ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The highly anticipated Season 4 of “True Detective” has returned, captivating fans with its chilling new mystery surrounding missing persons and a murdered activist. However, eagle-eyed viewers have spotted a potential connection between this season and the beloved Season 1. They propose that the ghost named Travis from the first episode of Season 4 is actually the late father of Season 1 detective Rustin Cohle, portrayed by Matthew McConaughey.
To understand this fan theory, let’s delve into the clues from episode 2 and explore showrunner Issa López’s perspective on the matter. In the first episode, the ghost of Travis, played by Erling Eliasson, leads local resident Rose Aguineau (Fiona Shaw) to the frozen bodies of missing scientists. In the second episode, Trooper Evangeline Navarro (Kali Reis) visits Rose’s home and reveals more information about Travis. He was Rose’s former lover, but an unreliable one. She mentions that Travis’s ghost appears sporadically, stating, “Death didn’t change him. Fucker only comes when he wants something.”
During this short scene, Travis’s mysterious death is also mentioned. Rose explains that he died by suicide, intentionally wandering into the ice. This detail, along with the connection between Season 4 and Season 1, has sparked intrigue among fans.
In Season 1, McConaughey’s character, Rust Cohle, mentions that he used to live in Alaska with his survivalist father, Travis Cohle, with whom he had a strained relationship. The coincidence of Season 4 being set in Alaska and Rust’s dad sharing the same name has fans theorizing about a potential connection. Additionally, Rust mentioned that Travis Cohle was dying of leukemia, and in Season 4, Travis’s cause of death is revealed to be the same. Fans have also pointed out the physical resemblance between Eliasson’s Travis and McConaughey’s Rustin.
While showrunner Issa López has not directly addressed this theory, she has confirmed connections between Seasons 1 and 4. López revealed on Twitter that Travis “comes directly from the mythology of the first season.”
The significance of Travis’s ghost appearing to Rose is another intriguing aspect. It is revealed that Trooper Navarro discovered Travis’s body and had to inform Rose of his passing. Rose believes that bringing them together was Travis’s final gift to her. However, she offers a warning, stating that the dead often appear to the living in Ennis, Alaska. Rose advises distinguishing between the spirits’ intentions, whether they miss you, have a message for you, or simply want to take you with them.
López’s background in working with ghost stories adds an interesting layer to the paranormal elements in Season 4 of “True Detective.” For a deeper understanding of how the supernatural might come into play, viewers are encouraged to explore López’s impressive horror movie, “Tigers Are Not Afraid.”
“True Detective” continues to air on HBO/Max on Sunday nights at 9 p.m. ET/PT.
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