TRUE DETECTIVE Season 4 EVERY Hidden Clue Explained 

Do you think there's a chance that Cohle might return? Let me know your thoughts below!

Anyone else already enjoying this show ?. Even though we’re barely about to be on episode 3 . Cause I’m enjoying it !

Honestly, i hope Rust and Marty don't return, but maybe Danvers receives Rust's notebook. I'd like to see the characters & story stand on their own without heavily relying on season 1 nostalgia

Rust lost a child, Liz lost a child, maybe it's in Ennis and environs where the spiral cult has origins by resembling the frozen beast bones and the supernatural of Alaska, then morphed into an ice warning.

Perfect, they said that people see the dead during the long night. They also said one thing the dead might want to do is take you with them. That would drive me crazy, especially as a scientist who you assume wouldn't believe in the supernatural.

Whenever Danvers was looking at photos in episode 1, she had images on her floor. When the camera zoomed out, you can see that the photos have formed into this same spiral shape.

Plot theory: the scientists were working on a drug, or even a microorganism, to get people closer to their "god" (a la Jacob's Ladder), and were testing it on the townsfolk causing the "supernatural" visions that people are experiencing. Someone finds out and stops the scientists.

I rewatched Season 1 also. There is one point where Rust says you have to ask the right questions, as Danvers often says. Nearly the same verbiage. Nice nod or more meaning? Also, when I saw the drawing in the church again, I immediately thought of the trailer and that large eyed being. Similar?

Minor thing: there is a Lone Star beer bottle at the science center. Rust requested Lone Star beer.

The 5th episode just had reference to “Tuttle industries” I remember “Tuttle” from season 1. He was the head of the ministries and ran the schools where the kids were abducted from. Obviously it’s ALL connected.

Season 3 had a lot of misdirects. I’ve been wondering if a lot of the references to season one are also misdirects.

I think the big reveal is that there will be a part II to Season 4. Like when the final season of Sopranos came out and everyone hated it. They created part II to Season 6. That's going to be the big reveal, and that's when they'll bring back the Tuttles, Marty and Rust.

The fact that this story wasn’t originally linked to true detective makes me think the references to season one were last minute additions

Loving this season. I am spending way too much time watching YT videos about each episode. But I highly rate this channel’s analysis and theories❤❤

Along the shore the cloud waves break, The twin suns sink behind the lake, The shadows lengthen In Carcosa. Strange is the night where black stars rise, And strange moons circle through the skies, But stranger still is Lost Carcosa. Songs that the Hyades shall sing, Where flap the tatters of the King, Must die unheard in Dim Carcosa. Song of my soul, my voice is dead, Die thou, unsung, as tears unshed Shall dry and die in Lost Carcosa.

My theory : Rust Cohle is the cousin who sold the trailer to Clarke. Died of the same disease as his dad. The sign was in the trailer because Rust drew it. Annie and Clarke had it tattoed as a token of their secret love and it ended up driving at least one of them mad.

I think you’re 100% right about the devil net in the trailer. It’s probably not intentional on any character’s part, but I do think the creators of the show put it in to kinda establish all the hanging dolls and the dreamcatcher as having roughly the same function as the devil nets of season 1. There are actually a few dreamcatchers in other dwellings we’ve seen around Ennis. Probably doesn’t mean that everyone’s a cultist or anything. I think more about the minister in season 1 who first explained devil nets, how his grandmother (or aunt or someone) taught him to make them. Kinda like a broader mystical technology that the cult uses for nefarious ends. Good catch!

The spiral is gonna have a little different meaning here. I believe it’s a sign of the core of the earth and the beginning of life there in that town and the indigenous people have used it longer than the cult in Louisiana. There’s no way they make Annie K bad in any way. They are making a statement about the mistreatment of indigenous people and more specifically indigenous women. When Jody fostered talked to the teacher he had a drawing of what was the earths core and it looked very similar to the spiral.

so in season one, they are referring to a realm called Carcosa, and the spiral is the symbol of that realm. The yellow king god possibly lived there.

The spiral unifies being and becoming through the eternal return. This referenced by Rust during the interview.

a scary thought: the colleagues living in the research centre, lived alongside clark's derangement. The geo teacher in the highschool noted, although their research was valiant, due to the physical nature of processing their results, it is an impossible task. Maybe this place was just a farm for sacrifices, tuttle needs to serve their deity...he

Since you noticed the stick shadow in the trailer, maybe you'll have an idea about this. At 7:30 in episode 2 when Rose is talking to Navarro about the dead, there is a very subtle spiral surrounding Rose in the bookshelves. Start at the big bone on the left pointing toward Navarro. It continues in the light and dark shades across the floor, up the opposite side of the sofa, up the book shelf, across toward the cone of light created by the small light, down around the curvy thing toward the pillows, across Rose to the pillows on the other side, up to and across the tilted books, along the shelf above Rose's head and finally curves around Rose's face. I have an idea based on the "thin ice" warning in episode 5- and also because Rose saved Navarro from thin ice.

