Nic Pizzolatto Calls True Detective: Night Country 'Stupid'

"True Detective: Night Country" recently returned for a fourth season under the careful guidance of writer and director, Issa López.

Yet, Nic Pizzolatto, the original creator of the show, recently spoke out about the new season, alluding to lazy writing before calling it “stupid.”

True Detective: Night Country

In 2014, “True Detective” appeared on our screens for the first time, with a cast that included reputable names such as Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson. 

The show quickly became a favorite among crime and mystery fans, and creator Niz Pizzolatto was praised for his work. 

Fans Continue to Love the Show

After great reviews, the series was given a second and third season, both of which were well-received by fans and critics. 

However, Pizzolatto didn’t return to write and direct the fourth season of the show "True Detective: Night Country. "That honor went to Mexican writer Issa López.

Pizzolatto Is Not a Fan of Season 4

The fourth season features actors such as Jodie Foster and Kali Reis and has a story that relates back to the highly popular first season. 

While many fans took to social media to express their delight with the connections, others were quick to call the writing “lazy.” Pizzolato himself, who is credited as an executive producer on the new season, took to social media to blast the new episodes (via The Independent). 

Instagram Posts Shared to Reddit

Pizzolatto didn’t hold back when it came to how he felt about the new show. Instagram posts have since been shared to Reddit in which he tries to distance himself from the fourth season. 

"I certainly did not have any input on this story or anything else. Can't blame me,” he wrote. 

'Stupid' Links to the First Season

The new season makes several links to the first season. Yet, Pizzolatto wasn’t a fan of this.

He branded the connections “so stupid” during his rant on Instagram.

López Comments on Pizzolatto’s Feedback

Pizzolatto's comments began to spread on the internet, forcing new director López to speak out about his negative feedback. 

Speaking in an interview with Vulture, López said, "That’s his prerogative."

Everyone Has a Story to Tell

In the interview, López explained that storytellers work in different ways. 

"I believe that every storyteller has a very specific, peculiar, and unique relation to the stories they create, and whatever his reactions are, he's entitled to them," she said.

Reinvention of the Popular Series

López followed up this by suggesting that her writing was a reinvention of an already great story. 

"I wrote this with profound love for the work he made and love for the people that loved it," she continued. "It is a reinvention, and it is different, and it's done with the idea of sitting down around the fire."

Forced to Delete Comments Amid Backlash

Pizzolatto eventually deleted his comments on Instagram, according to Esquire.

This came after fans began criticizing the creator for what he said about the new season.

López Urges Fans to Fight Back Against Boycott

Despite an attempt by fans to lower the rating of “True Detective: Night Country” on sites like Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a higher rating than the first season, according to Business Insider.

López has since asked fans who enjoyed the new episodes to push back against the "bros and hardcore fanboys of S1" who are trying to destroy the ratings. 

'Leave a Review' on Rotten Tomatoes

In a post to popular social media site X, López asked the loyal fan base to leave a review on Rotten Tomatoes to help push back against the haters.

"So, if you liked last night's [episode] and have a Rotten Tomatoes account, maybe head over there and leave an audience review?” she wrote, per Variety.