True Detective (TV Series) Night Country: Part 3 (2024) User Reviews

General story interesting and Lopez abuses and overdoes the supernatural

[micke-bystrom · 5/10 · 30 January 2024]

Jodie Foster comes off as a little better acting in this episode, but I can't help but think she's been misdirected by Lopez. How can you do that to a star like Foster? I can buy the character being the type of person as she's in this story, but it needs to be held together with something and not be made to feel like loose bits and pieces in a Sheriff's uniform.

I do think the general story is both interesting and most actors doa pretty good job. But too many details are botched and the dialogue is weaker than it should be. When we spend so much time with characters they need to be compelling and not simply one-dimensional.

Unfortunately it would seem at this point that Lopez, as a writer at least, will go on to destroy not only her own season, but drive the whole series into the grave. She JUST cannot handle the supernatural element, that she's chosen, well at all. It's part of the story, but does that mean it must be presented in an unbelievable way? I said this, I believe, also in my review of the first episode of season 4, that in season 1 the supernatural may be part of the story, but it's never seen, except in on scene. Which makes it truly great. Because you FEEL it. Lopez she's must point out to us that: "This is scary and mysterious now! Do you understand?". C'mon!

Here we're on C horror flick level. I think Lopez should be ashamed saying she's been inspired by "The Thing". Even when as off the wall as it was back then, that stuff worked. The banal supernatural parts aren't working at all in TD Season 4. You can only laugh at the screen. It's so bad. Does Lopez think the all of the audience is in their early teens or what?

This is quickly going downhill. I'll stay for the ride down into the sea, where I'm sure this once great TV-series will stay buried from the last episode on.

Misses the Mark on Inverting Season 1

[johnspringer-95440 · 6/10 · 31 January 2024]

Since this season references the events and malefactors of Season 1 and calls itself an inverted spiritual successor, a comparison seems fair.

Atmosphere - In Season 1 the industrial grime and rural dilapidation and sweaty dirty denizens of southern Louisiana provided an atmosphere of desperation and danger. You could almost feel the unrelenting humidity in the peeling paint and weeds and rust as shorthand for a losing battle against the constant encroachment of hostile elements. Season 4 tries for something similar in the subzero inverse in its run-down buildings and icy obstructions but it doesn't work. Maybe because the freezing cold makes things seem sanitized and the dwellings seem warm and welcoming instead of unsettling and oppressive.

Supernatural - Whether or not there were any supernatural elements in Season 1 at all was ambiguous and anything that seemed otherworldly could also be explained from the outset by Cohle's drug-induced dementia. Season 4 presents what seem to be supernatural elements (whether they prove to be genuine or not is anyone's guess) without an alternative explanation. Either what we're seeing is genuinely supernatural or will be explained by a post-hoc bait-and-switch later; neither will be satisfying.

Central character - In Season 1 Cohle had almost superhuman detecting abilities; he could outthink and outfight anybody and he was driven by a moral code to see justice done. But he also had no personal life; his abilities made him prickly and insubordinate; and he didn't care that no one liked him. If a man so completely lives for his job and neglects all other areas of his life then it's possible he'd be superlative at that job, and Cohle was a fascinating manifestation of that idea. Jodie Foster in Season 4 isn't an inversion of the equation, she's just the bad without the good. She has a disastrous personal life; she's prickly and insubordinate; and she doesn't care that no one likes her. But she's also not that great of a cop, no better than the average plodding television gumshoe. She also doesn't seem to have a moral code, having taken this season's case due to an old employment grievance and jurisdictional entitlement rather than a drive for justice. She's less a fascinating character study and more just irrationally confrontational and unpleasant.

Going Nowhere

[emiliolegorreta · 5/10 · 30 January 2024]

After a very intriguing pilot, Night Country stumbles through it's third episode without progressing the story or characters in any meaningful way. I was one of the few fans of the show that seemed to be tolerating the increased focus on supernatural elements, but now it just seems like they're overdoing it in lazy and uninteresting ways. I was also shocked when I realized this season is only 6 episodes long, meaning we're halfway through the season the show feels like it's going nowhere. The Tsalal survivor's cryptic speech gave no information at all and the characters continue to be annoying a**holes for no particular reason. All we learn is a tiny bit about Navarro's past and that some hair stylist knew that Annie K was dating Raymond Clark. All the characters are starting to get annoying except for Pete. The answer to this mystery better be interesting or this will end up being a massive waste of potential.

