True Detective Season 4: Night Country - A Must-Watch Crime Series

The Return of True Detective: Night Country

After five years off the air, True Detective has returned for season 4 — and Night Country is the perfect replacement for another HBO crime show that drew interest back in 2021. True Detective: Night Country promises to be the series' best outing since season 1. Judging by True Detective season 4's Rotten Tomatoes score, it may even be better than the original batch of episodes, though only time will tell if that's the case. Wherever it lands on a ranking of the show's seasons, Night Country is shaping up to be more than an average crime narrative.

The Return of True Detective: Night Country

True Detective: Night Country episode 1 presents many mysteries, and it looks like it could even delve into the supernatural before its six episodes are through. This alone makes for a fascinating and unsettling crime series, but the show's two new leads — Jodie Foster's Liz Danvers and Kali Reis' Evangeline Navarro — promise to elevate the story further. With strong women at the helm and a genuinely gripping case, Night Country is reminiscent of another HBO series, making it an ideal replacement.

Kali Reis as Navarro and Jodie Foster as Danvers staring into the ice in a True Detective season 4 promo

True Detective: Night Country episode 1 is streaming on Max.

Similarities to Mare of Easttown

Just one episode of True Detective: Night Country has aired so far, but the new season is already displaying similarities to HBO's limited series Mare of Easttown. While Night Country takes place during the dark season in Alaska, its small-town vibes are similar to those of the earlier HBO show, which is set in Chester, Pennsylvania. Both series feature difficult cases that shake an area where everyone seems to know one another. Both projects also offer commentary on the violence so often committed against young women.

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Kate Winslet's jaded detective also has a few things in common with Foster's Liz Danvers, and that offers another compelling reason to tune into Night Country. Season 4's strong and complex female leads offer imperfect characters that viewers still feel compelled to root for. This is part of what made Mare of Easttown so great, and it's refreshing to see another crime show capitalizing on similar strengths.

True Detective: Night Country's similarities to Mare of Easttown help break a series trend, as season 4 is only the second outing to feature a female lead. Rachel McAdams starred in True Detective season 2, but despite the actor's immense talent, her outing is often regarded as the weakest of the bunch. Night Country can ameliorate this by delivering a narrative that prioritizes women and is still on par with True Detective season 1. This will go a long way to revive interest in the HBO show, and it could inspire more series like Mare of Easttown.

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