The major complaint that many fans had with the 2nd and 3rd installments in the anthology series was the absence of cosmic horror, which helped True Detective Season One stand out. But with the new entry in the series, starring Jodie Foster in the lead, director Issa López brings back the horror as it further delves into the supernatural and horror aspect.
With the recent episode, the Tigers Are Not Afraid director succeeds in creating a pretty un-merry Christmas, which has left fans both enticed and terrified.
Episode 4 of True Detective: Night Country Further Leaves Fans Petrified
Prior to the release of the fourth episode of True Detective: Night Country, director Issa López warned fans that this was going to be the most “f*uckd up Christmas special ever”. And it’s reasonable to say that she was indeed right, as fans are left petrified. While Christmas is considered the jolliest time of the year, this couldn’t be far from the truth for the streets of Ennis. With Jodie Foster‘s Danvers losing the corpsicle to Anchorage and Navarro losing her last remaining family, the Christmas-themed episode delves deep into human trauma and mental illness.
#TrueDetectiveNightCountry
That guy in the hospital scared the crap outta me ! 😯😳 pic.twitter.com/ifjnpsZ8lS— PINCHE TACO LOK0 💀💀 (@Nand076) January 30, 2024
I have to start watching these episodes in the day time 😂😂😂. #TrueDetective #TrueDetectiveNightCountry pic.twitter.com/wjSSyBv7Uw
— Celtics(38-12)GPG(LOVE 2024 MVP) (@King_Matikal) February 5, 2024
This episode of #TrueDetectiveNightCountry was scary as heck! pic.twitter.com/F3f6SNNr4j
— GottaLoveSyl🌻 (@GottaLoveSyl) February 5, 2024
How is anyone going to sleep after that episode?!? #TrueDetectiveNightCountry pic.twitter.com/G3iQTUzblL
— isa agape (@isaagapemusic) February 5, 2024
#TrueDetective #TrueDetectiveNightCountry Is so far, the best one yet, IMO. It's giving a lot of horror vibes. pic.twitter.com/FGWNRARBVs
— Dayna Bianchi💋🔪 (@SlasherDiva) January 29, 2024
Well damn True Detective got creepy as hell tonight. #TrueDetective #TrueDetectiveNightCountry pic.twitter.com/13kLHVUNVz
— Lee (@caseyleemoore) January 29, 2024
But despite bringing back the horror element, which is no surprise following the director’s prior experience in the genre, not everyone is happy with the direction it took, including Nic Pizzolatto.
Director Issa López Reflects on the Original Creator’s Distaste for the New Direction
Having worked in all three seasons prior to Night Country, the Issa López-led season was the first entry in the series that Nic Pizzolatto had no input in, despite having a credit as executive producer. And Pizzolatto isn’t being oblique with his distaste for the new direction, as the writer expressed he “did not have any input on this story or anything else, “ as he replied to a fan’s comment. Responding to the True Detective creator speaking ill about the new season, López, who directed all six episodes of Night Country, expressed that he is entitled to his opinion.
Speaking with Vulture, the director stressed that she wrote the story with profound love as she acknowledged its difference from the stuff that has come before.
“I believe that every storyteller has a very specific, peculiar, and unique relation to the stories they create, and whatever his reactions are, he’s entitled to them. That’s his prerogative,” López said. “I wrote this with a 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.”
While not everyone is a fan of its departure from the past seasons, many have also expressed their love for the show so far, especially the horror element.
True Detective: Night Country is available to stream on Max.
