'True Detective Night Country' Case Brief, Episode Two: Raymond Clark

By Dustin Rowles | True Detective | January 22, 2024 |

By Dustin Rowles | True Detective | January 22, 2024 |

Building upon the facts and clues from the first episode, here is the case file for True Detective, season four, episode two.

Setting: December, four to five days after the last sunset of the year. Ennis, Alaska, near the Arctic Circle.

The Case, So Far: Eight scientists from the Tsalal research station went missing on December 17th. They are found naked and frozen by Rose three or four days later. Their disappearance is connected to the death of Annie, whose murder from six years prior went unsolved. Her tongue is found at the Tsalal station after the scientists go missing.

Additional Character

Captain Ted Connelly (Christopher Eccleston) — Captain Connelly works out of Anchorage. He wants to take the case, but Liz wants to keep it in Ennis. Ted and Liz have a history together, both personally and professionally. He “promoted” her to her Ennis position, and the two have been having sex for nearly 20 years, always saying, “It’ll never happen again.”

Prime Suspect: Raymond Clark — We learned a lot about Raymond Clark this week. To wit: He and Annie had a secret relationship. They slept together in a trailer hidden in a remote place called the Nook. Inside the trailer were various animal bones, Annie’s old phone, a life-sized doll lying in a bed (meant to represent Annie?), and a giant spiral image on the ceiling.

We also learned that not only did Annie have the spiral tattoo, but Raymond Clark also received the same tattoo four days after Annie died. This spiral also showed up on the forehead of one of the corpsicles, and Rose believes the spiral precedes not just Ennis but the ice itself. The trailer also had the scrawls and doodles typical of madmen in both the trailer and in Clark’s notebook at the station.

In the days before his disappearance, Clark was acting strangely. He was spotted nude. He was talking to himself and crying alone in his room and otherwise acting “off.” After the ice that the corpcicles were trapped in finally melted, it was also revealed that Raymond Clark wasn’t among them. Navarro believes he is still alive. For the time being, he’s the only suspect in the deaths of Annie and the scientists.

Living Corpcicle — It is unclear how, but one of the scientists somehow managed to survive being trapped in the ice for several days. We find that out early in the episode, but aside from learning that his leg will be amputated and that he is in a forced coma, we do not hear anything else about the scientist, who I think is Anders Lund.

Season 1 Callbacks — Issa López, the writer and director of this season, is clearly a fan of the first season. The references, including the spiral, are either going to make this season or they will be the death of it. It’s unclear how linked the events of the two seasons are, but we do know officially that Travis Cohle — the ghost of the dead guy who led Rose to the scientists’ bodies — is the father of Rust Cohle (McConaughey’s character in the first season). Travis Cohle had leukemia but took his own life to save himself from the effects of it. His ghost visits Rose occasionally.

We also learn that the Tsalal station is being funded by the Tuttle group. Season one viewers may recall that the Tuttle family was a powerful and wealthy evangelical cult involved in a sex ring. The Tuttle Family worshipped the Yellow King and made sacrifices of children on his behalf. The spiral is associated with the Yellow King.

Other Clues, Bits and Bobs

— The clothing of the scientists is folded neatly near the site of the bodies, although there are not enough clothes to account for all the bodies.

— The scientists not only stripped naked, one clawed their eyes out, and another bit himself. It’s not clear why, but Peter Prior’s working theory is that something or someone scared the scientists so badly that they ran out of the research station in various stages of undress and experienced Paradoxical undressing in fatal hypothermia. Hypothermia causes confusion, memory loss, and loss of consciousness, which could account for some of the strange circumstances.

— We have to address the supernatural element in the room. It’s unclear how much the supernatural might play a role in the outcome of the case, but it’s not uncommon — according to Rose, the delivery guy and Evangeline’s sister — for the people of Ennis to see ghosts. It’s nice for the atmosphere, but I hope the supernatural is not central to the case.

— The black water is definitely going to play a role. It caused a fight in the pub, and the black water is close to the mine.

— Note that Kate McKitrick, who owns the ice arena, was also involved in the demotion of Evangeline.

— The one-eyed polar bear in Liz’s possession belonged to her son, who likely died with her husband. “Twist and Shout” reminds her of son, which was why she was so eager to turn the song off at the research station.

— Hank is an asshole, but the good news is, he’s almost certainly being scammed by his Internet girlfriend.