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{{About|the [[True Detective (season 4)|fourth season]] premiere of [[True Detective]]|the [[True Detective (season 1)|first season]] premiere|The Long Bright Dark}}
{{About|the fourth season premiere of True Detective|the first season premiere|The Long Bright Dark}}
{{Infobox television episode
{{Infobox television episode
| series = [[True Detective]]
| series = [[True Detective]]
| image =
| image =
| image_size =
| image_size =
| alt =
| alt =
| caption =
| caption =
| season = 4
| season = 4
| episode = 1
| episode = 1
Line 14: Line 14:
| narrator =
| narrator =
| presenter =
| presenter =
| producer = {{Plainlist|
| music = Vince Pope
* Sam Breckman
* Princess Daazhraii Johnson
* Cathy Tagnak Rexford
* Layla Blackman
}}
| music =
| photographer = [[Florian Hoffmeister]]
| photographer = [[Florian Hoffmeister]]
| editor = [[Matt Chessé]]
| editor = [[Matt Chessé]]
Line 26: Line 20:
| airdate = {{start date|2024|1|14}}
| airdate = {{start date|2024|1|14}}
| length = 58 minutes
| length = 58 minutes
| guests =
| guests = * [[Diane E. Benson|L'xeis Diane Benson]] as Bee
* L'xeis Diane Benson as Bee
* Aka Niviâna as Julia Navarro
* Aka Niviâna as Julia Navarro
| prev = [[Now Am Found]]
| prev = [[Now Am Found]]
| next = [[Part 2 (True Detective)|Part 2]]
| next = [[Part 2 (True Detective)|Part 2]]
| season_article = True Detective (season 4)
| season_article = True Detective season 4
| episode_list = List of True Detective episodes
| episode_list = List of True Detective episodes
}}
}}
"'''Part 1'''", also known as "'''Night Country, Part 1'''", is the first episode of the [[True Detective (season 4)|fourth season]] of the American [[Anthology series|anthology]] [[Crime film#Crime drama|crime drama]] television series ''[[True Detective]]''. It is the 25th overall episode of the series and was written and directed by executive producer [[Issa López]]. It was first broadcast on [[HBO]] in the United States on January 14, 2024, and also was available on [[Max (streaming service)|Max]] on the same date. It was the first episode of the series to not be written by series creator [[Nic Pizzolatto]].
"'''Part 1'''", also known as "'''Night Country, Part 1'''", is the first episode of the [[True Detective (season 4)|fourth season]] of the American [[Anthology series|anthology]] [[Crime film#Crime drama|crime drama]] television series ''[[True Detective]]''. It is the 25th overall episode of the series and was written and directed by executive producer [[Issa López]]. It was first broadcast on [[HBO]] in the United States on January 14, 2024, and also was available on [[Max (streaming service)|Max]] on the same date. It was the first episode of the series to not be written by series creator [[Nic Pizzolatto]].


The season takes place in Ennis, [[Alaska]], and follows detectives Liz Danvers and Evangeline Navarro as they investigate the disappearance of eight men who operate the Tsalal Arctic Research Station and vanish without a trace. While occassionally working together, Danvers and Navarro are not on good terms after an unresolved case, which was very personal for Navarro.
The season takes place in Ennis, [[Alaska]], and follows detectives Liz Danvers and Evangeline Navarro as they investigate the disappearance of eight men who operate the Tsalal Arctic Research Station and vanish without a trace. While occasionally working together, Danvers and Navarro are not on good terms after an unresolved case, which was very personal for Navarro.


According to [[Nielsen Media Research]], the episode was seen by an estimated 0.565 million household viewers and gained a 0.08 ratings share among adults aged 18–49. The episode received critical acclaim, with critics praising the performances (particularly Foster and Reis), new setting, atmosphere and directing.
According to [[Nielsen Media Research]], the episode was seen by an estimated 0.565 million household viewers and gained a 0.08 ratings share among adults aged 18–49. The episode received critical acclaim, with critics praising the performances (particularly Foster and Reis), new setting, atmosphere and directing.


==Plot==
==Plot==
On December 17, in [[Alaska]], a man is hunting caribou during the last day of [[December solstice|solstice]]. As the sun sets, the entire herd of caribou suddenly becomes erratic and leaps off a cliff. At the Tsalal Arctic Research Station, a team of scientists go on with their daily routines. Suddenly, one of the scientists, Clark, has a seizure and declares "she’s awake" before the lights turn off. Three days later, a delivery man arrives at the station with food, but no one is there. As he inspects the area, he discovers a severed tongue.
On December 17, a man in [[Alaska]] is hunting caribou during the last day of sunlight. As the sun sets, the entire herd of caribou suddenly become erratic and leap to their deaths off a cliff. At the Tsalal Arctic Research Station, a team of scientists go on with their daily routines. Suddenly, a senior researcher named Raymond Clark has a seizure and declares "she’s awake" before the lights turn off. Three days later, a delivery man arrives at the station with food, but no one is there. As he inspects the area, he discovers a severed tongue.


