Nic Pizzolatto, the mastermind behind HBO’s True Detective, has taken to Instagram to respond to the intense backlash surrounding the recently concluded fourth season, True Detective: Night Country.
After the finale aired on Feb. 18, Pizzolatto faced criticism for reposting negative comments about the show on his Instagram story. The latest season, created by Issa López, deviated from Pizzolatto’s usual writing, sparking mixed reactions from fans.
In an attempt to manage the fallout, Pizzolatto created a dedicated post on Instagram for fans to express their thoughts, urging them to refrain from flooding his personal posts with criticisms.
In a peculiar statement, Pizzolatto wrote, “Let’s move these screeds off my posts about my wife, true love, and my father’s death, kay?” He acknowledged the divisive nature of TV criticism, stating, “I’d say ‘stay civil’ but of course civility has no place when criticism of a television show indicates some form of Hitlerian evil that must be stamped out.”
This isn’t the first time Pizzolatto found himself embroiled in controversy during Season 4. He had previously expressed dissatisfaction with Night Country, dismissing its ties to his initial season as “so stupid.” The post-finale period saw him reposting comments from disgruntled fans, further fueling the debate on the resolution and narrative choices.
Kali Reis, one of the lead actors in Night Country, expressed disappointment in Pizzolatto amplifying negative reactions, remarking, “But hey I guess ‘if you don’t have anything good to share, shit on others’ is the new wave lol.”
Issa López, the creator of Night Country, maintained a diplomatic stance, acknowledging Pizzolatto’s right to his reactions while emphasizing her love for the work and the reinvention of the series.
As the debate rages on, True Detective fans are left to ponder the future direction of the acclaimed series, which has been both celebrated and criticized for its enigmatic storytelling.
All episodes of True Detective: Night Country are available for streaming on Max.
