The Ultimate Guide to the Easter Eggs in 'True Detective: Night Country'
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When Jodie Foster's character in True Detective: Night Country formed a spiral out of her evidence photos, you could practically hear million of keyboards clacking away with one question: Does season 4 connect to season 1? The new season didn't waste any time confirming that theory for its audience in episode 2—but there were plenty of signs along the way.
Taking place in the fictional town of Ennis, Alaska, Night Country follows the fallout from a mysterious case, where a group of scientists disappeared—and were later found frozen in ice. Liz Danvers (Foster) is the chief detective on the case, alongside Officer Peter Prior (Finn Bennett). State trooper Evangeline Navarro (Kali Reis) is pulled into the case once it connects to a cold case from her past—the murder of an Iñupiat woman named Anne. Throughout Night Country's first two episodes, the two cases become quickly intertwined—but audiences have much more to work with. After a trip to a creepy trailer filled with straw dolls and spirals, Night Country treated fans to some obvious connections to True Detective season 1, which starred Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson. But how deep does it go? Here's a rundown of what fans have pieced together so far.
Spirals, Spirals, and Even More Spirals
Spirals are everywhere in True Detective, from tattoos to accidental placement of evidence. You can't step foot in this town anymore without running into a spiral—and every single one harks back to season 1. If you need a refresher, season 1 revolved around a cult that worshipped the Yellow King, Hastur. He was a cosmic deity in
H.P. Lovecraft's work, but it has yet to be determined if he exists deep withinTrue Detective's past.
Travis Is Rust Cohle's Father
When Night Country's premiere introduced a ghost, fans thought it was a reference to season 1. In the first season, we learn that Rust Cohle's (McConaughey) father once lived in Alaska, and he died from leukemia. The facts lined up perfectly—and Night Country episode 2 confirmed the connection. Rose, Travis's former lover, states that his full name was Travis Cohle. Like Rust, Travis was clearly able to cross over into the spiritual world.
Danvers and Cohle Say the Same Line
When Danvers is parsing through the case in episode 2, she tells Officer Prior to "ask the right questions." It seems to be Danvers's mantra, because Navarro says the line later on in the episode—and even mentions that it's something Chief Danvers always says. Well, Cohle says the same line season 1, when he asks his fellow officers to ask the "right f**king questions" at the end of the pilot.
Even More Tuttle Cult Connections
As Officer Prior investigates the background of the Tsalal research facility, he learns that it is funded by a company called Tuttle United. This is a clear (albeit brief) connection to the cult family from season 1. Whatever those scientists were doing, it was funded by the family that did horrific things in the name of the Yellow King back in season 1. One of the scientists even has a trailer full of the creepy straw dolls from the first season.
Will Tsalal Have Connections to The Thing?
In the second episode, we learn that the Tsalal research facility was mining for ancient organisms. Though it seems like an impossible mission, the organisms—if the scientists managed to find them—reportedly contain the key to stopping cellular decay. Night Country showrunner Issa López even confirmed to The Ringer that she embraced The Thing's similarities to Night Country while writing this season. It remains possible that a twisted, shape-shifting monster was responsible for their deaths—though that theory is likely a red herring for fans. Either way, you can spot a DVD of The Thing in the background of the first episode.
The Scientists' Deaths Are Based on a Real Incident
Episode 2 dives into exactly how the scientists froze to death in such a horrifying state. Why do they have missing eyes, bite marks, and ruptured eardrums? Well, the incident is based on a real case that occurred at the Dyatlov Pass in Russia, where nine hikers died under mysterious circumstances. Two bodies reportedly has missing eyes—and one even had a missing tongue. The investigation concluded that a "compelling natural force" caused the deaths at the time. But the case was reopened in 2019, when investigators determined that they were running from an avalanche and died of hypothermia. Night Country's scientists are a bit too far out on the ice to figure that they died in quite the same way, but we wouldn't be surprised if the finale had a simple explanation for all of the show's bizarre, near-supernatural mysteries.
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