Houston, Texas – Viewers of the HBO drama series “True Detective” have voiced a common complaint following the premiere of its fourth season. The anthology show returned with a new installment titled “True Detective: Night Country,” featuring Jodie Foster and Kali Reis in the lead roles. Reviews of the new season have generally been positive, with particular praise for the central performances and some even comparing it favorably to the highly acclaimed first season from 2014, which starred Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson.
However, amidst the positive reception, there is one aspect of the show that has drawn criticism: its opening titles and the choice of song. In previous seasons, “True Detective” was known for its memorable credits songs. The first season featured The Handsome Family’s “Far from Any Road,” while season two opened with Leonard Cohen’s “Nevermind.” Season three, starring Mahershala Ali and Stephen Dorff, had Cassandra Wilson’s cover of Son House’s “Death Letter.” With such high expectations set by its predecessors, season four had a lot to live up to.
The selected song that has left some viewers underwhelmed is Billie Eilish’s “Bury a Friend.” It’s not that the quality of the track is being criticized, but rather its overuse in other films and TV shows. The song, from Eilish’s 2019 debut album “When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?,” has recently appeared in the trailers for “Madame Web,” the Sony Spider-Man spin-off, as well as “Carnival Row” and “Night Swim.” It has also been featured in TV shows like “The Society,” “Dickinson,” and “Big Mouth,” along with films such as “Kimi,” directed by Steven Soderbergh, and “Sing 2.”
Some viewers expressed their disappointment, calling for new and original songs in the show’s opening sequence. They feel that using a song that has been widely heard in other contexts diminishes the impact and uniqueness of the show’s intro. One viewer commented, “My only ‘real’ gripe is that they chose that Billie Eilish song for the theme. I like Eilish! It’s a good song! But it’s SO overdone for every single trailer/score. NEW SONGS, PEOPLE. PLEASE.”
While the choice of the opening song has sparked criticism, “True Detective” fans can still enjoy season four’s intriguing storyline and stellar performances from Foster and Reis. The show is available to watch on HBO in the United States and on Sky Atlantic and NOW in the United Kingdom.