Not much True Detective

[roythai · 6/10 · 30 January 2024]

3 episodes in, and it is not like other True Detectives seasons. No way of knowing what direction this will go, but supernatural elements in detective series are not my favourite. It is a lazy way of explaining the mysteries and plotholes, and I can't see this going to a rational explanation. Nothing wrong with the actors, they are doing a fine job considering the fact this show is schizophrenic in not knowing whether it is a detective, horror or drama. Perhaps it is unfair to say anything about the qualities of a series based on only the first half, but it is just a "warning" for the ambiguity of this show.

Part 3

[bobcobb301 · 31 January 2024]

Well, I had asked in my review for episode two if this was going to be a supernatural story and it looks like it will be in some capacity: maybe not the killer, but there will be some elements to it. I think that can be a good thing, but time will tell.

This was simply too long though, but I do appreciate the constant references to "Twist and Shout". How that will come into play when all is said and done, I don't know, but I hope well.

This episode was a little tough to follow at times, and I just hope they don't throw too many subplots with too many side characters to distract you by the end though.

Try and enjoy on its own merits.

[loufitz-55814 · 9/10 · 30 January 2024]

I saw a lot of interesting reviews for this and other episodes, including someone complaining about the size of the windows in the research station, or that the MMA fighter trooper couldn't trip up a drunk man, etc. I understand that people love the first series and that's great and that it can be hard to live up to expectations. Just try not to knock this season because it's different from the first. Try and enjoy it as a stand alone thing. It's spooky and intriguing and the setting is fascinating. The acting is excellent and this episode, while a little filler-y, had some very strong points and spooky moments. Look, life is short, just sit back and enjoy things for what they are. I honestly think you can enjoy this season if you do!

Untrue detective

[matiasbockerman-03044 · 6/10 · 29 January 2024]

This is starting to feel like a waste of time. If you want to see a good detective series with a damaged strong woman, check out Mare of easttown. Or if you want to see maybe a best detective shows out there, watch Sherlock.

If you want to see a good cop series watch Line of duty, unforgotten or Bosch. The reason why Liz and Evangeline have no longer worked together seems superficial, tedious and implausible. Nothing superintriguing back story there. Atmosphere feels very forced. Even acting sucks. Don't get me wrong, Jodie Foster is a good actress, but I don't think this role suits her, like she's pretending all the time and holding something back. There is a complete lack of depth and humor witch are vital elements of True detective standards.

It seems so freaking forced! I get it: this is a small and disturbed village, but it fails to credibility create that frightening atmosphe what this series trying to do.

I think I'll stop there. My rate is six and that's mercyfull estimate.

Waiting for something to happen

[frizzardi · 3/10 · 1 February 2024]

I started watching Season 4 after reading that Jodi Foster was in it (I've never seen other seasons of True Detective, so I didn't know what to expect exactly).

Well, the first two episodes were mildly interesting, but this one bored me to death - the plot was not pushed forward, characters weren't developed, the horror / supernatural themes are increasing.

Acting is below par, surprisingly even from Foster. The native music / chants of this episode were particularly grating.

I also noticed that this season has only six episodes so we're halfway through; with the long list of loose ends and unanswered question that we've gathered so far, the only ways to resolve this mess are "an evil spirit did all this" or "there was LSD in the water" (or "it was all a dream").

I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE HATE

[decostajacob · 9/10 · 31 January 2024]

I could understand somebody being put off because they weren't expecting the supernatural vibes. But we learned of the voodoo/supernatural presence early on in Episode 1, so we knew from the get go what it was.

Just like 'Game of Thrones' the writers gave everyone an easy out at the very beginning if they weren't happy with the supernatural presence in the show. Basically saying, "hey if you're not gonna like the show, then don't watch it. Don't turn it in just to write a bad review".

