The actors are amazing, the story is dark but also it has beauty. Amid all the darkness, there is life to be celebrated and love and friendship, all that makes life worth living. People who will fight for Justice are still around and fight for a better world and against all evil.
Despite all the praise, I was quite worried that the finale wouldn't deliver, that the writing trip itself up in the face of the climax. However, the writing, acting, directing, and editing all worked in creating an intense end to the story. The close of the series attempts to draw on Chole's philosophical musings, as he reflects on the big history of "light versus darkness." His monologue is at the heart of the series finale. That acceptance on Cohle's part is greater than any dramatic plot twist or dark ending could ever begin to provide.