★★★★
The work of the Behavioural Science Unit continues as Ford, Tench and Carr interview new subjects such as David Berkowitz, Elmer Wayne Henley, and Charles Manson. Under new leadership, their methods are put into practice when they are sent to profile and help solve the Atlanta child murders.
Episodes: 9 Classification: 18 Channel: Netflix
A brilliant continuation of such a fascinating series as the harsh realities of violence in America are put under the microscope with Mindhunter season 2 explores bureaucracy, racism, sexuality, and truth through its powerful storylines. Directly following the chilling ending of the first season, the Behavioural Science Unit is recovering from an OPR investigation due to Holden Ford's behaviour in an interview with a serial killer and Ford himself has sustained a series of panic attacks after a tense encounter with Ed Kemper. Season 2 starts by giving the characters new leadership and new direction as Michael Cerveris joins the cast as Ted Gunn, the new overseer of the BSU and wants to aggressively expand the research and practice, meaning more killers to interview and more cases to solve. Unlike the previous season where every few episodes would form a procedural like story where Holden and Tench would use their methodology to help local law enforcement,
Joe Penhall and the writing staff put their characters into much more complicated territory.
The Atlanta child murders don't become the central focus of the season until midway through but it does become Holden's obsession after a chance encounter with an Atlanta hotel clerk who introduces him to the grieving activist mothers. Holden's fascination in interviewing serial killers for insight has faded, now only interested in high profile subjects or cases and finds Carr and Tench's insistence for routine to be stifling, he's as arrogant as ever. It's intriguing that such a gripping and immersive show can have such an unlikeable character but it displays how Mindhunter refuses to follow any convention, there are no heroes or villains in this world just greater and lesser evils. Holden's flaws don't just make him aggravating but more real, more believable, his desire to catch killers and solve cases doesn't come from a sense of honour but ego and self-importance seen especially from his interactions with his co-workers and superiors.
There is little victory to be had in Mindhunter, as every storyline peels away at the characters psyches and the toll their work has on them. The bad guy isn't caught at the end of the episode, they don't even know who the bad guy is or if the bad guy even exists, the simple constructs used to define morality blur with every new discovery. Holt McCallany as Bill Tench commands a chilling storyline alongside his on-screen wife Stacey Roca as their perfect suburban American life is irreparably broken while Anna Torv's Dr Wendy Carr is given a very intimate romantic storyline where her vulnerabilities and sexuality are exposed as she begins to lower the walls around herself both personally and professionally. These storylines run through the whole season and show clearly how Mindhunter is not just an introspective examination of serial killers but a something far deeper and personal.
Speaking of serial killers, Mindhunter continues its tradition of interview and examination with uncanny portrayals of infamous murderers with some performers appearances being downright uncanny. This time however this season focuses on the deconstruction of the mythos of these killers, modern society has a morbid obsession with serial killers, giving them celebrity status and Mindhunter wants to pull the curtain back and reveal the disgusting cretins these men are. Due to the personal and professional storylines that comprise the season, the interviews may seem sparse but are expertly crafted cross-examinations of both interviewer and interviewee. The characters and the audience go in with the preconceived notions of who these men are and through the scene's impeccable dialogue and direction remove whatever veil had been placed over them. David Berkowitz and Charles Manson especially whose revered "celebrity" status from the first season is stripped away as Holden and Tench realise how shallow and pompous they are, seen with how Manson is doing everything he can to seem like an eccentric renegade.
We see first hand how this twisted form celebrity influences serial killers, that the more elaborate and vicious their crimes the more attention they will garner from the public. Seen in the continuing storyline of the BTK killer and influencing how the Atlanta storyline plays out and eventually concludes. The cold open vignettes detailing Dennis Rader's dark sexual fantasies and normal life continue in season 2 but this season is where the activities of BTK finally find themselves in the crosshairs of the BSU. Whatever Mindhunter's plans for BTK are they are still unclear but the episodes that focus on Tench's investigation into him allow the show to continue the horrifying reality of the what these crimes entailed and exploring the aftermath on survivors and families of the victims. Mindhunter has a two-pronged approach in deconstructing the disturbing fanaticism society has with these infamous serial killers by allowing the sobering interviews reveal their selfish arrogance and having the episodes revolve around those who suffer at the result of their actions.
