The True Detective: Night Country Podcast
The True Detective: Night Country Podcast dives deep into the world of Ennis, Alaska and our True Detectives Liz Danvers (played by Jodie Foster) and Evangeline Navarro (played by Kali Reis) to explore the mysterious Tsalal scientists disappearances and cold case connection that unravel during The Long Night. Join our host Alice Qannik Glenn, a member of an indigenous Alaskan community and activist, who will spotlight a range of voices from the series creators and crew to understand the “why” and “how” behind this season, its narrative and characters.
Our Editor's Take
The True Detective: Night Country Podcast analyzes the fourth season of HBO Max's True Detective. Host Alice Qannik Glenn is an Alaska Native Iñupiaq who grew up in Utqiagvik. True Detective season four occurs in fictional Ennis, Alaska. Glenn investigates how the show's origin, plot, characters, and themes represent Native Alaskans. She interviews the showrunner, executive producer, and actors. Listeners learn about show creation and Alaska Native's real-world issues.
Detectives Evangeline Navarro and Liz Danvers are the lead characters. They're investigating scientist's disappearance at the Tsalal Research Center. The scientist's ice-buried bodies all have blood leaking from one ear. Each scientist looks like they were running away. Glenn explains on the podcast that Alaska has many secrets. She is from America's northernmost city, where it's dark 24 hours a day for two months. It's an ideal setting for the show. Showrunner Issa López wanted authenticity. She visited schools, cemeteries, police stations, and fisheries to understand the culture. López hired Kali Reis of the Seaconke Wampanoag Tribe to play Navarro.
López studied the first Alaska Native female state trooper, Anne Sears, to write her characters. She expresses admiration for Sears, Reis, and Jodie Foster, who plays Danvers. Reis and Foster tell podcast listeners how López's work respects indigenous people. Foster says López is the best director she's worked with. López calls Foster the best actor of her generation. Even knowing Foster's range, López didn't prepare herself for what the actor brought to the role. López says Reis embodied Navarro. Foster agrees that Reis, a former world champion professional boxer, excels at everything.
Glenn's investigation will likely attract new True Detective viewers. She has won awards for documenting Iñupiat resilience amid climate change. Glenn is host and producer of the Coffee and Quag podcast. She was a special assistant to the president for the Alaska Federation of Nations. Glenn also holds an aerospace degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. The True Detective: Night Country Podcast promotes her passion, Alaska Native media representation.
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