User Reviews

The central mystery is mysterious and there's enough general intrigue to keep things interesting. The season claims to be an inverted spiritual successor to Season 1. So far it isn't. It's a slickly-produced grim and dark television cop show with some possibly supernatural elements, and it's fine, but even with some callbacks and easter eggs it doesn't even belong in the same conversation as legendary Season 1.

And since the writer/director made a point of blaming the tepid audience response on a bigoted reaction to two female leads I have to ask: where are the female leads? Jodie Foster and Kali Reis are female actresses, but the two lead characters they portray are stereotypical alpha male dudebro pigs: stoic, emotionally repressed, confrontational, verbally and physically aggressive, crude, vulgar and always down for some empty fornication with whoever they can use. How can people be "review bombing" a show over its female leads when there aren't any?

I was giddy when I found out the was another season. However, when I found out that it was a new writer/director I was highly skeptical. It made me wonder if it was a show that just had the True Detective tag attached.

The first episode got me intrigued, but the second episode hooked me.

I was genuinely saddened that the third episode was not available for streaming immediately.

Danvers and Navarro had just a smidge of their backstory revealed, but that was enough.

Honestly, the first episode didn't really sell me on either of them as the two leads.

But the second episode has me dying to see what exactly happened between the two of them and how they will work together on this case.

Come on in and look all you want. We'll also put this unarmed rookie police kid in charge.

Honestly, I never much thought of Jodie Foster as an actress but she's pretty dire in this even by her poor standards.

An absolutely train wreck of an anthology that has failed to recover even a slightest pulse after the jaw dropping 1st series.

The dialogue is hilarious, acting to make your eyes bleed and a drama so devoid of tension, charisma and credibility that it's enough to ruin careers.

I gave it a chance. The setting was promising, an isolated community in a sunless season in Alaska. Unexplained deaths unleash the most comical detective work on the face of the earth. Not carrying on after ep2.

Carcossa symbols inside of camp trailer and on dead bodies. Tuttle Family mention connected to the mystery of scientific team. New environments, new mentalities and subcultures, almost like every other season so far. Acting od solid, nothing too special, but the writing is top notch again. If you dig Pizollato's universe and if you ste a true TD fan, some identity modifications won't be a problem. Many complex characters, slow pace build up and some old Alaskan pagan mythology and customs. And many more personal side narratives that are slowly showing up on the surface, and I think are somehow connected to the crime.

Simply don't get all the downgraders. It has some good and promising elements so far.

Everything the first episode did well, this episode did better. It's finally starting to find its identity as a season of True Detective vs some weird amalgamation of American Horror Story/Fargo. I don't mind some supernatural undertones, especially related to the culture of the Alaskan natives, but the first episode was way too blatant. This episode, (with the exception of one scene that was never referenced to again), played it more straight and realistic, which I think plays better with the show's tone.

The setting and set designs are fantastic. The barren Alaskan wilderness feels like it's own exterior force against the characters, that I hope plays a more important role as the show progresses.

Jodie Foster's acting is wonderful even when her character is written a little lazily. I like the trope of the rough seasoned cop who's seen it all, but the "know it all" aspect is overplayed. Kali Reis is also doing a great job, even though her character also seems a little one dimensional.

Lastly, I think the suspense of the show was done a little better this episode as well. The ending of this episode finally felt like an actual True Detective ending. Excited to see where this goes.

The second episodes continues where the first one left off, bad acting, terrible writing, average dialogue and 50min of nothing really happening. Reis acting is awful trying to play a tough cop continuously making comments about 'white boys' just doesn't work on any level not to mention the cringeworthy sex scenes in episode 1. This whole show so far is just mediocre and nothing remotely close to the quality of season 1 & 3. I'm hoping it's improves as I unlikely to finish the season at this rate. There's some hints at a decent show in there somewhere if they can stop focusing on everything other than the main story line.

When i ended watching this episode the first thing i tought was ok this is solid and its similar to the first season and they have a show running again. Then i saw all the reivews that say this is terrible and what not. It simple isnt true. I see alot of complaints about spiritual stuff. The same was in the first season its basicly a story about the church and this thing is connected to some native superstition. The season so far is interesting and its slow paced but so was the first season.

This episode we find out more about whats going on but in an hour we didnt really get any informations about the case which is why this episode get only 8/10.

