‘True Detective’ Recap – ‘Night Country: Part 3’

1/29/2024

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Kali Reis and Jodie Foster as Trooper Evangeline Navarro and Chief Elizabeth Danvers in Episode 403 of ‘True Detective’ – ‘Night Country: Part 3’. (Photo Courtesy of Michele K. Short/HBO.)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 403 of ‘True Detective’. To revisit the previous episode of ‘Night Country’, click here.

For the most part, crime dramas that focus upon small-town murders and the secrets that brought death to the doorstep of the general store, are often nothing more than grand tragedies. Where we learn through the investigation, how ignorance and a belief that ideology and the greater good, matter more than a singular life, can bring about this kind of disaster. Which is a formula that has stuck with the genre for ages on end, simply because it works. It reflects modern America and our attachments to old ideals, and it oft leads to some engaging and tragic cases that move us and shock us.

But of course, in this era of television, classic formulas are meant to be toyed with to see what their true potential can offer us, and that is why this season of True Detective is of note. Simply because Night Country is taking that classic small-town murder format and pushing it to new and unsettling heights, as evidenced by this week’s episode. For the third chapter in this long and winding nightmare, put a magnificent twist upon that formula. After outright fooling us of course. Since this particular episode spent a great deal of time seemingly giving us what we are used to when it comes to this style of story. An understanding of what might have led to tragedy.

For this particular tale spent a great deal of time exploring the past. Such as how Navarro and Danvers’ working relationship basically ended because someone crossed a line in the midst of a domestic violence call, giving rise to a cover-up, which appears to be par for the course in this town. After all, we also came to learn that Captain Hank Prior rolls to the beat of his own drum and has no qualms putting on a show to make it appear as though justice will be served in Ennis. Since he basically did little to catch Clark, he just created the illusion in question to try and quell unrest in a town that continued to gently move toward chaos.

Þorsteinn Bachmann as Anders Lund in Episode 403 of ‘True Detective’ – ‘Night Country: Part 3’. (Photo Courtesy of Michele K. Short/HBO.)

Because we also saw tensions rise through and through, regarding the indigenous community and their desire for better conditions and wages for their families, and we also came to learn that there were people aware of Clark and Annie’s relationship back in the day, and that no one cared to comment on it, or even bother to offer up truth about other issues regarding this whole case. Such as how there were others that worked at the Tsalal facility. All of which spoke, to an old school formula run. One grounded in ugly secrets and an attempt to keep a status quo going to maintain a delicate peace in a town where that might not be possible. But that’s when this story took quite the turn and changed things up.

For while Danvers and Navarro were getting nowhere in speaking to that bonus Tsalal employee, Anders Lund woke up and that brought this duo to the hospital post haste, wherein… horrifying moments took place. The kind where Lund once again spoke to the awakening of something dark and sinister. Something that seemingly took hold of him to send Navarro a message when a strange outbreak of violence took hold. All before he passed into the beyond, and shortly after his passing, Peter Prior was able to showcase… a horrific surprise on Annie’s phone. One that showed her final moments, wherein she desperately begged for her story to live on after she ‘found’ something of note, something that may have dragged her away and killed her.

Giving rise to the possibility that this town’s dark secrets aren’t just related to racism, but something far more sinister. As though there are people here trying to hide a dark secret about a dark entity. One that has claimed many lives throughout the years, of women it would seem. As to how that relates to that ancient symbol of Carcosa and Rust and Marty’s fight to understand it and neutralize beliefs in the Yellow King, has yet to be seen. But it would seem we are barreling toward a crossover for the ages and a horrific truth about Ennis. One that does not resemble tradition in this type of story in the slightest, and it should be interesting to see how all of this comes together through truth, as this incredible season continues along. Until next time.

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