After handling an assault case at a factory, Alaska State Trooper Evangeline Navarro ([[Kali Reis]]), is recalled to the police station in the town of Ennis, near the research station. The department is run by Ennis Police Chief Liz Danvers ([[Jodie Foster]]), with whom Navarro formerly worked as a detective.<ref name=Time>{{cite web|url=https://time.com/6553892/true-detective-night-country-premiere-explained/|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|title=Breaking Down the True Detective: Night Country Premiere—And Its Possible Supernatural Twist|author=McCluskey, Megan|language=en-US|url-status=live|date=January 14, 2024|access-date=January 17, 2024|archive-date=January 17, 2024|archive-url=https://archive.ph/LaPTw}}</ref> Danvers is present at the research station, where her colleague Peter Prior (Finn Bennett) explains the purposes of the station, which include climate study and microbiology. The eight scientists disappeared, leaving just the words "We are all dead" written on a dry erase board. Finding that the tongue belongs to a Native woman, she instructs detective Hank Prior ([[John Hawkes (actor)|John Hawkes]]), Peter's father, to check on local corpses.
After handling an assault case at a factory, Alaska State Trooper Evangeline Navarro ([[Kali Reis]]) is recalled to the police station in the town of Ennis, near the research station. The department is run by Liz Danvers ([[Jodie Foster]]), the Ennis police chief whom Navarro formerly worked with as a detective before being transferred.<ref name=Time>{{cite web|url=https://time.com/6553892/true-detective-night-country-premiere-explained/|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|title=Breaking Down the True Detective: Night Country Premiere—And Its Possible Supernatural Twist|author=McCluskey, Megan|language=en-US|url-status=live|date=January 14, 2024|access-date=January 17, 2024|archive-date=January 17, 2024|archive-url=https://archive.today/20240117021609/https://time.com/6553892/true-detective-night-country-premiere-explained/}}</ref> Danvers is present at the research station where her colleague, Peter Prior ([[Finn Bennett]]), explains the station's purpose. The eight scientists have disappeared, leaving just the words "We are all dead" written on a dry erase board. Finding that the tongue belongs to a Native woman, she instructs Peter's father Hank ([[John Hawkes (actor)|John Hawkes]]), a veteran detective, to check on local corpses.


Danvers returns to the police station, where Navarro wants to be involved in the case despite being demoted from her position, claiming that the woman must be an [[Iñupiat]], much like activist Anne Kowtok, who was brutally murdered six years prior, an unsolved case with which Navarro remains obssessed.<ref name=Time/> Danvers is forced to leave when her teenage stepdaughter, Leah ([[Isabella Star LaBlanc]]), gets in trouble for making a sex tape with her girlfriend. As she scolds her while driving, they witness a car crash. She arrests the drunk driver, Stacy Chalmers, who is desperate as her child won't talk with her.
Danvers returns to the police station, where Navarro insists on getting involved in the case. Navarro claims that the woman must be [[Iñupiat]], the same ethnicity as activist Anne Kowtok, who was infamously murdered six years prior.<ref name=Time/> Danvers is forced to leave the station when her teenage stepdaughter, Leah ([[Isabella Star LaBlanc]]), gets in trouble for making a sex tape with her girlfriend. As she scolds her while driving, they witness a car crash. She arrests the drunk driver, Stacy Chalmers, who is despondent that her child won't talk with her.


Navarro speaks with Ryan, Anne's brother, who is surprised to learn Navarro believes in God. Navarro then goes to check on her sister Julia (Aka Niviâna) who claims someone was inside her apartment despite it [[Locked-room mystery|being locked from the inside]]. Like their mother before them, Julia suffers from mental health issues, but Navarro tells her she is not like their mother and promises her she will not be hospitalized. Elsewhere, Rose Aguineau ([[Fiona Shaw]]) is disturbed by the presence of a barefoot man outside her house, whom she greets as Travis.
Navarro speaks with Ryan, Anne's brother, who is surprised to learn that Navarro believes in God. Navarro then goes to check on her sister Julia (Aka Niviâna) who claims someone was inside her apartment despite it [[Locked-room mystery|being locked from the inside]]. Like their mother before them, Julia suffers from mental health issues, but Navarro tells her she is not like their mother and promises her she will not be hospitalized. Elsewhere, Rose Aguineau ([[Fiona Shaw]]) is disturbed by the presence of a barefoot man outside her house, whom she greets as Travis.


Despite not seeing a connection to the case, Danvers gets Peter to retrieve Anne's file from his father's home, though he is unsuccessful in hiding this act from Hank. It is revealed that Navarro was the first to arrive at the scene, where Anne was found dead from multiple stabs wounds, and her tongue severed, with the weapon and culprit having never been found. She started harassing and assaulting many people from the local mine, believing that they were involved in her death, until Hank removed her from the case. Danvers was appointed to the case, but she closed it, feeling that it could never be solved.
Despite not seeing a connection to the case, Danvers gets Peter to retrieve Anne's file from his father's home, though he is unsuccessful in hiding this act from Hank. It is revealed that Navarro was the first to arrive at the scene where Anne was found dead; she died from multiple stab wounds and had her tongue severed, but the weapon and the culprit were never found. Navarro became so obsessed with the case that she started harassing and assaulting people from the local mine, believing that they were involved in her death. Hank made an arrangement for Navarro to join the State Police to keep her from making any further trouble. The case was reassigned to then-Detective Danvers, where it later [[cold case|went cold]].


After having sex with her lover Eddie Qavvik (Joel D. Montgrand), Navarro sabotages the truck belonging to the man she arrested earlier for assault. Danvers is unable to sleep, as she is haunted by the voice of a child named Holden who calls her "mommy". Both Navarro and Danvers hear the words "she’s awake", with Navarro also seeming to encounter a polar bear with one eye--eerily resembling a teddy bear Danvers has at home--while driving through town. This prompts Danvers to continue her investigation, finding a connection from the eight scientists to Anne. On the outskirts of Ennis, Rose follows Travis, who wordlessly guides her to a nearby area.
After having sex with her lover Eddie Qavvik ([[Joel Montgrand|Joel D. Montgrand]]), Navarro sabotages the truck belonging to the man she arrested earlier for assault. Danvers is unable to sleep, as she is haunted by the voice of a child named Holden who calls her "mommy". Both Navarro and Danvers hear the words "she’s awake", with Navarro also encountering a polar bear with one eye (eerily resembling a teddy bear Danvers has at home) while driving through town. This prompts Danvers to continue her investigation, finding a connection from the eight scientists to Anne. Rose follows Travis on the outskirts of Ennis, who wordlessly guides her to a nearby area.