Did anyone see the body in episode 1 season 4? About minute 5:50? That rushes by the delivery man?

This show is definitely the best since season 1 idc what all the haters say from the first episode. Season has gotten better every episode like season 1.

Thanks. Keep doing this for the next episodes🙋🏿‍♀️

Do you think that the direction of the spiral means anything? For instance Annie's spiral is clockwise and Clark's is counter-clockwise. The spiral on the forehead of that guy in the snow is counter-clockwise too.

I have a theory that Danvers is actually Rust Cohle's ex-wife! There's no confirmation that her child was a boy and we see her flashback to to a car accident that we assume killed her child. She also has no connection to Rose or doesn't try to, maybe because of her knowing Travis?? Idk if I'm TOTALLY sold on it yet but just something to keep in my mind Ps: i think the teailer used to be Cohles as well. Like his storage unit, he filled it with relics/imagery of things related to the case in Louisiana. Meaning, all that stuff was already there by the time Anne K and Clark used it to eF each other. Matne they thought the imagery was cool so they git the tattoo?

Anyone think Pete might be Danvers son? Or related somehow? Everytime I see the “asking the right questions” scene (best scene this episode by a mile) she has a motherly link. She knows the answers but lets him get there on his own with a bit of help. Just like a mother would to their child

I wonder why there is an ellipses on the Welcome Sign above the door to the common room in the station. "Welcomes you...!" what does that mean?!? Thanks for the recaps and explanations :D

I haven’t read comments, but anyone notice it’s an exact excerpt from The Dark Tower? “The fabric of things is thin and the world is old” is almost word for word. They called spots like that a Thinny. And guess who was The Man in Black, aka Red King? Matthew M. And they also had similar facilities at the Beam stations in Dark Tower. Then there’s “The gunslinger fled across the desert, and the man in black followed.” It’s literally called The Wasteland. If that’s not an Ennis type place, nothing is. In season 1, the Iron Crusader dude literally said “I need a gunslinger.” Again, Roland was literally the last Gunslinger. also, if remember, Roland and Jake had to fight the giant bear. That’s a lot of connections. Just realized the whole time is a circle thing is also in the Dark Tower. Roland/Rustin is doing the loop again and again and again. Time is a flat circle and so on.

S1 Killer Errol Childress was the bastard son of Sam Tuttle. He grew up into the Cult of the Yellow King/Carcosa/Cthulu. Which is why he knew far more than led on, had mass knowledge or was seem very literate and had a British accent. He was like “Saltburn” orphan bastard but entire family was in on it.

It been told in season 4 that the science lab was funded be Tuttle's, but I think the cult from s1 is way older then the Tuttle's. I think somehow the folklore from Alaska and Louisiana are connected and they are a reference to Hastur

espero ver ese Cameo! MUY BUENA LA TEMPORADA

Great stuff! Have you looked into the origins of the word "Tsalal?" There are a few odd connections. Keep it up @brainpilot !

That symbol reminds me of the Fibonacci sequence, the golden ratio and the nautilus shell.

"The Cult" is larger than the Tuttles, larger than Louisiana. Think of it as a religion with churches worldwide.

I think another link to the Tuttles is the cross Navarro threw out the car window. And also there is something with the cop and his Russian girlfriend and her dad that I think will play a part too

The spiral in season 1 swirled to the right, while the spiral in night country swirls to the left. And the new spiral is less menacing. Like scribble made by a pen.

Minor detail but might mean nothing-why is there snow on Clark’s jacket? Hmmm

If the season ends with the connections to season 1 being nothing but Easter eggs and not having any major holding on the plot, I’m convinced they were forced to add them to create buzz for the show

I really enjoy the True Detective Series. The entire spiral concept reminds me of John Connolly's 'honeycomb world' concept from his Charlie Parker novels. 😅

@brainpilot since you've just finished rewatching season 1, why don't you do a clues and easter eggs rewatch of the first season? It would be a blast to rewatch it with you guys!

Let me preface by saying I think this season has been excellent so far with the slow burn. I'm worried that they're going to lose interest of viewers because we're in a binge society now. If everyone just stops and reflects on the first season for a moment they'll remember that it didn't really get "juicy" until episode 4, where that cinematic masterpiece of a 1 shot at the apartment complex shootout happened. Be patient everyone. I think we're in for a wild ride.