Compared to the story and acting of season 2 this is a hit but compared to season one it can be better. I like judie forster and finn. They seem to be a good combo. Agent Navarro is pretty bad tbh. I guess shes in the show for diversity reasons and not because shes a good actor.

Anyway i hope the story will continue in this mistirous tone and we will have a good season. Even these two episodes its far better then the 2nd and 3rd season.

Hmmm. I'm TDS1 biggest fan. I know they've rebadged it TD:NC. But why even use the TD name at all? It just doesn't have the same tone, acting, writing, cinematography, soundtrack, score, sets, etc., as the original. It shouldn't really be attached to the TD series within IMdB right here in my opinion. Opening graphics are nothing - as is using an already existing track from billie eyelash. I hate that bloody track - it's an annoying sing-song rhyme that everyone apparently loves and it does my head in.

I think what the creators would keep saying is, it's a spin-off show, stop comparing it - but how could we not?! Call it something else or do an original TD show.

The whole thing feels more like a standard series any channel but HBO. It does have the connection to the original first season with the swirly icon mark that's appearing everywhere. And I wouldn't be surprised if they literally phoned-in a Rust Cohle cameo at the end of the season because of this - but I doubt it.

I wondered if they might have gone more supernatural with this show from the trailer, especially as it was rebadged. That could have made it a distinction from the original TD. But I'm sure it'll be just another scooby doo tale.

Not sure why we need Chris Eccleston doing a bad american accent. He's a great actor but he's never managed that accent well. A few British and Irish actors in here actually but wasted so far, as is JF herself. And, do we really need to see another cliched lesbian with green hair in anything?

Were the posters in that guys pokey room with the cop (with those annoying and distracting cheek piercings), actually made-up rock bands? Never heard of 'Metal' with a logo that looks like 'Metallica'. No idea if I'm wrong but that's a very lame set design if that's made up.

Loved the opening scene for this episode and got really excited when the guy started coughing - but after the credits the whole episode just fell flat. It almost felt like we were about to get a bit of 'The Thing' going on (which clearly is a deliberate feel). But no.

Having said all this, it's not as bad as some reviews here - but I think the fact it's not the quality of the OG-TD might be the reason HBO delayed it. Delaying is never a good sign. Maybe the writers strike stuffed the show. Anyway, let's see what the rest of the series brings. I'm not put off yet. But it's disappointing to wait so long for something so average in execution.

Before the show runner accuses me of being a hating dude bro: I'm a woman.

I like the underlying mystery of the dead scientists but how are dancing ghosts more grounded in reality than what we've seen this episode?

Frozen bones don't just crack like that. Has nobody in the writing team ever handled frozen meat that's still attached to the bone? Sure if you flash froze it with liquid nitrogen you may make the bones brittle like that, but the temperature is apparently warm enough for the head, neck and lungs to unfreeze.

This is some real Gomu Gomu no freeze ass bs that could be in a light hearted One Piece adventure but not in True Detective.

And why is everyone so cool with seeing such a traumatic event?

Is everyone there a psychopath? That's nightmare fuel lmao.

We get so many throwaway scenes, how about one character acknowledging what they just saw. "Hey, about that human being we just saw scream like a zombie after we snapped off his hand... how are you dealing with that?"

And sure if this was a dark comedy it would work but TD season 4 takes itself very very serious.

The thing is I really like this season. I love the atmosphere, I like Jodie's role, I like the mystery. It's okay to like something but still acknowledge that it's not that good.

Equally as impressive, so far it's looking bad good a season one.

Excellent setting very much reminiscent of another excellent bit of TV in "Fortitude".

So far just 2 episodes in, it has become compulsive viewing, everything from the snow covered Alaskan setting to the mix of storylines to the spooky what's going on vibe.

Well worth a watch for anybody who likes detective dramas and especially if you are a fan of the people involved and especially if you likes the first season.

I was going to pass it up until a friend recommended the first episode and glad I did, very much looking to future episodes.

Who did the sound editing for this, my god. Cell phones do not ring or vibrate that loud, just have your characters pick up the phone, us viewers with our smooth brains will understand that someone was calling. LOL.