Danvers returns to the research station, encountering Navarro. Danvers reveals that she found a possible connection through a [[parka]] worn by Anne and that Raymond Clark, one of the scientists, apparently owned too. Their encounter turns hostile as both accuse each other of their failure in Anne's case. They are interrupted when Peter calls Danvers to inform her that Rose has found something in the ice. Arriving via helicopter, the two greet Rose, who claims that Travis led her to the site despite confirming to Navarro that he is dead. Authorities discover three men frozen in the ice, with terrified looks on their faces.
Danvers returns to the research station, encountering Navarro. Danvers reveals that she found a possible connection through a [[parka]] worn by both Anne and Clark, one of the scientists. Their encounter turns hostile as both accuse each other of failing to solve Anne's case. They are interrupted when Peter calls Danvers to inform her that Rose has found something in the ice. The two greet Rose after arriving via helicopter, where Rose states that Travis led her to the site, despite confirming to Navarro that he is already dead. Authorities discover three men frozen in the ice, all of whom have terrified looks on their faces.


==Production==
==Production==
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When questioned about the constant mentions of "she is awake", [[Issa López]] explained, "Well, we know what happened to Annie, which is terrible, but we don't know if this is the "she's awake" we're talking about. We have no clue at this moment. We do know that the events at Tsalal are in a certain strange way speaking to Danvers and speaking to Navarro and calling to attention that something has changed."<ref name="EW">{{cite web|url=https://ew.com/true-detective-night-country-premiere-showrunner-interview-corpsicle-8424929|title=''True Detective'' season 4 boss on premiere twists and coming up with the corpsicle: 'F--- my life'|last=Huff|first=Lauren|date=January 14, 2024|access-date=January 14, 2024|work=[[Entertainment Weekly]]}}</ref>
When questioned about the constant mentions of "she is awake", [[Issa López]] explained, "Well, we know what happened to Annie, which is terrible, but we don't know if this is the "she's awake" we're talking about. We have no clue at this moment. We do know that the events at Tsalal are in a certain strange way speaking to Danvers and speaking to Navarro and calling to attention that something has changed."<ref name="EW">{{cite web|url=https://ew.com/true-detective-night-country-premiere-showrunner-interview-corpsicle-8424929|title=''True Detective'' season 4 boss on premiere twists and coming up with the corpsicle: 'F--- my life'|last=Huff|first=Lauren|date=January 14, 2024|access-date=January 14, 2024|work=[[Entertainment Weekly]]}}</ref>


The original concept for Danvers was different from the final version. López envisioned "a woman on the verge" of a breakdown that eventually grows stronger. This version conflicted with [[Jodie Foster]]'s vision of the character, so López asked if she wanted her to "to make her an asshole?", which Foster enthusiastically agreed. She also changed Danvers' depiction of grief, with López saying, "there's a lot of meanness and arrogance and a bad sense of humor that's not really funny. All of that comes from this place of pain she's hiding. It's more interesting, and it better serves Navarro’s story, who is the central voice of the piece, the Indigenous voice. I wanted Danvers to serve that."<ref name="THR">{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/true-detective-night-country-jodie-foster-kali-reis-season-4-interview-1235787562/|title=‘True Detective’ Stars Jodie Foster, Kali Reis Explain Premiere Tension: “They Absolutely Hate Each Other”|last=Wigler|first=Josh|date=January 14, 2024|access-date=January 14, 2024|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref> Finn Bennett described the relationship between Danvers and the Priors, "They're just the police. They really run that town. I guess you could say in some aspects there is a maternal element to Danvers and Peter Prior's relationship."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/true-detective-night-country-episode-1-whats-really-haunting-ennis-alaska|title=True Detective: Night Country, Episode One: What’s Really Haunting Ennis, Alaska?|last=Murphy|first=Chris|date=January 14, 2024|access-date=January 14, 2024|work=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]}}</ref>
The original concept for Danvers was different from the final version. López envisioned "a woman on the verge" of a breakdown that eventually grows stronger. This version conflicted with [[Jodie Foster]]'s vision of the character, so López asked if she wanted her "to make her an asshole?", which Foster enthusiastically agreed. She also changed Danvers' depiction of grief, with López saying, "there's a lot of meanness and arrogance and a bad sense of humor that's not really funny. All of that comes from this place of pain she's hiding. It's more interesting, and it better serves Navarro’s story, who is the central voice of the piece, the Indigenous voice. I wanted Danvers to serve that."<ref name="THR">{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/true-detective-night-country-jodie-foster-kali-reis-season-4-interview-1235787562/|title=‘True Detective’ Stars Jodie Foster, Kali Reis Explain Premiere Tension: "They Absolutely Hate Each Other"|last=Wigler|first=Josh|date=January 14, 2024|access-date=January 14, 2024|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref> [[Finn Bennett]] described the relationship between Danvers and the Priors, "They're just the police. They really run that town. I guess you could say in some aspects there is a maternal element to Danvers and Peter Prior's relationship."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/true-detective-night-country-episode-1-whats-really-haunting-ennis-alaska|title=True Detective: Night Country, Episode One: What’s Really Haunting Ennis, Alaska?|last=Murphy|first=Chris|date=January 14, 2024|access-date=January 14, 2024|work=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]}}</ref>