Moving beyond that, I think that this season is fresh, smart and a little edgy but so far I love it and have nothing but praise. The effects team is killing it down here.

I only have 1 rule when I go to see a movie, leave my expectations in the car. As long as I do that and I will most definitely have a better experience.

Just be present, Ya know??

A Binge show not weekly release

[eoinageary · 6/10 · 29 January 2024]

Yea this just isn't hitting the spot for me unfortunately which is annoying because this show was my most anticipated of the year !!

The episode picks up with Liz and Navarro both having flashbacks to a previous case that links to information with our current issue, we get deeper connections to the Native American storyline and the crew are trying to piece this mystery together.

The first 30 minutes bar the flashback is pointless, there is no progress in the story. The last 25 minutes is again strung along, the only thing saving this for me is the good acting and score, and setting, it gives such a sense of eerie horror and the setting building is outstanding BUT the case is slow and the pace is also poor, hoping it gets better.

Not hating because I love the show, this just isn't it so far, 6/10.

Halfway through and nothing has really changed except my excitement

[TSS102 · 3/10 · 30 January 2024]

We're halfway through this season, and I feel like we have had no real character growth or story development. There have been some attempts to develop the motivations of each character, particularly Navarro, but I still feel like each character is incredibly one-dimensional, and each character comes off as unlikable. The horror element I find to be very uninteresting. The scene where Navarro randomly picks up an orange only to randomly throw it into the darkness and the dark throw it back at her was incredibly dumb. Why would she not investigate further? She just leaves it be. She also clearly knows something about the "she" who was apparently awoken by the research team, but she never addresses it. Furthermore, a lot of side characters are getting far too much screen time, such as Officer Peter's girlfriend, Navarro's lover, and Chief Danvers' step-daughter. None of them have really contributed to the story at all thus far. That's kind of my whole issue with the show: Very little time is spent moving the story forward or fleshing out a character in interesting ways. The only thing I have enjoyed so far is the setting, but even that doesn't feel truly utilized. For a show called "Night Country," and the town of Ennis, Alaska supposedly trapped in perpetual night, most of the scenes are very brightly lit and don't lend themselves well to the themes the show is trying to follow. Overall, I'm trying to like this show, but it feels so disjointed and uninspired that it is hard to get through. Maybe things get better, but through the halfway mark, it's been a disappointing watch.

I love it, BUT PLEASE STOP using RANDOM MUSIC like this

[info-22078 · 9/10 · 29 January 2024]

I love the series, but every episode so far has the same major issues.

The RANDOM use of indie pop-rock "let it be mysterious and cool" needle-drop music like DARK did. Which feels like it has something to do with AI marketing calculations. It takes me out of the story every time and feels manipulative. I can't help but imagine what it would have been like if Se7en had a needle-drop-montage every 30 minutes.

And some B-storylines, which a few feel, clumsy and forced.

At the end i would say..with the actors, the camera, the setting, the idea with the scientist and the whole world building it could be a perfect show.

+ SPOILER Plot hole: It makes no sense that Kali Reis doesn't help at the end of the episode when the fight breaks out in the hospital. She just doesn't do it because the script needs her at the patient's bedside for the "mysterious ghost scene." Things like that happens too often.

Weak Tea

[info-354-549559 · 6/10 · 29 January 2024]

I really want to love this, but I can't get into it like I did for the last three seasons. In the previous seasons, I couldn't take my eyes off the screen, but now, it seems like a lot of overused themes are creeping in. I am not getting enough of the actual murder mystery, or maybe it just doesn't feel like it's primarily a murder show right now. It feels more like a family drama with a murder on the side.

I'm hoping that the current season will improve like season 2 did. It started off a bit slow but eventually picked up pace. However, I'm not sure if the current season is primarily focused on character development leading up to a big climax or if the rest of the show will continue to be like this, a slow family drama drag.

