This is the culmination of too many psychopaths affecting your every moment. Holden is implicated in the redacting of information in one of the reports in the Richard Speck interviews. He lies to his superiors and is set to be fired. But he takes one more wack at Ed Kemper and almost pays for it with his life. We see a lot of sick people (in the perverse sense), but Holden is quite sick in his own way. As he talks to Ed in his hospital ward, we come to realize that there is something missing in Holden's soul. He has blended with the awful characters he interviews and has become another person. The final scene of this season is about as frightening as anything I've seen.
14 Reviews
Season One
zkonedog4 July 2019
Warning: Spoilers
As generally a fan of David Fincher's work, as well as the fact that this looked like a very interesting concept, I gave Mindhunter a try. Much to my delight, I found it to be a fascinating, gripping show that sucked me in from beginning to end. Is it absolutely perfect? No. But when it's "on", it's some of the most visceral, unsettling entertainment you'll ever see.
The basic concept behind "Mindhunter" (set in the 1970s) is that FBI Agent Holden Ford (Jonathan Groff) wants to meld the "black and white" police approach with the psychology of profiling (or stopping crimes before they happen rather than after). Coming on the heels of Hoover's FBI, however, he finds this to be tough sledding (cops are unwilling to listen to his lectures, little funding thrown his way, etc.). He is given some leeway on the project, however, and so him and partner Bill Tench (Holt McCallany) set out to interview violent criminals in order to study the thought processes behind these aberrant individuals. Along the way, Holden & Bill recruit the services of Wendy Carr (Anna Torv), who (while skeptical) provides new insights into the project.
Easily the most fascinating parts of "Mindhunter" are the personalities the duo encounter while conducting interviews. Edmund Kemper (Cameron Britton) is the best example of this...a character you'll absolutely never forget in terms of memorability. Numerous other violent offenders are profiled, each providing a new element or way of thinking about what Holden & Tench are digging into. It's intriguing to see what each new episode brings.
There are a few slip-ups: Holden's girlfriend character Debbie Mitford (Hannah Gross) initially looks to be vital to the show's success...but then kind of just fades into the woodwork. The same could almost be said about Torv's character. While refreshing to see her on the small screen again for the first time since "Fringe", she doesn't get nearly as much "play" as she should.
Overall, though, I very much enjoyed the experience of watching "Mindhunter", ranking it as probably the best "Netflix Original" I've seen to date. I love "think pieces" (which is what this is), there's something different in each episode, and Fincher really knows how to pull it all together. It will be interesting to see which direction things go in Season Two (already confirmed), but for now this stretch of episodes can stand alone as very quality television.
The basic concept behind "Mindhunter" (set in the 1970s) is that FBI Agent Holden Ford (Jonathan Groff) wants to meld the "black and white" police approach with the psychology of profiling (or stopping crimes before they happen rather than after). Coming on the heels of Hoover's FBI, however, he finds this to be tough sledding (cops are unwilling to listen to his lectures, little funding thrown his way, etc.). He is given some leeway on the project, however, and so him and partner Bill Tench (Holt McCallany) set out to interview violent criminals in order to study the thought processes behind these aberrant individuals. Along the way, Holden & Bill recruit the services of Wendy Carr (Anna Torv), who (while skeptical) provides new insights into the project.
Easily the most fascinating parts of "Mindhunter" are the personalities the duo encounter while conducting interviews. Edmund Kemper (Cameron Britton) is the best example of this...a character you'll absolutely never forget in terms of memorability. Numerous other violent offenders are profiled, each providing a new element or way of thinking about what Holden & Tench are digging into. It's intriguing to see what each new episode brings.
There are a few slip-ups: Holden's girlfriend character Debbie Mitford (Hannah Gross) initially looks to be vital to the show's success...but then kind of just fades into the woodwork. The same could almost be said about Torv's character. While refreshing to see her on the small screen again for the first time since "Fringe", she doesn't get nearly as much "play" as she should.
Overall, though, I very much enjoyed the experience of watching "Mindhunter", ranking it as probably the best "Netflix Original" I've seen to date. I love "think pieces" (which is what this is), there's something different in each episode, and Fincher really knows how to pull it all together. It will be interesting to see which direction things go in Season Two (already confirmed), but for now this stretch of episodes can stand alone as very quality television.