López said that the [[Iñupiat]] culture was a challenge, as she was not familiar before writing the scripts. She said, "the more I understood about the location where I wanted to set the story, the more I knew that 70% of the population is Iñupiaq, at least Indigenous, in these parts of Alaska, and it would be unfair to make my characters any other color. So, the representation of these characters, in a way that was not only respectful, but a chance for them to see themselves in TV, was enormous. That part of the work required a lot of research and dialogue."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2024/01/true-detective-night-country-premiere-issa-lopez-interview-1235696381/|title=‘True Detective: Night Country’ Showrunner Issa López Experienced Best & Worst Of Working With HBO Amid Iceland Shoot In “Eternal Darkness”|last=Grobar|first=Matt|date=January 14, 2024|access-date=January 14, 2024|work=[[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref>
López said that the [[Iñupiat]] culture was a challenge, as she was not familiar before writing the scripts. She said, "the more I understood about the location where I wanted to set the story, the more I knew that 70% of the population is Iñupiaq, at least Indigenous, in these parts of Alaska, and it would be unfair to make my characters any other color. So, the representation of these characters, in a way that was not only respectful, but a chance for them to see themselves in TV, was enormous. That part of the work required a lot of research and dialogue."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2024/01/true-detective-night-country-premiere-issa-lopez-interview-1235696381/|title=‘True Detective: Night Country’ Showrunner Issa López Experienced Best & Worst Of Working With HBO Amid Iceland Shoot In "Eternal Darkness"|last=Grobar|first=Matt|date=January 14, 2024|access-date=January 14, 2024|work=[[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref>


==Reception==
==Reception==
===Viewers===
===Viewers===
The episode was watched by 0.565 million viewers, earning a 0.08 in the 18-49 rating demographics on the Nielson ratings scale. This means that 0.08 percent of all households with televisions watched the episode.<ref name="Ratings">{{cite web|url=https://tvseriesfinale.com/tv-show/true-detective-season-four-ratings/|title=''True Detective'': Season Four Ratings (''Night Country'')|date=January 18, 2024|access-date=January 21, 2024|website=TV Series Finale}}</ref> This was a 60% decrease from the previous episode, which was watched by 1.38 million viewers with a 0.4 in the 18-49 demographics.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-2-24-2019.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190226215538/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-2-24-2019.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 26, 2019|title=SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 2.24.2019|last=Metcalf|first=Mitch|date=February 26, 2019|work=Showbuzz Daily|access-date=January 21, 2024}}</ref>
The episode was watched by 0.565 million viewers, earning a 0.08 in the 18–49 rating demographics on the [[Nielsen Media Research]] ratings scale. This means that 0.08 percent of all households with televisions watched the episode.<ref name="Ratings">{{cite web|url=https://tvseriesfinale.com/tv-show/true-detective-season-four-ratings/|title=''True Detective'': Season Four Ratings (''Night Country'')|date=January 18, 2024|access-date=January 21, 2024|website=TV Series Finale}}</ref> This was a 60% decrease from the previous episode, which was watched by 1.38 million viewers with a 0.4 in the 18–49 demographics.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-2-24-2019.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190226215538/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-2-24-2019.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 26, 2019|title=SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 2.24.2019|last=Metcalf|first=Mitch|date=February 26, 2019|work=Showbuzz Daily|access-date=January 21, 2024}}</ref>


===Critical reviews===
===Critical reviews===
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Christina Izzo of ''[[The A.V. Club]]'' gave the episode an "A" grade and wrote, "From the true-crime bleakness to the unnerving supernaturalism, there are more than enough chilling elements for our leads to chip away at over the next five episodes. With a snowy tundra and a severed tongue, ''True Detective'' Sundays are officially back."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/true-detective-night-country-premiere-season-4-1851160019|title=''True Detective: Night Country'' premiere: Chillingly good TV|last=Izzo|first=Christina|date=January 14, 2024|access-date=January 14, 2024|work=[[The A.V. Club]]}}</ref>
Christina Izzo of ''[[The A.V. Club]]'' gave the episode an "A" grade and wrote, "From the true-crime bleakness to the unnerving supernaturalism, there are more than enough chilling elements for our leads to chip away at over the next five episodes. With a snowy tundra and a severed tongue, ''True Detective'' Sundays are officially back."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/true-detective-night-country-premiere-season-4-1851160019|title=''True Detective: Night Country'' premiere: Chillingly good TV|last=Izzo|first=Christina|date=January 14, 2024|access-date=January 14, 2024|work=[[The A.V. Club]]}}</ref>


