichés, instead of just trusting the strength of story. This does not bode well. I found some parts of this aspect quite laughable. I don't see the need of being overly obvious. Also, it's not even working. Certainly the worst of this episode.

Yes, this has been used before like in the very intro of Game of Thrones. The genious of this there is that it's not explained until later seasons. It's a "What was that?". Not so in the first episode here. Yes, there's a mystery, but the potential weight of it is lost. Why miss by that much?

Otherwise Issa López has a great crew like Kali Reis as Navarro, who is amazing, John Hawkes as Hank Prior just to name a few. I think all actors are very convincing, except for Jodie Foster as Danvers. I'm expecting her character to grow on you in coming episodes, but I'm at a loss how anyone can make Jodie Foster appear off in any role. It's as if she's not in the skin of her character. Hoping for improvements later.

The story itself shows some promise of something interesting coming, but in this first episode the presentation of the main conundrum leaves a lot to be desired, I can only hope that López will just tell us the story in the rest of the season. I hope for things to creep up on you, slowly.

The photo is amazing I feel, as are the sets. Great work!

Yeah, I'll watch the whole season anyway. But it's a let down nevertheless.

Is this the same show?

[BKRLIBRE · 2/10 · 18 January 2024]

Seriously, 15 mins into the first episode I had to double check I was watching 'True Detective' & not mistakenly pressed on the wrong show. Shockingly bad low budget CGI, cheesy & predictable acting. Unrealistic & almost comedic scenarios, bordering on the line of dark humour. Not to mention the odd paranormal twist this has taken? Bizarre.

I'm all for a woman lead, I'm not a fan of people always turning reviews political, but as others have mentioned, they'd made every male role in this episode to almost resemble Doofus & the lead female characters almost Chuck Norris like, is quite laughable.

I didn't have my expectations too high, but unfortunately it doesn't look too promising for the season & way below what I even expected. Looks like this will be the end of what was a classic series.

Not Sure What These One Star Reviewers Are Watching But...

[spza · 9/10 · 25 January 2024]

After episode one I am completely on board with this Jodie Foster incarnation of the series, one that I had stopped watching as it gradually sunk under the weight of its.own self-importance. The setting is beautifully stark and forbidding, the writing and direction are taut and the performances, many by actors who appear to be native to the arctic region, are terrific. They take their lead from Foster - tough, world-weary, sardonic, and of course, burdened with a mandatory tragic past we're getting hints of. She has a complicated relationship with her.deputy, played by the wonderful John Hawke, and his son, a rookie cop played by a relative newcomer named Finn Bennett. Bennett handles his scenes with Foster with a likeable combination of respect, frustration and terror, which makes complete sense, given Foster has the wired energy of an IED from The Hurt Locker. But Foster's most difficult relationship is with her ex partner, Evangeline Navarro, played with power by former boxer Kali Reis, haunted by an unsolved murder which may be connected to the murders that launch this season. There's racism, sexism, environmentalism versus a mine that is the basis of a town's economy, all exacerbated by a 24 hour arctic night, tha adds a disorienting sense of time to the dread that comes with the darkness, It's a landscape full of ghosts and things that go bump in the night and a worthy successor to Season One's polar opposite.

Very weak opening compared to rest of franchise

[hklevy · 6/10 · 16 January 2024]

This was so hyped up, and I was eager for it to begin...but it fell terribly flat for me. Bad CGI. Badly written. Script all over the place. Nice location and set design but outdated, cringy whispers and a la twin peaks bizarro ghost scene. The sweat and self-importance of the writer/director was well felt.

Felt like it was 'riding' on the franchise while being completely hollow.

The indigenous vs. White culture clashes were so on the nose, without any complexity or sophistication. So I guess it's one thing joining a franchise and hitting the tone while adding something new/other to it, like Fargo does in my opinion. It's another just using a franchise and then filling it with...sweaty mayo.

Feels like a mid netflix show

[syoung-01416 · 15 January 2024]

I loved season 1 and 3 with season 2 being okay. After righting the ship with season 3 I was so excited for season 4 as the idea of the characters and setting seemed very intriguing as I love isolated location murder mysteries like trapped and vigil. However I was shocked by what felt like a show not worthy of the hbo or true detective platform. It felt somehow devoid of atmosphere due to it feeling incredibly in authentic in its location. It's like this small town was built by Google. The show gave me the feeling of a lazy netflix show or something from the CW. Even season 2 which I did not like felt like it was near the same level but do you far this is shockingly bad.

Not as awful as butthurt reviewers claim!

[yoshimasu_k · 10/10 · 25 January 2024]

First thing's first - episode two is much better than, so please keep an open mind until you watch both! Next, and more importantly, it's frustrating (but of course expected) to see all of the butthurt comments whining and crying about this season's focus on women leads and an indigenous people - don't worry, straight white men are doing JUST FINE in Hollywood and they aren't going ANYWHERE anytime soon.