Holden Ford's fascination into the Atlanta Child murders begins when he is introduced to Camille Bell, a grieving mother who is leading an activist group of African American mothers who have all lost children and are demanding serious investigations into their disturbing murders. Fiercely played by June Carryl, Bell along with many other characters represent the reality of serial killers; that children were brutally tortured and murdered, innocent individuals with their hopes and dreams were ripped away from this world to fulfil some sick fantasy of some deluded fuckers. It makes Mindhunter far more uncomfortable and disturbing as it never relies on violence or gore to show its horror but instead using its incredible cast to portray anguish and resignation of their reality. One of the most frightening images of the season just a mere chalk outline in a basement, showing how the most mundane of areas can easily be corrupted and turn into a crime scene. All of Atlanta becomes a hunting ground and Camille Bell just wants to know who killed her son but because of the maelstrom of politics, race, and pressure that has been placed on Atlanta's government by the media circus revolving around the murders she may never get that answer nor would many other mothers.
With the BSU's discoveries now being put into practice, the latter half of the season focusing on Atlanta is amazing, tragic television as the entanglements of political pressure from the public, government and the Bureau itself trap Holden, Tench and the investigators into an inescapable quagmire. Holden believes his profile is the only way forward while Tench and the rest believe they need to follow every possible lead including investigating the local Klu Klux Klan members. No one is sure who they are hunting and with so much external stimuli and red tape marring the progress it only adds to the tragedy as another child's photograph is added to the corkboard. As bleak as it could be, director Carl Franklin who handles the bulk of the episodes concerning Atlanta does allow for moments of levity showcasing the humanity and grind put into thankless investigations. Despite the harrowing subject matter, Atlanta does allow for Albert Jones to return to Mindhunter as Jim Barney, an Atlanta field agent who serves as a liaison for a city-wide task force and has amazing scene chemistry with both Jonathan Groff and Holt McCallany.
It's not only the media perversion of serial killers explored in this season but also how the FBI views the BSU project as a tool for publicity. Cerveris as the ambitious Ted Gunn sees the work of Holden, Tench and Carr as a way to boost his standing within the eyes of the director and the Bureau, getting them access to Manson and making sure they are sent to Atlanta as part of the task force. The most damning example of this is when he has Tench and Holden "sell" the idea of the BSU to other FBI brass at work functions or getaways but would rather have Tench tell amusing anecdotes about the killers such as Manson's narcissism or Kemper's imposing civility in contrast to Holden's clinical explanations of the practical use of the BSU. Just like the media and the public, the very men who oversee the largest law enforcement agency in the country see these serial killers like circus animals, laughing with each other their unique quirks and behaviour. It shows how isolated Holden, Tench, and Carr are in their pursuit to create tangible progress in these cases.
It's all red tape and no reward for the characters but Netflix's Mindhunter remains an unmissable dramatic powerhouse that is unwavering in its examinations of the darkest elements of the human psyche. The fearless direction from David Fincher, Andrew Dominik, and Carl Franklin takes tragic real-life events and gives them a new perspective, this perspective that holds a harsh light to our own society's treatment of victims and the bizarre obsession that we have with our monsters. While some storylines are sidelined toward the end of the season to be further explored in the next, the precision of each episode's script showcases an incredible understanding of character and tragedy only bolstered by the phenomenal performances from the whole cast. This is a show that gets under the audience's skin and stays there revealing uncomfortable truths about American society and its citizens. There is so much to examine, unpack and analyse with Mindhunter, it's pure genius put forth onto the screen and while it may be another two years before another instalment shall grace us once more, season 2 does plenty to captivate its viewers for years to come.
Created by: #JoePenhall
Main Cast: #JonathanGroff, #HoltMcCallany, #AnnaTorv, #StaceyRoca, #MichaelCerveris, #JoeTuttle, #LaurenGlazier, #AlbertJones, #SierraMcClain, #JuneCarryl
Release Date: August 16th 2019
Trailer:
Written review copyright ©CoreyBullochReviews
Images from the Internet Movie Database
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