[[Alan Sepinwall]] of ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' wrote, "All in all, it's an impressive premiere, whether you want to call this the fourth season of an old show or the first season of a new one."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-recaps/true-detective-night-country-premiere-hbo-jodie-foster-issa-lopez-kali-reis-alaska-1234941027/|title=‘True Detective: Night Country’ Premiere: Murder and Mysticism|last=Sepinwall|first=Alan|date=January 14, 2024|access-date=January 14, 2024|work=[[Rolling Stone]]}}</ref> Ben Travers of ''[[IndieWire]]'' gave the episode a "B+" grade and wrote, "There's Navarro’s gruesome flashback to her last tour of duty, where a fellow soldier is missing half her head; Danvers' fleeting memory of her family's car accident, triggered by the broken glass she steps on when walking over to the drunk driver. Add in whatever caused the two former colleagues to go their separate ways and ''True Detective: Night Country'' has all the hallmarks of past seasons."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/shows/true-detective-season-4-episode-1-review-night-country-spoilers-1234943230/|title=‘True Detective’ Review: Episode 1 Conjures a Chilly, Mysterious Welcome to ‘Night Country’ — Spoilers|last=Travers|first=Ben|date=January 14, 2024|access-date=January 14, 2024|work=[[IndieWire]]}}</ref>
[[Alan Sepinwall]] of ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' wrote, "All in all, it's an impressive premiere, whether you want to call this the fourth season of an old show or the first season of a new one."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-recaps/true-detective-night-country-premiere-hbo-jodie-foster-issa-lopez-kali-reis-alaska-1234941027/|title=‘True Detective: Night Country’ Premiere: Murder and Mysticism|last=Sepinwall|first=Alan|date=January 14, 2024|access-date=January 14, 2024|work=[[Rolling Stone]]}}</ref> Ben Travers of ''[[IndieWire]]'' gave the episode a "B+" grade and wrote, "There's Navarro’s gruesome flashback to her last tour of duty, where a fellow soldier is missing half her head; Danvers' fleeting memory of her family's car accident, triggered by the broken glass she steps on when walking over to the drunk driver. Add in whatever caused the two former colleagues to go their separate ways and ''True Detective: Night Country'' has all the hallmarks of past seasons."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/shows/true-detective-season-4-episode-1-review-night-country-spoilers-1234943230/|title=‘True Detective’ Review: Episode 1 Conjures a Chilly, Mysterious Welcome to ‘Night Country’ — Spoilers|last=Travers|first=Ben|date=January 14, 2024|access-date=January 14, 2024|work=[[IndieWire]]}}</ref>


Erik Kain of ''[[Forbes]]'' wrote, "I'm sad to report that I feel no such crackling excitement over ''Night Country'', which already feels like a slog just one episode in. The pacing might be forgivable—I enjoy a slow burn — but the premiere is messy and its characters are flat and uninteresting."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2024/01/14/true-detective-night-country-episode-1-review---no-way-is-this-as-good-as-season-1/|title=‘True Detective: Night Country’ Episode 1 Review — Such A Disappointing Premiere|last=Kain|first=Erik|date=January 14, 2024|access-date=January 17, 2024|work=[[Forbes]]}}</ref> Coleman Spilde of ''[[The Daily Beast]]'' wrote, "while we're working with an incredibly dense set of gnarled, intersecting plotlines, ''True Detective: Night Country'' is, so far, keeping them from becoming too tangled to follow. With the introduction of an undeniable supernatural element afoot, López's intriguing new story — paired with her drolly offbeat writing — is primed to put this much-missed anthology back on track."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/true-detective-night-country-ep-1-recap-whose-tongue-is-it-anyway|title=‘True Detective: Night Country’ Somehow Made ‘Ferris Bueller’ Terrifying|last=Spilde|first=Coleman|date=January 14, 2024|access-date=January 14, 2024|work=[[The Daily Beast]]}}</ref>
Erik Kain of ''[[Forbes]]'' wrote, "I'm sad to report that I feel no such crackling excitement over ''Night Country'', which already feels like a slog just one episode in. The pacing might be forgivable—I enjoy a slow burn — but the premiere is messy and its characters are flat and uninteresting."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2024/01/14/true-detective-night-country-episode-1-review---no-way-is-this-as-good-as-season-1/|title=‘True Detective: Night Country’ Episode 1 Review — Such A Disappointing Premiere|last=Kain|first=Erik|date=January 14, 2024|access-date=January 17, 2024|work=[[Forbes]]}}</ref> Coleman Spilde of ''[[The Daily Beast]]'' wrote, "while we're working with an incredibly dense set of gnarled, intersecting plotlines, ''True Detective: Night Country'' is, so far, keeping them from becoming too tangled to follow. With the introduction of an undeniable supernatural element afoot, López's intriguing new story — paired with her drolly offbeat writing — is primed to put this much-missed anthology back on track."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/true-detective-night-country-ep-1-recap-whose-tongue-is-it-anyway|title=‘True Detective: Night Country’ Somehow Made ‘Ferris Bueller’ Terrifying|last=Spilde|first=Coleman|date=January 14, 2024|access-date=January 14, 2024|work=[[The Daily Beast]]}}</ref>