Very poorly and lazily written

[Zed-Runner · 1/10 · 31 January 2024]

This a scattershot, unfocused mess. If I didn't know better I'd say it was written by a junior high school student. Every line of dialogue is expositional, stilted, unnatural, and laughable. There are too many characters crammed into the narrative for the sake of creating drama but it doesn't work because we don't know them or we don't like them, therefore it just becomes a distraction. Speaking of characters, there isn't a single likeable one in the bunch. Not because they're flawed people, or even bad people, but because they're terribly written. The one cop is supposed to be a native American who grew up in Alaska but she talks like she's from Philadelphia. It keeps clumsily trying to tie things to season 1 with the names Tuttle and Cohle but it's wince inducing, not revelatory. The central mystery is abandoned for long stretches, which is a horrific narrative choice for a six episode show. Nonsensical, scientifically impossible things; like a man frozen so solid his arm breaks off thaws out and is still alive, keep happening for the sake of big "gotcha" moments but they just come across as silly. There's no subtlety or suspense at all. One last thing: when a ghost shows up in a dream, vision, or real life to show a character the location of an important plot point, you're in the hands of a lazy hack of a writer.

First 50min 5stars, last 10min 7.5 stars

[phelectric · 6/10 · 30 January 2024]

This show is kind of a slog, it could get better. The very first episode started strong. But everything after that has been pretty slow and not very good. This third episode the last 10min of it is pretty good, however to watch as much as we have just for a few bright spots is a bit painful.

The people that have been saying it's getting review bombed due to the female leads are really missing the point. Honestly I wish Fiona Shaw was the star because she's a solid actor and always great. Even in this series her parts are short and quiet but are miles better than Jodie Foster or Kali Reis.

Now I'm actually not blaming the two main female leads, I'm blaming the writers. Their dialogue isn't great. For Jodie "that's not the right question", that's getting spent already. Kali is a fine actor as well they just wrote her character wrong and gave her bad dialogue is all, usually sports actors are bad but she passes the sniff test.

The part where Kali throws the orange out into the darkness on the snow, I immediately said "100 bucks the orange comes rolling back". Sure enough.

I enjoy the dire setting and the film location it's pretty amazing. They did great there. Just bad writing, sorry and dialogue.

We still have 3 episodes left. So this could be building up. Even in long shows with drawn out character and story development I hope to enjoy the ride to the more climatic elements, but we're just not hooked, captivated, glued to the screen whatever you want to call it. This just isn't it so far.

What makes this worse is the fact that it's only 6 episodes. We're at the halfway point and for that I would've expected some juicer content.

So far the show has been as drab as its setting, dire and cold.

Life and death in the cold dark Alaska

[aathensathena · 9/10 · 31 January 2024]

I really don't understand all the negative feedback for this season. I find it trully fascinating and I think that the elements of the "supernatural", as you call it, are not the protagonists. Put this aside, this is a crime story and we just need to ask the right questions. Right?

I think that this is the way you should tell a story about a crime in the dark, cold place, called Alaska. I mean, you can't expect to see people behaving or talking as... the rest of the world.

I love the acting of Joddie Foster, I enjoy her character, I wish I could be more like her, it must be fun.

The soundtrack is perfect.

Some good scenes, some boring, inexplicable musical choices

[AnotherMrHolland · 7/10 · 29 January 2024]

First of all, this won't be a regular review, sorry. I wouldn't even be writing it if it weren't for my utter puzzlement by the inexplicable choice of songs in these episodes.

Wait, I'm not saying they're bad songs. Though most of them aren't my cup of tea, I'm relatively open minded and can accept that some like and love songs like these. They're not terrible to listen to. I mean they would not be terrible to listen to in a melancholy romantic comedy or in an arthouse movie, or in a supermarket, or in an elevator or something. They're, in my opinion, totally out of place here, though. Whenever there's some nice build up of tension or something, a beginning, suddenly some mellow, slow, wailing lady or a cheery pop song or something like that comes on, and destroys the mood, the horror, the immersion, and makes me wanna either fall asleep or quickly switch to a different radio station. I'm sorry, but that's how I feel. Your mileage may vary, and I do hope it does, because in that case you're getting more out of this show than me, which is fine.