The swirl symbol is the portal to Carcosa that Rust sees in the last episode of season 1

I don't think they're reaching out to Rust. He's dead. He hinted at being sick in the end of season one. The other Cole family member mentioned he had a cousin who died of cancer. His dad, who we see in ghost form, died of cancer too.

Thanks for this video! I am enjoying this season quite a bit but have been craving that first season. Thanks for all your breakdowns! Cheers! 🐚

I could see marty returning and interacting with Danvers more than Rust. Rust would be able to give specific answers (which hed never do) but Marty would be able to give a 3rd person perspective and an unreliable narrator which is the style of the show.

I think true detective has shown me. Is that being a cop on your own Is like being part of a colt.

Didn't they say that Clark kept to himself at TSALAL, where they were researching microbes preventing decay and didn't associate with the town? And he was the one who was shaking/convulsing to turn around to say, "She's awake". Maybe Clark was doing his own research and managed to resurrect Annie K? Or if it was just her spirit (haunting those who dealt with her case with them also saying She's awake), Rose said that sometimes they come to take you with them. That could explain her tongue being there, and why Clark is the one who is missing. He had his secret hideaway where he had her phone that was previously not found. And the question was why did he keep their relationship a secret along with the reveal that they both had the swirl tattoo. If I was one of the researchers who had to tolerate a weird one in the group to get the job done, I would certainly be running scared out into the cold if I saw something resurrected in one form or another.

8:37 Liz keeping it out of Anchorage is a good thing. Remember her “boss” is most likely the ex husband of the Mine executive. The Mine, and by extension the Tuttle Family, will want to cover all clues to the cult up. Liz keeping the case means they won’t have as many resources, but she will not have anyone burying her findings for political or personal reasons.

Time is a flat circle.

Northern Exposure should be related to this as well

"She" maybe Annie. The symbol is the key. Maybe it resurrected her.

I don't see how the finale isn't going to suck.

Its possible . There are more clues hinting as such but time is moving quickly. Unless its 2 parts that could make sense. We all love Matthew Mc C but its a long shot that he comes back.

The secret to the spiral is in S 4. the spiral represents our galaxy The autopsy photo that we are constantly shown is of the spiral tattoo with a star wound at the end. This wound represents the end of the earth as it explodes into oblivion Annie was Midwife in the last birthing center in the area, and a savoir of the children. She fought for them in the clinic and against the poluting mine. She was then brutally murdered and stabbed 32 times in her abdomen which represents the womb and silenced by cutting out her tongue She was a life giver and her death represents the death of all mankind she was the Alpha. The 7 dead scientist represent the 7 continents of the world who need to come together in order to save our planet. they are now dead and the sign of the universe (the spiral ) on Lund's head is now being obscured by snow or the coldness of space. the only hope is Raymond Clark as he now carries the sign. He escaped the fate of the other scientists. But he is being chased by big money and power. Rust asks a person of interest in season 1 "where were you between December 25th and January 3rd?" this will be asked of Clark. Raymond Clark, being the only scientist left, is the Omega. But as Annie's Namesake has sung to us for years "The sun will come out tomorrow" This will happen on January 3rd.. the Birthday of Sophia Cohle. This is the message Nic, Woody, and Matthew are trying to get out. they are all environmentalists, and so are many of the cast members. they used this show subliminally, with the help of many networks, to implant this in our brains.

Poor mary fonteneu

It has basically been confirmed on Twitter that Rust isn't going to be in this season.

All the women marked on their back with the spiral that we’ve seen previously were sacrificed. Did this woman escape somehow? The Yellow King cult don’t seem like people who let someone like her go. Maybe all the women who are involved are marked early on, but maybe don’t sacrificed for a while or ever. The first woman in season 1 had got involved with them as a church right?

I'd like a season 5 that keeps this story going and that's when you bring in Rust if he's still alive

No way Rust comes back, but the connections continuing would be great

Something that was interesting is that Rust did spend time in Alaska…

A lot of the time, even different jurisdictions create scenarios where the police miss connections in crimes even in the same states. I find it hard to believe that unless there is some crack investigator that find the similarities in the Louisiana cases, it’s far fetched imo to think that someone would make the connection in Alaska. Especially being there was cover up and interference in Louisiana from the Tuttles and at the end of season 1 I think Tuttle was a senator not the governor anymore which makes sense because there are term limits on Governors in Louisiana.

6:28 Im pretty sure Rust was tripping out.

What about the Lighthouse?