Anyway, this was more purely average TV with expensive cameras. The acting is not very good. The script is so so. The story is meh. The special effects for the lame marketing idea to get the show trending on the internet with "corpsickle", suck. The fact of the matter is, that this is child's play film making compared to the script, acting, and directing of season 1. Issa is lucky to have this opportunity and she's not up to the challenge that this brand name demands. Nic and original director set a high bar from season 1. And it seems the show should have never continued after that height. It's all about the Benjamin's at this point.

Anyway, sprinkle in some ties to season 1 for fan service, buy one big name actress, and some good songs.... voila. There's nothing original here. The only really good scene in this episode was thanks to Tim Buckley and his brilliant "Song to the Siren". The rest was kind of average stuff. Not terrible, not great, not sophisticated, and not worth the time unless you're really really bored. 6 starts for expensive cameras and a Tim Buckley song choice.

The story is starting off slow and I find myself a bit confused & wondering what the relationships/connections are, but I'm assuming they will get clarified as things go on. Most of the characters are not very likable which is hard as there is no one to care about or root for. I feel that the overall storyline development goal is to make the characters appear complex, complicated and deep. But so far, their personalities & behavior make them all seem one-dimensional, selfish & shallow.

For instance...the (all too frequent & graphic) sex scenes are unnecessary, and give the impression that ALL people up North in the cold and snow just satiate their animalistic urges with whomever is handy & when the need arises, no emotions required. It's semi-unsettling, somewhat annoying & certainly gross....and it keeps the viewer unable to relate....it seems like kind of a bad light to paint everyone in as well. They don't care about each other, so why should we care about them?

All that being said, I feel that it's far too soon to trash this season. It is different to be sure, but it is also just getting started. I see huge potential....especially with the talent on screen....and I'm hoping that only a little patience is required.

I AM super curious about the consistent color scheme and if there is any relevance to it...or if it's just a style choice. There are hues of teal and yellow in almost every scene...whether it be clothing, walls, furniture/decor or the fish tank. Even the flashing cop car lights in ep 3 were teal & gold. It's so noticeable & consistent that it's a little distracting....so I guess we'll see!

I like the paranormal spin, I like the suspense and I like that they don't insult the viewer's intelligence by offering everything up on a silver platter. I choose to keep my rating on the high side and to be open-minded and patient.....for now.

Another episode down,

We see Liz and Navarro going over their respective cases, not putting the puzzle together but starting to ask the right questions. Liz has moved the bodies to a new location to keep the case, Navarro is moving forward as she keeps looking backward to figure out what happened to Annie.

The episode is slow, it's not bad and it's not look at your watch slow but I find that there is no major developments to make the story feel as if it's moving at a good pace. What made S1 so good is that with every development in each episode you get deeper, you uncover, but with this season it's as if 3 or 4 of the same things need to be found to move deeper, in my opinion ep 1 and 2 could be 1hr 20 of an opener and have a better pace.

The acting is quite good, don't like Liz but I guess that's the point, she just seems cold and like someone I wouldn't get along with, the camera work is great, the score is good and the style and graphic nature of the murder reminds me of a Hannibal style killing from the Hannibal series.

Just missing that spark in the episodes, give me that and it jumps to an 8, give me more tension and stakes it's a 9, give me better pace and a bit of action it's a 10, so close but still not there, 7/10.

Two episodes in, this season 4 seems very good to say the least. That's really all you need to know. I could end here but there's a minimum word limit.

Personally I've only seen season 1 of True Detective and I know I'm in a small minority when I say I liked it, but did not really share the enthusiasm of most people - I just didn't like the allusions to the king in yellow that led nowhere. So there's a chance this season will disappoint me the same way, but so far I have nothing to complain about. The story is interesting, the cast is great, the long night is always a nice background.

Review bombing is childish anyway. But at least be honest about what you didn't like, cause in most cases it's sure as hell not the actual content of the show.

Its a good episode, some interesting developments in the story, however it does not feel like True Detective. Some of the storylines and developments are way too cliche and boring, the stuff hollywood has done over and over. The dialogues are sometimes shallow. While trying to build up the story from multiple angles and relationships (the mother-daugher situation, the indigenous cop with "unsolved" case, the father-son, the senior cop Vs young cop etc..) it feels like a lot of it is unnecessary drama added to make it more complex than it needs to be. The right/wrong questions scene felt like watching a 90's criminal movie. If we think this series came from Rust and Marty on S01, that felt a complete going down the hill. Jodie does a good job acting but her character is just not that interesting, and the investigation developments are pretty shallow too. Like when Peter goes and grabs the phone to unlock the screen using Face ID.. the scene is made in a way to be like " wow this is clever " but come on even my 5 year old godson would think about doing that.

