DubbedNight Country,True Detectiveseason 4 proved an incredibly divisive entry in the series.
Both shows center around a chilling mystery set in the Arctic wilderness.
While there are many things that divide the two projects, their connection is undeniable.
The Terror utilizes the failed expedition of Sir John Franklin to tell a terrifying story of survival.
Not all of it is historically accurate though.
The power ofThe Terrorcomes from the believable breakdown of its characters.
The Terror is an AMC original horror anthology series based on the novel by Dan Simmons. The show follows the Royal Navy as they explore the ocean to locate the Northwest Passage to improve travel and trade. However, the perilous journey proves to be more than any of the crew expected, leaving them at the mercy of harsh elements and the slowly slipping sanity of the crew.
This arc, with all its supplementary supernatural horror, never feels anything less than fully believable.
By contrast, the resolution ofTrue Detective’s mystery feels unearned and utterly irrational.
Several characters experience breakdowns that,in contrast toThe Terror’s well-realized and logical disintegration, feel jarringly sudden.
While trying to explore similar ideas,Night Country’s message becomes rushed and garbled.
Of course, it’s not fair to compare every aspect ofTrue Detective: Night CountryandThe Terror.
However, through their setting and themes, the shows have undeniable overlap.
The effectiveness with whichThe Terrordepicts these ideas only makesNight Country’s shortcomings more acute.
