Can you think of anything worse than one of your favorite shows being canceled before the story is completed? Don’t think too hard, because this is a rhetorical question, and there is literally nothing worse in television than the demise of a show that has so much potential. In the case ofMindhunter,things were just starting to heat up, and season two ended with all of us at the edge of our seats wondering what was going to happen next. Okay, so we weren’t 100 percent wondering, because the series is based on true events, though we’re sure creator Joe Penhall took some creative liberties to move the story along. But we digress… the point is thatMindhunteris one of those rare shows that crafts a compelling narrative around events that actually happened, and at the end of the day the truth is always stranger than fiction.
But that’s whereMindhuntertruly shined; sure, the writing staff likely filled in the blanks during some of the day-to-day minutia, butthey’re telling a true crime storythat’s based on archival tapes, police reports, and found news footage. To put it simply, if you’re absolutely nuts for true crime, and you haven’t had the pleasure of binging the series yet, go ahead and queue it up on Netflix. Just know that you’re going to be disappointed, because once you’re fully primed to dive into the minds of David Berkowitz, Wayne WIlliams, Edward Kemper, and Dennis Rader, the credits will roll, and you’llwonder where the heck season three is. ThoughNetflix has no plansto renew the series, and finish following the footsteps of Holden Ford, Bill Tench, and Dr. Ann Wolbert Burgess, we think thatsomebodyneeds to renew the show, and take us further into the FBI’s Behavioral Science Unit than we’ve ever been before. If you’re still not sold, we’ve got a list of reasons whyMindhunterwas robbed of its resolution, and why the show should go on.
Related:Netflix’s Copycat Killer: Plot, Cast, Release Date, and Everything Else We Know
10Realistic True Crime Fiction
Mindhunteris a fictionalized account of true events but is deeply rooted in reality at the same time. If you know anything about Ed Kemper, and the interviews that John E Douglas (named Holden Ford in the Series) actually had with the killer in real life, then you know that the dialogue is in fact very real. The fiction ofMindhunteris simply the mechanism that’s used to tell the story. Though we don’t know for sure whether the California Medical Facility actually has amazing egg salad, we do know that the Co-Ed Killer’s crimes actually happened, and his interviews were used to develop the profiling techniques that the FBI used. In fact, these profiling techniques are the basis of the entireCriminal Minds series, and are used by detectives all the time to narrow down the search for unknown subjects all the time.
9So Many Angles to Tackle
Mindhunterdoesn’t stop with true crime, however, and also dives deep into the inner workings of the FBI, as well as the family lives of Holden Ford and Bill Tench. On the job, they’re both at the top of their game, learning how to get in front of serial killers by learning how serial killers actually think. But like any job, it’s easy to take your work home with you, andMindhunterbeautifully captures the inner turmoil that Tench faces when dealing with his family life; his child is traumatized by the case files he has locked away in his office, and it’s affecting his mental health and school life. Tench’s marriage is also strained because of the long stretches of time he spends on the road working cases. In other words, the traumatic encounters that our protagonists face is fertile ground that covers workplace politics, family life, and the relationships that they have with each other while trying to develop their profiling system.
8It Was a Great Foil to Some of the True Crime That Sensationalizes Horrific Crimes
If you’re familiar withDahmer- Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, then you’re familiar with how horrific atrocities are often sensationalized for the sake of telling a story. In the case of theJeffrey Dahmer series, a lot of creative liberties were taken that are either insensitive or downright untrue. The controversy that comes with this kind of series is that survivors and family members of victims alike find the whole thing to be offensive, and insensitive to those who actually lived through these events.Mindhunter,while taking liberties of its own, is more sensitive to the subject matter, and shows us detectives hard at work to make sure tragedies like this never happen again. It’s a refreshing take on the true crime genre, because serial killers aren’t being sensationalized or glorified, but rather examined, so we can understand the psychology behind some of our nation’s most heinous crimes.
7Dennis Rader (BTK) Plot Was Left on a Massive Cliffhanger
Season two ofMindhunterends on a massive cliffhanger. But like we said, it’s notreallya cliffhanger because the Dennis Rader (BTK Killer) story is based on true events, and anybody can do a quick Google search to find out how the real-life events transpired. We call it a cliffhanger becauseMindhunterdoes rely heavily on the source material, and fills in the blanks in an easily digestible way for viewers. Just imagine for a second what the series could pull off, and what insights we could gather through their clever writing.
6Dark Buddy Cop Vibes That Need to be Explored More
Okay, so we’re using the term “buddy cop” very loosely, because we’re not talking aboutRush HourorLethal Weapon, butMindhunterdoes sometimes occupy this territory. Holden Ford, Bill Tench, and Dr. Burgess are all on the same page when it comes to their intentions, but they all have different ways they’d like to execute the project. This causes tension and is not without comedic relief. In a way, you could liken the dynamic between our three protagonists to that of Rustin Cole and Martin Hart in thefirst season ofTrue Detective. They all serve as foils to each other, but their intentions are pure.
5It’s an Accurate Period Piece
Mindhuntertakes place in the late 1970s, and the vibe is perfect. The cars look right, there’s smoking indoors, the detective work was a little more fast and loose, and the home decor is on point. Sometimes it’s the little things that make a series seem authentic, and the attention to detail inMindhunteris impeccable.
4A Sensitive Portrayal of the Trauma Detectives Face
When Tench gets home from a hard day working, he had a bit too much to drink, and he drops into bed fully clothed, waking his wife up, and she looks concerned. As his personal life falls apart, you can see him begin to spiral, and it’s convincing. Investigating homicides all day, and putting in the long hours takes its toll on a detective, and it’s the gradual nature of Tench’s spiral that deserves a more granular look. If the series gets renewed, this is territory that we could explore further.
Related:10 of TV’s Most Terrifying Serial Killers, Ranked
3Fluid Movement Between Several Cases Kept it Engaging
When several cases are in the works in a series, it’s all too easy to get lost in the weeds, butMindhunterhas laser focus. You see Ford, Tench, and Burgess wade through several high-profile cases, but you never lose the plot. One of the reasons that the series has such smooth transitions is because the cases aren’t necessarily the central focus ofMindhunter.It’s the overlying concept of developing profiles on serial killers that ties everything together.
2Blurring the Lines Between Fact and Fiction Tastefully
Like we said earlier,Mindhunteris a realistic fiction about true events. All the big details are mostly accurate, and it’s the day-to-day operation that is left to the imagination of the writers. And at the end of the day, we’re okay with this. They aren’t making huge logical leaps, or producing scenes that would make us suspend an incredible amount of disbelief; the story is simply being moved forward through the narrative structure that is built.
1Fertile Ground for Multiple Spinoffs
SinceMindhunternever truly came to a resolution, there’s no telling what jumping points there would be if it did. What happens after the formula for profiling is perfected? Do Ford, Tench, and Burgess break off into solo endeavors, and educate local precincts on their findings? What kind of pushback would they deal with while trying to implement a new form of psychological science to those who are doubtful? IfMindhuntergets the resolution it deserves, this is uncharted territory that the series could delve into, and there are so many possibilities to consider; so many stones unturned that are currently left untouched.
