Night Country: Part 4

I feel compelled to write my first ever imdb review.

So much adulation for TD1 and so much hate for this season. I can't even remember what happened in 2 or 3: they certainly weren't exceptional TV shows. So what's the deal? The acting here is good - both leads are excellent - the subplots are intriguing, the setting is perfect. Sure, there's some magical realism, but it plays into the culture, and the characters acknowledge their own skepticism with it all. The supernatural elements are no more off-piste than 'Carcosa' and the whole stag antlers/ Wicker Man/ Blair Witch vibe from TD1. If I have any complaints, it's that I didn't feel they made *enough* of the whole Arctic night deal - and how discombobulating that must be. As a viewer, I had to remind myself that it was daytime. Otherwise, bring on the next episode: it's a slow-burn, but I'm patiently enjoying the telling.

Two main issues with this episode (and more generally the season so far), neither of which has anything to do with the sex of the lead characters.

First, the scripting is downright lazy, there is very little interesting dialogue, every interaction is as bland as the last. It seems that for the main characters, their ONLY defining trait is their abrasiveness towards everyone else. It makes for a very tedious and unconvincing script, main characters NEED alternative traits, even subtle ones, in order to seem genuine. The hostility itself isn't even well-scripted, just angry drivel with some swearing.

Second, the plot is becoming less interesting each episode. The small developments we are being fed to maintain our interest, for me, are having the opposite effect. It now seems very likely that a ghost did it. Great. I hope I'm wrong, because that really would be a lazy conclusion.

I'm giving it 5/10 because that's what I think it deserves, not because I'm trying to drag the average score up or down.

It is unbelievable that this show has critics who support it. Anyone who has eyes can see that this is a cheap ghost hunt that has nothing to do with true detective. Every single episode has been clustered with pointless side plots and ignoring what the fans actually care to witness: A MURDER MYSTERY. Instead we have to learn about protests, pointless side characters' love life, and weird events that have nothing to do with what the main story line is. So disappointing as this show has zero direction under Issa Lopez. The saddest part about this season is that the main plot might actually be very good, however, we are only shown the good stuff at the last ten minutes of each episode until it fades to black and we have to start over with the pointless nonsense on the next episode. What a waste of season.

Yea, what can I say but another poor instalment to the season, I can understand why the story is SO SLOW and yet gives little to no pay offs. The episode tries to string you along with one or two events that take up maybe 5 minutes each and the other 40 + minutes is sheer filler.

The whole story of this episode is Liz is drunk, she's yet again having issues. Navarro is trying to help her sister while following the breadcrumbs of this case. That's it, that's basically it.

If I hate something I usually don't post because I hate being negative towards peoples visions because not everything is perfect but I feel when you have a good cast that act extremely well, an amazing setting and solid idea, it seems a waste when it's not delivering. If you live the setting and acting, even the supernatural element it plays on, watch Fortitude instead, I think it's 3 seasons and the first two are solid the last is decent, all better than this, 5/10.

I think I finally understand what this show is about.

The mystery, the murder and even the title "True Detective" is a red herring. This show is a high budget telenovela, full of the genre's tropes: Family drama, s*x, the likable but goofy dad who ordered a mail order bride who never shows up, the constant tension between married people. I could go on but Issa Lopez managed to subvert all our expectations and for that I commend her. Bravo Issa.

While watching yesterday's episode I vaguely remembered that a few episodes back there was something about some killed scientists. I don't recall exactly but it's obviously not that important because nobody is investigating it. But we learned a lot about Navaro's one note sister who's entire character is being schizophrenic. And by a lot I mean we just got more confirmation that she's mentally ill. There's not much else to be found there.

Then there was some family drama and something about the police cop's wife never wanting a baby but I don't really know what that was all about. Oh and his dad's mail order bride is unreliable. That we also learned.

That's about it. They kinda alluded to something right at the end with the jacket about some scientists or something but that's like episode 1 stuff. Who cares about stuff that happened in episode 1?

I need to know more about who's dating who, what's going on with the families? And is there a sudden pregnancy? Will they won't they?

Best telenovela to come out in years. I give it 9,5 lovable abuela out of 10 lovable abuela.