Amanda Whitting of ''[[New York (magazine)|Vulture]]'' gave the episode a 4 star rating out of 5 and wrote, "It's a fitting introduction, though I think I'd argue that the paradox López has swiftly established in Ennis is even more disturbing: God may be asleep, but what happens when night lasts so long man has no choice but to walk alongside the beasts."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vulture.com/article/true-detective-premiere-recap-season-4-episode-1.html|title=''True Detective'' Season-Premiere Recap: The End of the World|last=Whitting|first=Amanda|date=January 14, 2024|access-date=January 14, 2024|work=[[New York (magazine)|Vulture]]}}</ref> Melody McCune of ''Telltale TV'' gave the episode a 4 star rating out of 5 and wrote, "Overall, 'Part 1' of ''True Detective: Night Country'' is a solid start to the season, bolstered by nuanced character work, a plot that unravels methodically and carefully, and a genuinely engaging mystery at the center of it all. Only time will tell if Season 4 maintains the momentum established here or becomes stuck in that icy lake with the preserved corpses."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://telltaletv.com/2024/01/true-detective-night-country-season-4-episode-1-review-part-1/|title=True Detective: Night Country Season 4 Episode 1 Review: Part 1|last=McCune|first=Melody|date=January 14, 2024|access-date=January 14, 2024|work=Telltale TV}}</ref>
Amanda Whiting of ''[[New York (magazine)|Vulture]]'' gave the episode a 4 star rating out of 5 and wrote, "It's a fitting introduction, though I think I'd argue that the paradox López has swiftly established in Ennis is even more disturbing: God may be asleep, but what happens when night lasts so long man has no choice but to walk alongside the beasts."<ref>{{cite web |last=Whiting |first=Amanda |date=January 14, 2024 |title=''True Detective'' Season-Premiere Recap: The End of the World |url=https://www.vulture.com/article/true-detective-premiere-recap-season-4-episode-1.html |access-date=January 14, 2024 |work=[[New York (magazine)|Vulture]]}}</ref> Melody McCune of ''Telltale TV'' gave the episode a 4 star rating out of 5 and wrote, "Overall, 'Part 1' of ''True Detective: Night Country'' is a solid start to the season, bolstered by nuanced character work, a plot that unravels methodically and carefully, and a genuinely engaging mystery at the center of it all. Only time will tell if Season 4 maintains the momentum established here or becomes stuck in that icy lake with the preserved corpses."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://telltaletv.com/2024/01/true-detective-night-country-season-4-episode-1-review-part-1/|title=True Detective: Night Country Season 4 Episode 1 Review: Part 1|last=McCune|first=Melody|date=January 14, 2024|access-date=January 14, 2024|work=Telltale TV}}</ref>


Scott Tobias of ''[[The New York Times]]'' wrote, "The supernatural aura of the season so far may well be explicable, tied to the fears and anxieties of a community that spends the winter padding around in the dark. But López isn't in any hurry to dispel the illusion, not when she can leave us jumping at shadows."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/14/arts/television/true-detective-recap-season-4-episode-1.html|title=‘True Detective: Night Country’ Season Premiere Recap|last=Tobias|first=Scott|date=January 14, 2024|access-date=January 14, 2024|work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> Tyler Johnson of ''TV Fanatic'' gave the episode a 4.5 star rating out of 5 and wrote, "Yes, Part 1 masterfully cultivated a sense of impending doom and gathering darkness (much more literally than in seasons past), but the show's second and third seasons skillfully set the tone as well - and to say that those installments didn't quite nail the dismount would be putting it very mildly."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/01/true-detective-season-4-episode-1-review-night-country-part-1/|title=True Detective Season 4 Episode 1 Review: Night Country Part 1|last=Johnson|first=Tyler|date=January 14, 2024|access-date=January 14, 2024|work=TV Fanatic}}</ref>
Scott Tobias of ''[[The New York Times]]'' wrote, "The supernatural aura of the season so far may well be explicable, tied to the fears and anxieties of a community that spends the winter padding around in the dark. But López isn't in any hurry to dispel the illusion, not when she can leave us jumping at shadows."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/14/arts/television/true-detective-recap-season-4-episode-1.html|title=‘True Detective: Night Country’ Season Premiere Recap|last=Tobias|first=Scott|date=January 14, 2024|access-date=January 14, 2024|work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> Tyler Johnson of ''TV Fanatic'' gave the episode a 4.5 star rating out of 5 and wrote, "Yes, Part 1 masterfully cultivated a sense of impending doom and gathering darkness (much more literally than in seasons past), but the show's second and third seasons skillfully set the tone as well - and to say that those installments didn't quite nail the dismount would be putting it very mildly."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tvfanatic.com/2024/01/true-detective-season-4-episode-1-review-night-country-part-1/|title=True Detective Season 4 Episode 1 Review: Night Country Part 1|last=Johnson|first=Tyler|date=January 14, 2024|access-date=January 14, 2024|work=TV Fanatic}}</ref>

Latest revision as of 09:07, 12 December 2024

"Part 1"
True Detective episode
Episode no.Season 4
Episode 1
Directed byIssa López
Written byIssa López
Featured musicVince Pope
Cinematography byFlorian Hoffmeister
Editing byMatt Chessé
Original air dateJanuary 14, 2024 (2024-01-14)
Running time58 minutes
Guest appearances
Episode chronology
← Previous
"Now Am Found"
Next →
"Part 2"
True Detective season 4
List of episodes

"Part 1", also known as "Night Country, Part 1", is the first episode of the fourth season of the American anthology crime drama television series True Detective. It is the 25th overall episode of the series and was written and directed by executive producer Issa López. It was first broadcast on HBO in the United States on January 14, 2024, and also was available on Max on the same date. It was the first episode of the series to not be written by series creator Nic Pizzolatto.

The season takes place in Ennis, Alaska, and follows detectives Liz Danvers and Evangeline Navarro as they investigate the disappearance of eight men who operate the Tsalal Arctic Research Station and vanish without a trace. While occasionally working together, Danvers and Navarro are not on good terms after an unresolved case, which was very personal for Navarro.

According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode was seen by an estimated 0.565 million household viewers and gained a 0.08 ratings share among adults aged 18–49. The episode received critical acclaim, with critics praising the performances (particularly Foster and Reis), new setting, atmosphere and directing.

Plot

[edit]

On December 17, a man in Alaska is hunting caribou during the last day of sunlight. As the sun sets, the entire herd of caribou suddenly become erratic and leap to their deaths off a cliff. At the Tsalal Arctic Research Station, a team of scientists go on with their daily routines. Suddenly, a senior researcher named Raymond Clark has a seizure and declares "she’s awake" before the lights turn off. Three days later, a delivery man arrives at the station with food, but no one is there. As he inspects the area, he discovers a severed tongue.

