Every season of True Detective makes one fact of reality visceral: monsters are men. The scariest, most nightmarish and macabre actions are not taken by mythical creatures, they’re actions taken by men. Human men. Humen. Humonsters.
The setting for this third season is eerie in itself. The arctic circle breathes ice cold death into this story that gives it incredible life. Darkness reigns all times of day and night. Outside is itself an enemy of life. Unless you’re a dog with a thick coat or a ghost.
The various subtexts attached to the different plots paint a vivid picture altogether. Although the hook is a pile of frozen human corpses, that artefact and its narrative fades into the background as the women of the story take the centre stage. Rich characters drive the plot and top class performances that are all brilliantly believable and relatable, douse the show in authenticity. The sex scenes in particular probably ring true for unfortunately far too many women. Not that they’re violent, but rather disappointing.
The violence is likely relatable to many women as well. The narrative dichotomies that drive the character arcs are well constructed. Reflecting the realities that have occurred far too often across the Earth. Capitalists and workers. Gender violence and true love. Colonialism and indigenous people.
All of them overlapping and intertwining. But some congruences are familiar to those who know a bit of colonial history. The company derives the value of the land at the expense of the people who live there. It’s essentially oppression. In these contexts women’s bodies seem to become battlegrounds. Autonomy and agency become privileges and luxuries, rather than rights. Every inch of independence and freedom are fought for, earned, treasured, defended.
It’s a very good series. I binged it on a long haul flight a couple of weeks ago and it still hasn’t left my mind. Much like the first season of True Detective I’d recommend giving this one a watch. It can get a bit creepy, which should be expected and enjoyed. It moves into the realms of magic, collective unconscious and the believable unbelievable, but it ends in quite a satisfying climax.