While the circumstances seem to have a supernatural element , they don't. True detective must figure it out. This season finds us with some truly unlikable characters and the setting is bleak af. I can't pretend to know how things work during night in a rural arctic town but i am guessing this is it. Not sure where the research funders are , but anyway, what actually happened seems obvious to me. I hope I am wrong and I also hope that we will find out why the detective is a miserable person although we have some hint but I don't know if we are supposed to ever be sympathetic to this person or of the plot will unfold in a humanizing way.. If i am right ( or not) it's off to a good start albeit uncomfortable to watch. They shouldn't have released this so close to Fargo. Both shows are established and worth the wait . To overlap the release after this long was a mistake ( for me to watch anyway) we rewatched most of episode 2 and it was better the second time. The tone and setting are jarring and so I have to believe that it's on purpose. It is a 9/10 as for now as I want to trust the process and its authenticity. It's leaving me unsettled and thats a nice change from being entertained to a stupor.

Issa Lopez simply misses the mark, full of ideology and unnecessary sub plots, awfull dialogs, and sobrenatural ( not spiritual ) talk it's empty, even Jodie foster great acting can't change that, Issa didn't understand what make true detective great, the mood, the scenery, the real people, great dialogs, story seem recicled from lots of old movies, the two main actress don't have any chemistry together, I know it's unfair to compare with the first season but I don't think true detective is on the right path and add current ideology and progressive stuff doesn't did any good. Sorry HBO try again or bring back Nick.

British reviewer.

I think once you get over the shock of the genre-change and if you can forgive the writer/director for shoehorning her misandry then there's a great little story cooking away in the background.

Personally I really like the horror element, I'm not wholly convinced they know just what they're creating - perhaps they watched The Thing and thought let's create a bit of that.

Night Country is far from perfect, it's completely different to the Nic Pizzolatta writing and it's unfair to judge it through that lens (they shouldn't have attached the True Detective label) but there is enough going on here to make me want to watch the next episodes and I was a whisker away from giving up on it after the mess of episode 1.

Bad Writing, meet your friend Bad Acting. Mix in a few Native clichés and you got some of Qavviks homebrew. Ennis comes alive!

It's Season 4 of True Detective. Everyone is having sex with everyone else and now we know why they hate the Beatles. Sure, there's now the bare bones of an actual cop procedural, but don't be fooled. This is a show where sisters have intimate conversations about mental health in the grocery store so that everyone in the small town can listen in and cold cases are solved by ghosts and convenient phone videos.

Truly Netflix-level stuff. Not a hint of the True Detective brand. And that's a problem because what distinguished TD from the gazillion other cop shows was airtight direction, great set design and fabulous acting. Too much of Season 4 is bad soap opera logic piled on top of head-scratchers like "why is there conveniently no ice on that window?" and "do people really talk like that?"

Can't wait for Jody Foster to pull the mask off the phantom to see who he really is...

She's too strong of a character that didn't seem like needed. Was it just me or it is really annoying to watch her over act. It may be that she perfectly fits the character and this was all purposefully designed for viewers to not like her. Haven't watched the rest of the episodes but like the creepy mysterious sci-fi theme so far.

She's too strong of a character that didn't seem like needed. Was it just me or it is really annoying to watch her over act. It may be that she perfectly fits the character and this was all purposefully designed for viewers to not like her. Haven't watched the rest of the episodes but like the creepy mysterious sci-fi theme so far.

Season one to this day is my far the best crime shows I think that has ever aired. True Detectives has goes down hill so bad and it's super sad because it has so much potential.

Season four might be the worst one yet, two episodes in it's so slow and it just drags out for to long. Pointless dialogue and meaningless conflicts with past relationships that has nothing to do with the core point of this show in my opinion... detectives solving a murder.

Full episodes that have nothing to do with solving or investigating a murder but just drama with past relationships. I hate to beat a dead horse but that's all you get so far. It's not until the end of the episode until you get information and makes you wonder what is going on.

I will watch episode 3 and see if it picks up but if it's the same I will not continue. Very disappointed.

The reason I rated it 2 stars is because...besides childish jokes and unnecessary comedy the acting is decent.