Cracking up is hard to do
plmillernc-970-18968221 October 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Our hero, Holden, possesses the unshakable confidence of the True Believer and the hubris of the Masters of the Universe. Humility? Hardly. Openness to feedback and criticism? Not an iota.
This episode illustrates his flaws, extends them and then let's him fly off the edge. His girlfriend pulls away. His team members (irony alert) choose honesty over lies and convince him they really are as dumb as he thought they were. And he tells Internal Affairs they are idiots. In short he cuts himself off from every anchor in his life. The facade must come down.
And who else to conduct a menacing prelude to dismemberment than that big old teddy bear of a grisly murderer, Ed Kemper? Episode got kind of tense there, as we all all lean forward and whisper "Oh sh*t, he's not tied to the bed! He might rip Holden's head off and use it as a bowling ball! The seasons ends with Holden not so Golden, certainly suspended, reprimanded ,no pay, no girlfriend and his only friends being twisted killers.
Good cliff hanging episode, He's done at the bureau for a while. He could get some humility working on cattle ranch, learn to play the didgeridoo in the mental wards, go to work with Mother Theresa's children or otherwise spend his time on suspension DRINKING in low life bars and showing off his skills. Then he can-emerge as the flawed and newly humbled Quantico guru ready for Manson, i hope he emerges a nicer person, maybe even ask for others' opinions.
This episode illustrates his flaws, extends them and then let's him fly off the edge. His girlfriend pulls away. His team members (irony alert) choose honesty over lies and convince him they really are as dumb as he thought they were. And he tells Internal Affairs they are idiots. In short he cuts himself off from every anchor in his life. The facade must come down.
And who else to conduct a menacing prelude to dismemberment than that big old teddy bear of a grisly murderer, Ed Kemper? Episode got kind of tense there, as we all all lean forward and whisper "Oh sh*t, he's not tied to the bed! He might rip Holden's head off and use it as a bowling ball! The seasons ends with Holden not so Golden, certainly suspended, reprimanded ,no pay, no girlfriend and his only friends being twisted killers.
Good cliff hanging episode, He's done at the bureau for a while. He could get some humility working on cattle ranch, learn to play the didgeridoo in the mental wards, go to work with Mother Theresa's children or otherwise spend his time on suspension DRINKING in low life bars and showing off his skills. Then he can-emerge as the flawed and newly humbled Quantico guru ready for Manson, i hope he emerges a nicer person, maybe even ask for others' opinions.
An incredible turnaround!
luismconceicaoo27 December 2017
Warning: Spoilers
What starts most quietly becomes an unbelievable and comforting twist. With the culmination of Holden's misfortune, the end of his relationship, the dismissal of the director, almost the end of his career, all this will consequently affect his life and brings remorse at a certain point. The words spoken by his colleagues, Bill and Wendy, at the end of the episode result in something that Holden's says by "I'm dying," which shows how hard it can be to get into the mind of a serial killer.
And that in the end gives a hunch for a second season.
Poetic ending
margaritachuraeva12 August 2019
Strong closer
Leofwine_draca25 March 2022
Fault or not fault?
AvionPrince167 December 2021
Pretty good but i was expected a cliffhanger or something to make us wanted to watch the season but nothing of that. It was still pretty interested to see a new inmate to see, his psychology and the investigations are pretty good to see. I enjoyed the first season anyway. I m waiting for more.
Finchy is a trustable geenie for furious
iniyan_arul26 March 2019
Warning: Spoilers
The path of the series is so challenging because within the few episodes we knew that sooner Holden's gonna bust out and something terrible is waiting.
This way we already know some of the outcomes but even, this episode is a coldest class of water I can't swallow. Wow It almost made me thought that Ford is going to cry on Kemper's shoulders well in Kemper's perspective I'm half right. And our rookie boy's house of cards also been wrecked.
The altimate itch of the hour is our Gregg Smith char, why they still petting him in the FBI. Like Debbie told I also miss the nice and curiousness of ford on her well that's one of the peculiar reality thing writter keeps pinning to our diary and that's the reward for all those cowboys rides.
I'm Definitely curious as waiting for my bus for the next season. Plus not sure Kemper did inject him or not.
SATISFIED and SEALED as top fav.
