Does Rust Cohle Die in True Detective and If Not, Could He Appear in Season 4?

does rust die in true detective
Credit: Parliament of Owls | Passenger | Anonymous Content | Neon Black | Peligrosa | HBO Entertainment


does rust die in true detective
Credit: Parliament of Owls | Passenger | Anonymous Content | Neon Black | Peligrosa | HBO Entertainment

Does Rust die in the True Detective series? Longtime fans know that Matthew McConaughey's Season 1 character suffered greatly on the show.

While most characters don't get to return to the hit HBO series given its timeline, there's actually a possibility that Rust Cohle will.

Did Rust Cohle Die in True Detective Season 1?

does rust die in true detective
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Credit: Parliament of Owls | Passenger | Anonymous Content | Neon Black | Peligrosa | HBO Entertainment

Rust Cohle was stabbed right in his stomach at the end of True Detective Season 1, and his partner, Detective Marty Hart (played by Woody Harrelson), thought he came too late to save him.

That is until they both ended up in the hospital. Rust Cohle didn't die. Instead, he was stuck in a coma and the minute he woke up, he told a "dream" he had during his near-death experience.

The "dream" when Rust was still unconscious involved "feeling his pop" in the spiritual sense.

Supernatural elements were later incorporated into the series, specifically in Season 4. So, could this be a connection to the events of Season 1?

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Will Rust Cohle Return in True Detective Season 4?

does rust die in true detective
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Credit: Parliament of Owls | Passenger | Anonymous Content | Neon Black | Peligrosa | HBO Entertainment

Following the release of True Detective Season 4 Episode 2, the series explicitly confirms the likelihood of Rust Cohle's return!

As it turned out, Travis (played by Erling Eliasson), a new character who appeared out of the blue in the fourth season, has been confirmed to have a connection with Rust.

In the episode, Rose Aguineau (played by Fiona Shaw) called him "Travis Cohle", which means he is Rust's dad in the series.

Consider the fact that when Rust's father was mentioned, his father is called Travis and he lives in Alaska, which fits the puzzle altogether this Season 4.

As for whether this connection could bring back Matthew McConaughey into the series, the actor said he would return "in the right context" (via The Rich Eisen Show).

READ MORE: The Lone Star Beer in True Detective Season 4 Could Bring the Timeline Full Circle

How Rust Cohle Could Return in True Detective: Night Country

When it comes to True Detective, fans always have to take note of the timeline since the show frequently jumps between events.

The first season of True Detective occurs in two separate timelines: in 1995 and another in 2012.

Meanwhile, the fourth season of True Detective takes place at present, sometime around 2023.

Though each season of the series happens at different periods, the show exists in one shared universe, which could put the eventual "time is a flat circle" theory back into place if Rust Cohle does end up returning.

Since Travis died by "wandering into the ice", then there might be a chance this is what Rust "dreamt" of, that he could replace his pops in the story.

For now, we would have to wait until more episodes of True Detective Season 4 are released on Max to get a confirmation.

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