While FAR FAR FAR from being perfect, the drastically different scenery and, yes, the focus on women leads and indigenous people provide a much-needed fresh perspective in the American crime genre (once again - don't worry, straight white men will be just fine). As a season of True Detective, it of course doesn't compare to past seasons. At the same time, the attachment of "Night Country" to the title gives me the impression that the producers intentionally took a different route.

Also, stop complaining about the presence of spiritual/otherworldly elements. "Supernatural" isn't just a ficticious plot device here, as some cultures place importance on such things. Be a decent human being and understand that other cultures/beliefs/ways of life exist (and deserve to be represented in mainstream film/TV).

After watching episode two, I really wish aspects of it were incorporated in episode one (character development, plot points) because, as I said, it was much better - so please don't give up on this season yet!

First episode!

[nicokautto · 8/10 · 17 January 2024]

Solid first episode that really doesn't deserve the hate that some people are giving it. It isn't bad and actually is a good first episode that left me intriqued and ready to see more.

Hating a episode of a season because it wasn't good is subjective and completely fine. My opinion as a fellow true detective fan is that this was a good episode with interesting introductions for the seasons characters and plot. There wasn't any standouts, but it's the first episode and you shouldn't expect there to be any. Let the characters develop and let's see.

No reason at all to start hating the season as a whole based on one episode. We might get something special that we don't know just yet.

And finally.... Series 4 Delivers!

[stephenmsaunders · 10/10 · 15 January 2024]

True Detective's reputation was based on series one. I loved series two, but I can see why a lot of people thought it was laughable. And then there was series 3, an unwatchable bore fest with only one decent scene in the whole enterprise.

And, here we are several years later, with series 4 - an absolutely superb drama that lives up to the reputation of series 1. Casting, check; atmosphere, check; , and a challenging but worthwhile plot, with none of the manipulative BS you associate with so many so-called thriller series.

It's clear that series 4 will not make the viewer's life easy in terms of emotion or intellect. This is a show to dwell on and get invested in.

Superb.

Promising beginning reminiscent of season 1

[lovemichaeljordan · 7/10 · 15 January 2024]

It's probably impossible to watch a season of True Detective and not compare it to the first, perfect season. Still, this is a promising start. Jodie Foster's character grabbed my attention the second she appeared on the screen.

The production is not very impressive; some visual effects are questionable, but the location in which the show is set is cool. It's unique, cold and scary. There are aspects of this season which will remind you of the first season. While not being the greatest episode of the show, it is a good setup for what's to come. If you are a fan of this show, you should give it a try.

It's cold and dark north of the Arctic Circle

[dfloro · 9/10 · 15 January 2024]

True Detective is an anthology series in which each 8-episode season features a new pair of law enforcement people investigating (a) new and ever grislier murder(s). The show, created by Nic Pizzolatto, debuted a decade ago in 2014, with real-life Texas friends Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey playing a couple of mismatched partners who are investigating a mysterious and deeply disturbing set of crimes. Five years after the third season was shown in January 2019 we're finally treated to Season 4, with Jodie Foster and Kali Reis as yet another mismatched set of reluctant police ex-partners, and also featuring the long-underappreciated fine actor John Hawkes, as well as English actor Christopher Eccleston and Irish actress Fiona Shaw. This crime takes place in the fictional town of Ennis, Alaska, north of the Arctic Circle, where the entire complement of researchers in a station go missing and are eventually found out frozen solid in the huge layer of ice (at least up to their heads, faces still caught frozen in terror). Aspects of the case, including a human tongue cut from a victim (or perhaps even an unknown perpetrator), harken back to the case of murder of an Indigenous woman years before, worked on by our two unlikely protagonists. This new season definitely looks like the best since the first; I rate it 9/10 so far, with my usual caveat about adjusting it as we progress to the end.

I expected more

[brokenarrows-33267 · 6/10 · 15 January 2024]

I really want True Detective to succeed. The show had such a huge impact during the time Season 1 came out. After that the magic was gone. Season 3 lowkey had that Season 1 essence but not in its golry.

Now Season 4's first Episode is out and it really doesnt have this True Detective feeling at all. It mostly feels like a Teen Drama series with a higher budget from CW.

Weird Music choices a actually very good looking Intro with Billie Eilish as the title song.

The setting is nice but this doesnt feel like True Detective at all. New doesnt mean its better. True Detective created its own character not any other season was able to fullfill in its own creative ways.

Ill continue watching it but i dont really have a lot of faith.

Its well made, regardless of anyone's "political" opinion

[BluRayRad · 10/10 · 18 January 2024]

Everything is political. The clothes people choose to wear are political. I'm tired of reading negative reviews for good Film & TV purely based on a biased interpretation of the story. Don't like the story? Choose something different to watch. It's not "trash" if it's not someone's cup of tea. It's a technically well made show. The actors commit & it's directed well, while being accompanied by some beautiful cinematography. Great characters so far, looking forward to learning more about them. I think compassion is needed more now than ever. Hope one day humans will stop hating eachother. Recommended.

