After exhausting many series and tv viewing options over the course of quarantine, I have recently discovered something I’m surprised I haven’t heard about earlier. For anyone who enjoys real crime dramas, it doesn’t get a whole lot better than this. The show is called Mindhunter, and it’s a Netflix original. It’s not for any squeamish types so be forewarned and wait until the kids go to bed.
The series is based on a book written by a retired FBI agent who took part in creating the first real effort to profile serial murders in the 1970’s. Before this undertaking there was no effort to understand what motivated or caused these violent criminals to behave the way they did. They were simply considered “crazy” and that was their motive. In fact, implementing psychology to understand and possibly catch criminals was laughable. The term “serial killer” had not even been coined. This series centers around a few individuals from different backgrounds that are based on real people.
A rookie, a seasoned agent, and an academic form the entirety of the FBI’s cutting-edge Behavioral Science Unit. They work out of a basement without funding or support from their peers. They start by interviewing the criminals that no one wants to talk about. The interview scenes in the show are modeled very closely on transcripts and video from the real-life ones. I’d link you examples, but you’ll have to find them yourselves. You can imagine the material will not be light and flowery.
Something I should mention is that this series is directed by David Fincher (Fight Club, Seven, The Game), which should get some people’s attention. The acting, dialogue, and cinematography all live up to the standards set by his previous works.
Besides how entertaining the show is, the historical relevance of the actual events is inspiring. It takes a few strong-willed individuals to buck the status quo in order to enact an enormous change in the way our society functions.
There are currently two seasons available, with a third on hold. It was intended to be a five series arc, so any fans will be pulling for Fincher and Netflix to get their priorities straight.