Seriously, give a listen to the title sequence. Who the heck thought that song would evoke even a fragment of the dread and the cosmic horror the corpsicle and all the other weird stuff and all tries to build... and why? And why did they get a job on this show? No, I'm not wishing them anything bad, it's all subjective and all. I just am truly puzzled, and would love to understand.

Otherwise not a bad show, though a far cry from season 1, but not worse nor better (so far) than, say, season 2. (No blood-curdling, though. At all. And it's partly the music that's responsible for that.)

Much more X Files than True Detective.

[sfh_inc · 5/10 · 30 January 2024]

They are overdoing the horror element and are now entering the recovered footage trope. In the first season, something supernatural was only implied, while here it's full on with these posessions, awakenings, etc. This might somewhat work as a standalone series, but they had to go and slap it with a recognizable brand to play it safe with the viewership.

Conducting a search spread so thin that everyone is basically alone, with a head lamp that illuminates several meters ahead at best is another forced attempt at creating tension. The problem is by now I don't care if anyone gets eaten by a polar bear or snatched by whatever it is that they have awaken. In fact, I will take the twist of a major character getting offed.

Bad acting keeps getting worse. Jodie is still very much miscast and highly unconvincing. While say Rust was dangerous like a tight rope on the brink of snapping, the police here command no respect or confidence, let alone intimidation. No wonder they are being told to get lost on more than one occasion.

Blood-curdling horror and mystery that is a must see

[hadecessj · 9/10 · 29 January 2024]

We Continue the haunting mystery in a violent and down right spooky fashion leaving me begging for the next episode. This season is so good once you ignore the pretentious/alpha male bs reviews that are either afraid of a strong female role anything that barely steps outside the realm of total realism in favor for and more nuanced and compelling story with mysterious semi other worldly elements that leaves you on your toes. I cannot stress enough that the tone and bone chilling atmosphere this season has is so damn intense and intriguing that I wish the earlier seasons dared to be more creative not to mention the stellar performances from the 2 main leads that bring the whole thing together. Highly recommend if you're a fan of sci-fi crime and other forms of surreal, yet still grounded entertainment.

This One's Tough

[omniamutatis · 7/10 · 2 February 2024]

In general, I am a fairly staunch defender of these kinds of episodes. A lot of quiet moments of character building, putting some pieces in place and building established relationships.

That being said, it makes sense when you have 10 episodes, it's a bad sign when you only have six.

If it's defense, there are moments where we get scenes of investigation and some interesting interactions with "people of interest." But the flipside is that we get just as many scenes that seem to be there just to fill up the hour runtime.

I can appreciate the focus on the native culture but, so far, it doesn't seem to really connect to anything else. That may change, and I'd be happy to see it.

The characters still remain hard people but that's because they live in a hard place. But it would be nice to see a couple of interactions where characters don't just default to "aggressively demanding."

There's still 3 episodes left (or only 3 episodes left) so I'm hoping all of the disparate threads start to pull together.

Just so average

[Truedutch · 5/10 · 31 January 2024]

Finally after 3 episodes people are starting to see what I have been seeing since the first episode. We were all intrigued with mystery and the dark long night setting in Alaska but it's relying on those two things to do all the heavy lifting and it's so boring.

Not one person is standing out in the acting and on top of that every character is so unlikeable. The dialogue in most scenes has zero 'whoa' factor. They're trying to give you so much information but at the same time there are so many pointless scenes with side characters that just don't land. A scene in the car with Liz and Navarro tries to hit those deep levels of Rust and Marty from season 1 but Navarro's line of 'I listen' when talking about her praying was so cringe.

They need to start giving some answers on why all these characters don't like each other or why Peter does anything for Liz at any time. The show so far seems to be going around in circles to me.

I actually enjoyed season 3 more than others and was hoping this would go to a higher level again but I didn't realise Pizzolatto didn't write or direct this and is a pure Issa Lopez project where she has just crammed in true detective call backs to season 1.