After handling an assault case at a factory, Alaska State Trooper Evangeline Navarro (Kali Reis) is recalled to the police station in the town of Ennis, near the research station. The department is run by Liz Danvers (Jodie Foster), the Ennis police chief whom Navarro formerly worked with as a detective before being transferred.[1] Danvers is present at the research station where her colleague, Peter Prior (Finn Bennett), explains the station's purpose. The eight scientists have disappeared, leaving just the words "We are all dead" written on a dry erase board. Finding that the tongue belongs to a Native woman, she instructs Peter's father Hank (John Hawkes), a veteran detective, to check on local corpses.

Danvers returns to the police station, where Navarro insists on getting involved in the case. Navarro claims that the woman must be Iñupiat, the same ethnicity as activist Anne Kowtok, who was infamously murdered six years prior.[1] Danvers is forced to leave the station when her teenage stepdaughter, Leah (Isabella Star LaBlanc), gets in trouble for making a sex tape with her girlfriend. As she scolds her while driving, they witness a car crash. She arrests the drunk driver, Stacy Chalmers, who is despondent that her child won't talk with her.

Navarro speaks with Ryan, Anne's brother, who is surprised to learn that Navarro believes in God. Navarro then goes to check on her sister Julia (Aka Niviâna) who claims someone was inside her apartment despite it being locked from the inside. Like their mother before them, Julia suffers from mental health issues, but Navarro tells her she is not like their mother and promises her she will not be hospitalized. Elsewhere, Rose Aguineau (Fiona Shaw) is disturbed by the presence of a barefoot man outside her house, whom she greets as Travis.

Despite not seeing a connection to the case, Danvers gets Peter to retrieve Anne's file from his father's home, though he is unsuccessful in hiding this act from Hank. It is revealed that Navarro was the first to arrive at the scene where Anne was found dead; she died from multiple stab wounds and had her tongue severed, but the weapon and the culprit were never found. Navarro became so obsessed with the case that she started harassing and assaulting people from the local mine, believing that they were involved in her death. Hank made an arrangement for Navarro to join the State Police to keep her from making any further trouble. The case was reassigned to then-Detective Danvers, where it later went cold.

After having sex with her lover Eddie Qavvik (Joel D. Montgrand), Navarro sabotages the truck belonging to the man she arrested earlier for assault. Danvers is unable to sleep, as she is haunted by the voice of a child named Holden who calls her "mommy". Both Navarro and Danvers hear the words "she’s awake", with Navarro also encountering a polar bear with one eye (eerily resembling a teddy bear Danvers has at home) while driving through town. This prompts Danvers to continue her investigation, finding a connection from the eight scientists to Anne. Rose follows Travis on the outskirts of Ennis, who wordlessly guides her to a nearby area.

Danvers returns to the research station, encountering Navarro. Danvers reveals that she found a possible connection through a parka worn by both Anne and Clark, one of the scientists. Their encounter turns hostile as both accuse each other of failing to solve Anne's case. They are interrupted when Peter calls Danvers to inform her that Rose has found something in the ice. The two greet Rose after arriving via helicopter, where Rose states that Travis led her to the site, despite confirming to Navarro that he is already dead. Authorities discover three men frozen in the ice, all of whom have terrified looks on their faces.

Production

[edit]

Development

[edit]

The episode was written and directed by executive producer Issa López, marking her first writing and directing credit.[2]

Writing

[edit]

When questioned about the constant mentions of "she is awake", Issa López explained, "Well, we know what happened to Annie, which is terrible, but we don't know if this is the "she's awake" we're talking about. We have no clue at this moment. We do know that the events at Tsalal are in a certain strange way speaking to Danvers and speaking to Navarro and calling to attention that something has changed."[3]

The original concept for Danvers was different from the final version. López envisioned "a woman on the verge" of a breakdown that eventually grows stronger. This version conflicted with Jodie Foster's vision of the character, so López asked if she wanted her "to make her an asshole?", which Foster enthusiastically agreed. She also changed Danvers' depiction of grief, with López saying, "there's a lot of meanness and arrogance and a bad sense of humor that's not really funny. All of that comes from this place of pain she's hiding. It's more interesting, and it better serves Navarro’s story, who is the central voice of the piece, the Indigenous voice. I wanted Danvers to serve that."[4] Finn Bennett described the relationship between Danvers and the Priors, "They're just the police. They really run that town. I guess you could say in some aspects there is a maternal element to Danvers and Peter Prior's relationship."[5]

López said that the Iñupiat culture was a challenge, as she was not familiar before writing the scripts. She said, "the more I understood about the location where I wanted to set the story, the more I knew that 70% of the population is Iñupiaq, at least Indigenous, in these parts of Alaska, and it would be unfair to make my characters any other color. So, the representation of these characters, in a way that was not only respectful, but a chance for them to see themselves in TV, was enormous. That part of the work required a lot of research and dialogue."[6]

Reception

[edit]

Viewers

[edit]

The episode was watched by 0.565 million viewers, earning a 0.08 in the 18–49 rating demographics on the Nielsen Media Research ratings scale. This means that 0.08 percent of all households with televisions watched the episode.[7] This was a 60% decrease from the previous episode, which was watched by 1.38 million viewers with a 0.4 in the 18–49 demographics.[8]

Critical reviews

[edit]