Echoes of Fortitude

[sasha-44909 · 7/10 · 22 January 2024]

Is it just me, or does "True Detective: Night Country", have a hint of "Fortitude" about it?

Fortitude, a series from 2015, is also set inside the Arctic Circle, and revolved around a working-class community whose chief law-enforcement officer (gloriously played by Richard Dormer, Game of Thrones), who has to work out why perfectly sane people in his community start to act very strangely indeed!

And what a cast: Dennis Quaid, Sienna Guillory, Ken Stott, Michael Gambon, Stanley Tucci, Sofie Gråbøl, Luke Treadaway and Robert Sheehan, to name but a few!

Damn! Now I want to re-watch it and have nightmares again!

True Detective: Just Another Disappointment

[dk777 · 2/10 · 18 January 2024]

When an episode starts with bad CGI, it's usually a sign that we're going to be watching low-budget trash. Considering this is True Detective, that's surprising, we're used to a good cast, an intriguing story, and excellent cinematography.

I thought this would be interesting, so my disappointment is even greater.

After the first episode, this seems like a completely different show than what we're used to. It looks like just another series that fits into "modern film production".

It's a pity, because the environment in which the show takes place is excellent and interesting, dark and cold, great for a good crime story. But the script is unfortunately bad, full of what we see in almost every new TV show or movie, and it has already become tiresome.

The male characters in this season are useless morons, incompetent and evil and only serve to make the main characters show them how they are better than them. Such things destroy any possibility of entertainment and frankly, they have started to have the complete opposite effect. Huge difference in quality between the first season and this one.

Jodie Foster is a good actress and it's a shame the script is this bad.

This could have been great, the characters could have been interesting, instead they are either stupid and evil or just plain annoying.

In short, the men in this season are stupid and evil, or incompetent and weak, and they don't even know how to do basic things. This is how writers write most of today's TV shows.

I watched one episode and that's it, I don't want to waste any more time on this disaster. It's a shame, it could have been great, it had a lot of potential, but in the end it turned out to be just another waste of time.

Another one for the "empty the swill bucket" list

[kyrenaika · 17 January 2024]

A million miles away from the original inspiration of True Detective Magazine of 1924, another good show gets killed off by the wokitics of ticknology. Not even worth rating , as negative ratings don't get counted by the same company that broadcasts it. I won't even hate-watch or cringe-watch it. Don't have time for the same tired lectures from the same old misandrist industrial complex. Ooh, it's so spiritual, though. No, pseudo supernatural codswallop is not only not spiritual, it's insulting to those who truly have those sorts of connections. But as long as it can be millked for a few bucks and churn a bunch of suckers into slack-jawed sycophants, bravo. So brave! So bad my cat threw up and then ran away.

Its Dark Its Cold . Its a Perfect start !!

[intreago-10011 · 9/10 · 20 January 2024]

First of all I don't know what's with bad reviews ? Probably the same people slamming this were criticizing the first season and are now here haha.

This show is truly gonna be off he hook! Anyone who loves the concept of the first season is in for a treat. Show started so good with some great main characters and their development. Its DARK AND COLD Environment with some mysterious spiritual parts twists is just what the show needs and it gives us a feeling of the first season. Mystery has started people and we in for a riced!!!

What can be better then multiple murders , secretes form the past , Native American culture, two hard characters played by two amazing actresses.

Interesting start - With show non-related issues for viewers

[paxumbrae · 10/10 · 17 January 2024]

Dear reader, watch it! Do not let yourself get drawn into the biased review circle-j..k. Once you have watched it, make your judgment.

Might contain spoilers: People gone missing in remote areas, filmed in permanent darkness,cynical Jodie Foster, slow burning mysteries... Sign me up!

The show started with a promising first episode. Remember the season one start? Yea! - It was slow, the plot seemed already seen atleast a dozen times, the setting was in an unappealing part of the US, and the actors needed atleast two episodes to warm up. - And it still turned out to be one of the best showes ever made.

Contrary to season one, we have a mystery in a closed community, with a story that fits the context, the actors are brilliant and it takes place in one of the most interesting parts of the world. Can't wait for the story to unravel.

Well, the sad part of this review are the reactions I have seen from other people.. people who's reviews can be summrised as "i don't like female leads" and "I'm not saying it, but there are to many native people" and "all of these people looks the same and i can't tell them apart", plus from time to time the cgi is dodgy.

Buffalo Bill is now Polar Bear Bob

[david_simpson33467 · 9/10 · 24 January 2024]

This is not True Defective telling a realistic true crime story like I'm used to with this series which is why the negative reviews I suspect. This definitely wasn't what I was expecting but I like the premise and the story with a Stephen King supernatural twist to it. Luckily I'm a big Stephen King fan with the supernatural element this season so I will keep watching it for sure. I'm just waiting for the polar bear to tell Jodie Foster's character to "put the lotion in the snow basket". I could do without all the girl power narrative but with all the crap Hollywood continues to produce at least there's a show to watch.