This doesn't feel like True Detective at all and is really missing that Pizzolatto touch in the writing and directing. If episode 4 doesn't finally get me fully engaged I will not be continuing through this dark slog.

The Iñupiat characters are the heart of this season

[yoshimasu_k · 10/10 · 1 February 2024]

Fortunately, each episode is better than the last! A big misstep with this season is that they didn't drop us right in middle of the Iñupiat communities and then build the mystery from there.

As this episode clearly shows, the strongest scenes have involved Chief Danvers and Trooper Navarro interacting with locals, side characters like Leah (Danvers' step-daughter) getting more involved with the anti-mine movement, and learning more about the murdered Anne Kowtok. We do explore Kowtok's murder and gradually meet the locals in the first two episodes, but they definitely felt more peripheral - I'm saying it might've been more of an impactful introduction if the story started at the core of the communities and then revealed the mysterious Tsalal Research Center deaths.

The detective scenes have felt consistently stiff and forced throughout these first three episodes - I get a tiny bit of a Twin Peaks vibe, giving us the crime procedural archetypes and tropes all while the true drama and suspense exist in the scenes with Iñupiat characters and the otherworldly.

The opening scene of Navarro attempting to arrest Kowtok but ending up witnessing a home birth with Iñupiat midwives was powerful and revealed so much about both Navarro and Kowtok. The interaction between Navarro and Eddie Qavvik where she reveals that she was never told what her native name was, followed by the elusive Oliver Tagaq belittling Navarro and accusing her of "forgetting" her native name; Danvers' tension with her stepdaughter, not wanting her to get involved with the anti-mine movement, and especially scolding her for getting traditional markings temporarily tattooed on her face - these are all scenes that develop strong characters and set the foundation from which the mystery and tension can be conjured.

Here's to hoping that the season continues in this direction!

Utter boring paranormal activity

[dejus104 · 6/10 · 29 January 2024]

I liked a lot this show, yes, the first season was a masterpiece....the second...forgettable, the third was pretty good, but behind the epic first season. But this ????? I had big expectations, and I get nothing....this is the most boring season yet by far. I like a lot Judy Foster, I liked how it started....but after that it is an agony to watch this. This show somehow was as good as Fargo at the beginning, but that show with his last epic season 5, reiterated the best of that show. This doesn't.

I hope that in the end something will emerge from this not so much true detective, much more paranormal X file kind of activity. I hope....

What the hell happened to this TV show

[jyjpwsnv · 1/10 · 30 January 2024]

Every other season (even season 2!) felt like a cinematic roller coaster that completely captured my attention. This season has yet to make me feel thrilled, and 3 episodes in, I've realized what an absolute waste of time it has been.

Plus, I'm just gonna say it- the acting is trash. It feels like a high school play at some points. You can't expect much when the co-lead's prior job was being a professional boxer. I don't know what they were thinking. I ended up rewatching season one to drown my sorrows and reminisce of better times for TV. Do yourself a favor if you value your time and SKIP this season.

WOW!

[imizrahi2002 · 7/10 · 20 February 2024]

I just read the 'featured review'...in it they say that the director/writer was inspired by 'the Thing' !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I wrote a review for ep01 and was kidding. I said, 'the Thing LIVES!' so this blows my mind a bit...but there are SO many similarities in the setting and mood sooooo...maybe it wasn't all THAT much of an intuitive leap... it seems like a lot of people STILL aren't having fun with the show, though...which is a shame...i'm enjoying it. I don't think it's off the hook great or anything...but it's compelling enough to keep me watching...and it's not like i have nothing else to watch...wow. She was influenced by the Thing...John Carpenter's version was, of course, AWEsome! Scared the beJEsus outta me...when they're all tied up in the chairs and one of their heads comes off and grows legs??? I almost jumped into my friend's lap...a bunch of my friends and i were watching it on a teeeny screen tv...and it was STILL really scary in parts...GREAT movie...anyways...i like the mysteriousness of this show...tied in with the Native religion. It's TOtally out of my experience and areas of expertise and this makes it interesting to me...and that's all i'm gonna say about THAT!