"Part 1" received critical acclaim. The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported an 94% approval rating for the episode, based on 16 reviews. The site's consensus states: "Creepy and patiently paced, Night Country's first installment introduces Jodie Foster and Kali Reis' dueling detectives with grim efficiency."[9]

Christina Izzo of The A.V. Club gave the episode an "A" grade and wrote, "From the true-crime bleakness to the unnerving supernaturalism, there are more than enough chilling elements for our leads to chip away at over the next five episodes. With a snowy tundra and a severed tongue, True Detective Sundays are officially back."[10]

Alan Sepinwall of Rolling Stone wrote, "All in all, it's an impressive premiere, whether you want to call this the fourth season of an old show or the first season of a new one."[11] Ben Travers of IndieWire gave the episode a "B+" grade and wrote, "There's Navarro’s gruesome flashback to her last tour of duty, where a fellow soldier is missing half her head; Danvers' fleeting memory of her family's car accident, triggered by the broken glass she steps on when walking over to the drunk driver. Add in whatever caused the two former colleagues to go their separate ways and True Detective: Night Country has all the hallmarks of past seasons."[12]

Erik Kain of Forbes wrote, "I'm sad to report that I feel no such crackling excitement over Night Country, which already feels like a slog just one episode in. The pacing might be forgivable—I enjoy a slow burn — but the premiere is messy and its characters are flat and uninteresting."[13] Coleman Spilde of The Daily Beast wrote, "while we're working with an incredibly dense set of gnarled, intersecting plotlines, True Detective: Night Country is, so far, keeping them from becoming too tangled to follow. With the introduction of an undeniable supernatural element afoot, López's intriguing new story — paired with her drolly offbeat writing — is primed to put this much-missed anthology back on track."[14]

Amanda Whiting of Vulture gave the episode a 4 star rating out of 5 and wrote, "It's a fitting introduction, though I think I'd argue that the paradox López has swiftly established in Ennis is even more disturbing: God may be asleep, but what happens when night lasts so long man has no choice but to walk alongside the beasts."[15] Melody McCune of Telltale TV gave the episode a 4 star rating out of 5 and wrote, "Overall, 'Part 1' of True Detective: Night Country is a solid start to the season, bolstered by nuanced character work, a plot that unravels methodically and carefully, and a genuinely engaging mystery at the center of it all. Only time will tell if Season 4 maintains the momentum established here or becomes stuck in that icy lake with the preserved corpses."[16]

Scott Tobias of The New York Times wrote, "The supernatural aura of the season so far may well be explicable, tied to the fears and anxieties of a community that spends the winter padding around in the dark. But López isn't in any hurry to dispel the illusion, not when she can leave us jumping at shadows."[17] Tyler Johnson of TV Fanatic gave the episode a 4.5 star rating out of 5 and wrote, "Yes, Part 1 masterfully cultivated a sense of impending doom and gathering darkness (much more literally than in seasons past), but the show's second and third seasons skillfully set the tone as well - and to say that those installments didn't quite nail the dismount would be putting it very mildly."[18]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b McCluskey, Megan (January 14, 2024). "Breaking Down the True Detective: Night Country Premiere—And Its Possible Supernatural Twist". Time. Archived from the original on January 17, 2024. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  2. ^ "True Detective: Season 4". Writers Guild of America West. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  3. ^ Huff, Lauren (January 14, 2024). "True Detective season 4 boss on premiere twists and coming up with the corpsicle: 'F--- my life'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  4. ^ Wigler, Josh (January 14, 2024). "'True Detective' Stars Jodie Foster, Kali Reis Explain Premiere Tension: "They Absolutely Hate Each Other"". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  5. ^ Murphy, Chris (January 14, 2024). "True Detective: Night Country, Episode One: What's Really Haunting Ennis, Alaska?". Vanity Fair. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  6. ^ Grobar, Matt (January 14, 2024). "'True Detective: Night Country' Showrunner Issa López Experienced Best & Worst Of Working With HBO Amid Iceland Shoot In "Eternal Darkness"". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  7. ^ "True Detective: Season Four Ratings (Night Country)". TV Series Finale. January 18, 2024. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  8. ^ Metcalf, Mitch (February 26, 2019). "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 2.24.2019". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on February 26, 2019. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  9. ^ "True Detective: Night Country, Episode 1". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  10. ^ Izzo, Christina (January 14, 2024). "True Detective: Night Country premiere: Chillingly good TV". The A.V. Club. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  11. ^ Sepinwall, Alan (January 14, 2024). "'True Detective: Night Country' Premiere: Murder and Mysticism". Rolling Stone. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  12. ^ Travers, Ben (January 14, 2024). "'True Detective' Review: Episode 1 Conjures a Chilly, Mysterious Welcome to 'Night Country' — Spoilers". IndieWire. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  13. ^ Kain, Erik (January 14, 2024). "'True Detective: Night Country' Episode 1 Review — Such A Disappointing Premiere". Forbes. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  14. ^ Spilde, Coleman (January 14, 2024). "'True Detective: Night Country' Somehow Made 'Ferris Bueller' Terrifying". The Daily Beast. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  15. ^ Whiting, Amanda (January 14, 2024). "True Detective Season-Premiere Recap: The End of the World". Vulture. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  16. ^ McCune, Melody (January 14, 2024). "True Detective: Night Country Season 4 Episode 1 Review: Part 1". Telltale TV. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  17. ^ Tobias, Scott (January 14, 2024). "'True Detective: Night Country' Season Premiere Recap". The New York Times. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  18. ^ Johnson, Tyler (January 14, 2024). "True Detective Season 4 Episode 1 Review: Night Country Part 1". TV Fanatic. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
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