This way we already know some of the outcomes but even, this episode is a coldest class of water I can't swallow. Wow It almost made me thought that Ford is going to cry on Kemper's shoulders well in Kemper's perspective I'm half right. And our rookie boy's house of cards also been wrecked.
The altimate itch of the hour is our Gregg Smith char, why they still petting him in the FBI. Like Debbie told I also miss the nice and curiousness of ford on her well that's one of the peculiar reality thing writter keeps pinning to our diary and that's the reward for all those cowboys rides.
I'm Definitely curious as waiting for my bus for the next season. Plus not sure Kemper did inject him or not.
SATISFIED and SEALED as top fav.
Getting your come upings
Calicodreamin1 January 2021
Interesting premises, uneven development
dierregi16 March 2021
Warning: Spoilers
On paper it seemed an intriguing idea, sort of how the Behavioural Sciences Unit of FBI came to exist. On screen I am not too thrilled. The two male lead are good enough, but their dynamic is quite predictable: young, impatient, weird Holden and wiser, older, boring Bill.
Except that Holden is turning into the trope of the detective too similar in his thinking to the criminals he's interviewing. The thin line separating cops from criminals has already been visited countless times, nothing much new here. Not even Holden breakdown.
The criminals are of the most despicable type and I will never understand what's the fascination with psycho, narcissistic killers. I am with Bill in disliking the interviews.
The Wendy character is of the annoying type. I don't care about her sex life, but we get the usual "too much info" (just like with Holden and his girlfriend having hot sex). Her attitude in this last episode is ridiculous: she's against death penalty even if she's the first one to know that those psycho killers are incurable.
Because in her book it's so much better to keep them locked for life, while others pay for the criminals to lead useless lives for decades. But I guess the female character must be more "humanitarian" - also sort of very predictable.
And please change some light bulbs. The same yellowish, lurid type of illumination in every single interior is quite annoying, even if I get the point that it must enhance creepiness... as if they need any help in that department.
Except that Holden is turning into the trope of the detective too similar in his thinking to the criminals he's interviewing. The thin line separating cops from criminals has already been visited countless times, nothing much new here. Not even Holden breakdown.
The criminals are of the most despicable type and I will never understand what's the fascination with psycho, narcissistic killers. I am with Bill in disliking the interviews.
The Wendy character is of the annoying type. I don't care about her sex life, but we get the usual "too much info" (just like with Holden and his girlfriend having hot sex). Her attitude in this last episode is ridiculous: she's against death penalty even if she's the first one to know that those psycho killers are incurable.
Because in her book it's so much better to keep them locked for life, while others pay for the criminals to lead useless lives for decades. But I guess the female character must be more "humanitarian" - also sort of very predictable.
And please change some light bulbs. The same yellowish, lurid type of illumination in every single interior is quite annoying, even if I get the point that it must enhance creepiness... as if they need any help in that department.
Episode 10
bobcobb30128 November 2017
Warning: Spoilers
A bit of a weird ending to the first season, but I guess it was needed to show just how risky the work Holden is doing really is. Trying to get into the mind of a serial killer is not something I would sign up to do, that's for sure.
This show started off a little slow, but the last few episodes have been good. This episode was a solid wrap-up to the season, weirdness aside.
This show started off a little slow, but the last few episodes have been good. This episode was a solid wrap-up to the season, weirdness aside.
Exagerrated amounts of lunacy in the portrayal of the mentally ill
siddharthchordia10 March 2018
Warning: Spoilers
The introduction seems to depict the schizophrenic character in a severely bizarre and mainly from an American social view point. As entertainment media that is internationally viewed I think there should be a clear statement that these representations are mainly from the American audience's view point. To someone unfamiliar with American ideals this could be severely disturbing and as a person from a developing nation I know for a fact that concepts surrounding mental health and wellness are close to non-existent in third world nations. I enjoyed the content but dislike what its effects on an uninformed population might be. I would recommend humanizing some of your characters a little more and rather than the main character studying them it could be cool to at times show how non-criminal characters with disabilities(schizophrenic, autistic, psychopathic, depressed, phobic, as well as "normal") view the so called "normal" world. As in the series Atypical "there is nothing normal about any of us".
Season 1 finished
thorodinson-5013010 June 2021
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