I didn't watch season 1,2, or 3 but I'm hooked on season 4. This is a brilliant show.

Evangeline is the female bringer of Good News or Savior ❤

Also,ref'd in s3: called the crooked spiral sex cult,associated w/that seasons child killing+kidnapping...

I season 1 episode 1 Rust confirms he grew up in Alaska.

Rust is from Alaska so I’m hoping an Appearence… he’s also exec producer this season as well

The spiral is also on the back of Childress. Made with scars.

I would like to see rust or marty again. But done good

I hope it shows a little bit of Rust’s life in Alaska. He would clearly be doing some PI work. But that probably won’t happen. 😓

Clark seems way too obvious to be the killer here. Why would he wear her coat? Was he was missing her and kept her belongings close? Is there an Irish connection too? Clark is Irish from Dublin and Ennis is named after an Irish town, wonder if there are any other Irish references.

I thought Annie was found dead by Navarro?How could she have escaped?

I think the killer is Annie she came back to life ala Frankenstein from Clark. That’s why she is awake and she is going to take on the town that killed her. That explains why the tongue is at the research facility. I think he used the microbes to heel her but it’s not perfect. That’s why there is weird cellular damage on the tongue.

I am perplexed why so many people keep thinking that people are seeing actual dead people or spirits. The constant darkness messes with people .

You did not explain why Leah called Navarro "Liz"

The show was set up to have standalone stories and casts. I will say that Night Country does interest me so far, a little bit heavy on the man hating, but the premise is cool and the whole corpsicle reveal was crazy. That said it just smacks of the movies of today making sequels to popular titles, nostalgia baiting fans instead of coming up with their own creative and independent storylines.

Tsalal backwards is La last Louisiana last

How do you know that Travis was Rust's father?

They were discussing the fact that Rose can see dead people...well there's a sentence.

They would be quite old at this point.

We all know rust is the yellow king and went to Alaska to start up the cult there.

Seasons 1 and 4 only ons worth watching

I hope Rust and Marty don’t show up at least no more than they did in Season 3. The creator of the franchise has been casting shade on season 4 on X. I don’t entirely agree, but he specifically said McConnaghy wouldn’t be in season 4 and wasn’t the kind of guy who would show up for some cameo in season 4.

The Yella Keeng

weird i rewatched season 1 yesterday to! if we dont see these characters again it will be a fucking travesty

I think that Marty or Rust returning would be awful

It’s the Night King!!!! And the cult is actually the children of the forest. Oh wait wrong series

agent navarro is the killer

What if your all wrong

I think the Season 1 to Season 4 connection might go the other way. Didn’t they imply Tsalal had been there a long time? And funded by the Tuttles. Maybe they brought it from Alaska to Louisiana in the 80s. Also no coincidence that Rust ends up in Louisiana to work the case; subconsciously he’s bound up in it or there was a lot he didn’t tell us in season 1.

Do some actual research on what that symbol means. How did you allegedly juat rewatch the first season and you still diont get it?

I feel like the acting has taken a step backwards this season

The creator of the show has nothing to do with this season like he has in the first 3. He said the connections to season one are dumb. I can tell it’s definitely different. U can tell this season was made by a women. The only strong characters are women and it starts to feel woke. I’m going to stick it out tho

There is alot going on in season 4. I just had watched season one yesterday and very little is actually happening and it works. Season 4 has so much work to do for thr story come together. I really hate all the references to season one. One or two easter eggs would have been okay but there are too many now

Its absurdity that this "cult" would spontaneously end up in bfe alaska, and rusts dad just coincidentally happens to live there

Let's not forget that Rust went back to Alaska for a decade after he quit his job. If he was obsessing and drinking in Ennis ... Annie K or the researchers could have found Rust ranting prior to going back to solve the case and the locals finding his research and possibly tying it into their heritage. But I also find it VERY odd that the chin Tattoo is actually tied to a white woman named Annie Oatman (a town which was a mining town and is now a tourist attraction more than anything) was abducted/saved by natives in the Mojave region and she was tattooed with their tribal symbol on her chin. It was the first thing a said WTF about bc I'm not super familiar with Native Alaskan indigenous people but the tattoo the name Annie and her story I believe ended with her 'rescue' by the government who basically stole her back and made her leave her children and husband to return to the white world. Maybe Annie K similarly stole Clark from his white world and deluded him into this new idea of his cultural identity. Just a random thought especially with this season being so women centered where what if men were not just culturally oppressed but degraded for their gender too?

Seems to be misleading the audience towards event horizon silent hill territory, lets hope not, though real life detectives and policemen do deal with the supernatural as part of their job