Warning! Contains major spoilers for True Detective season 4.
In episode 4, True Detective: Night Country features a hidden “Carcosa” reference, proving it is trying to copy season 1’s genius storytelling trick. From episode 1 itself, True Detective season 4 drops several nods to season 1, setting the stage for possible narrative connections despite having a distinct setting. As it progresses, season 4 even name-drops True Detective season 1’s big villains, the Tuttles, without diving into the details of how they will eventually influence the future events of its storyline.
Although episode 3 avoids treading the same path as its predecessors, True Detective: Night Country‘s episode 4 subtly introduces a fascinating “Carcosa” reference. The episode does not explicitly mention “Carcosa” but includes cues that clearly allude to the season 1 location. Like all season 1 callbacks, this one, too, makes one curious about the direction True Detective: Night Country is heading in. However, it also establishes that season 4 is repeating season 1’s plot devices, which may cause more harm than good.
True Detective Season 4 Sets Up “Night Country” As “Carcosa”
In True Detective: Night Country‘s episode 4, Liz Danvers surprisingly encounters Otis Heiss after entering Ennis’ dredge. When she asks him about Raymond Clark, he says he is in the “Night Country.” Heiss also adds, “We’re all in the Night Country now,” which seems eerily reminiscent of what Reggie Ladoux said to Rust in True Detective season 1: “You’re in Carcosa now.“ By drawing this parallel between the two quotes, True Detective season 4 seems to be setting up “Night Country” as “Carcosa.” This would mean that all clues will initially establish “Night Country” as a supernatural location like “Carcosa.“
However, like season 1, where Carcosa was ultimately revealed to be an old stone ruin in the Louisiana Bayou area, Night Country, too, will be an actual place with little to no metaphysical connotations surrounding it. Like Carcosa, Night Country will also likely be the location where True Detective season 4’s climactic action will unfold. While these season 1 and 2 parallels are intriguing, they could create some narrative issues for True Detective: Night Country.
Repeating Season 1’s Plot Devices Could Harm True Detective: Night Country
True Detective season 1 ingeniously introduced supernatural plot devices like Carcosa and the Yellow King without allowing them to overpower its portrayal of two hardened detectives and their meticulous investigative work. This allowed it to have shades of comic horror, which did not completely flip its overarching genre. At its core, season 1 remained a crime drama that focused on the personal struggles and day-to-day snags of its main detective characters, Rust and Marty. By repeating season 1’s narrative framework and plot devices, True Detective: Night Country may risk diluting its originality.
True Detective season 4 has already introduced several story beats that connect it to season 1. While some of these are interesting, others seem forced. Only time will tell whether the “Night Country” and “Carcosa” parallels will enhance the season’s depth or weigh it down. However, by borrowing too many elements from season 1, True Detective: Night Country risks treading the same path as season 3. Despite landing in the good books of the critics, True Detective: Night Country, like season 3, might remain in season 1’s shadow if it fails to bring something novel to the series.
True Detective
In this anthology series, each season follows a different detective or set of detectives as they forced to confront some horrific truths about their town and themselves. No matter the setting and characters, each detective must unravel lies and clues to solve the chilling mysteries around them.
- Release Date
- January 12, 2014
- Cast
- Matthew McConaughey , Woody Harrelson , Colin Farrell , Rachel McAdams , Taylor Kitsch , Mahershala Ali , Carmen Ejogo , Michelle Monaghan , Michael Potts , Ray Fisher , Jodie Foster
- Seasons
- 4
- Writers
- Nic Pizzolatto
- Network
- HBO Max
- Streaming Service(s)
- Hulu , HBO Max
- Directors
- Cary Fukunaga
- Showrunner
- Nic Pizzolatto
- Where To Watch
- Max
