True Detective: Night Country Season 4 Episode 3 Review: Part 3
True Detective: Night Country Season 4 Episode 3, “Part 3,” finds Danvers and Navarro asking different questions as the two cases converge. We also learn significantly more about Annie Kowtok in a tense, jam-packed hour that veers into horror territory. It’s a natural buildup from last week’s outing.
Relevant Themes
A crucial aspect of this season is racism, specifically how white people treat the Indigenous community in Ennis. For example, Annie’s friend called the police station, tipping off Raymond Clark as a potential suspect in her gruesome murder. However, Hank, the senior officer in charge of Annie’s case, effectively buried that info and omitted it from the records.
Then, there are Danvers’ remarks to Navarro about her “spirit animal” and her belief in “magic.” Of course, the brutal killings of Native women and how these cases go intentionally cold is another tip-off to the racial disparity in this small town (and beyond).
True Detective: Night Country slowly cracks away at Danvers and Navarro’s hardened outer shells in “Part 3,” from Navarro opening herself up to Qavvik regarding her mother’s murder to Danvers revealing to Pete why she had a falling out with Navarro. Side note: based on the flashback sequence, it’s pretty damn clear that William Wheeler didn’t commit suicide. It’s more likely one of the detectives killed him for murdering that poor girl. As for Danvers, we get more insight, although it’s more implied, regarding why she refuses to let Leah embrace her Indigenous roots.
Navarro and Danvers
This episode really experiments with the stark parallels between Navarro and Danvers as they slowly reform a bond. Jodie Foster and Kali Reis shine in these scenes, especially when they playfully clash over Danvers’ no-nonsense, pragmatic approach to life versus Navarro’s prayer practices and the belief in something bigger — unseen, even.
Foster, in particular, is still steering this ship. Despite occasionally contrived dialogue, Foster grounds everything in honesty and truth. The moment when Danvers splashes coffee in Hank’s face is immensely gratifying. Foster doesn’t go over the top with it, either.
The pacing improves somewhat in “Part 3,” although there is reason for concern since only three episodes are remaining in the season. How will this season satisfyingly tie narrative loose ends by episode six? While certain supporting arcs like Leah’s are incredibly important, especially given the various themes explored this season, others like Pete’s are at the whim of the two leads.
Identity
Speaking of Leah, it’s fun watching a young Native queer woman explore her identity and feel emboldened by purpose while Navarro, who’s older, embarks on a similar journey. While Leah attends the rally to protest the mining company’s cruel practices, including poisoning the water supply, Navarro digs deeper into her past. She’s asked twice if she knows her real Native name.
Indigenous folks, as is the land itself, are the focal point of this season. The two are inextricably linked. Ennis proves itself a viable leading player as our characters interact with the harsh weather conditions and how the environment contributes to the investigation. The mining issues are reminiscent of the Keystone Pipeline, the Dakota Access Pipeline protests, and even the ongoing water crisis in Flint, Michigan.
True Detective: Night Country sings when it embraces and runs with those horror/supernatural elements. The last 10 minutes, particularly, are a standout in “Part 3.” We get homages to various horror properties, including the video of Annie referencing The Blair Witch Project. The show cleverly gives us these fun horror tropes punctuated by white-knuckled musical cues and tighter pacing.
Let It Soar
“Part 3” isn’t the strongest episode of the bunch, but it patiently chips away at the narrative’s central mystery while giving its leads more room to play. Flaws aside, the story is still exciting, and when the season hits those highs, it truly soars.
Stray Observations:
- Lund in the hospital is unadulterated nightmare fuel. Mark me down for some sleepless nights, y’all.
- It’s abundantly clear that Navarro sees Danvers’ deceased son on the ice with his polar bear stuffed animal. Then, said son communicates with Navarro when she wakes in what appears to be a world beyond the living.
- Speaking of the above, perhaps this bears no connection whatsoever, but I think it’s interesting that Julia sits by a frozen, somewhat overturned ship on the ice. Navarro sits beside what looks like an overturned bus in the other plane. Hmm…
- Pete not knowing who Mrs. Robinson is makes me feel ancient.
- I’ll be curious to see how the oranges connect to Navarro. I’m guessing it’s her mother.
- Lund’s “Hello, Evangeline” feels like a nod to The Silence of the Lambs. You know, that one super popular horror/crime flick starring Anthony Hopkins and Jodie Foster.
- I love the callback to that joke about Danvers checking her fantasy football lineup when Pete asks if she’s on Tinder. Of course, this time, it’s in reverse, with Danvers informing Navarro that she’s sniffing out the dating platform.
What did you think of this episode of True Detective: Night Country? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Critic Rating:
User Rating:
True Detective: Night Country airs Sundays at 9/8c on Max.
Follow us on Twitter and 
Instagram!
Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!
Melody McCune
Melody loves TV. Maybe too much. Besides being a Senior Writer for Tell-Tale TV, she's the Managing Editor for Geek Girl Authority, an Independent Contractor for Sideshow Collectibles, and a Senior Writer for Eulalie Magazine. Additionally, she has bylines in Culturess, Widget, and inkMend on Medium. To top it all off, she's a critic for Rotten Tomatoes and CherryPicks.