Mindhunter [Netflix]

Mr Crispy

Fan of Netflix wrote: »

This is why sometimes stories based on true events are not as interesting or entertaining. True Detective Season 1 was far superior in every aspect.

So would you have changed it?

Fan of Netflix

Darch Nemesis wrote: »

So would you have changed it?

Definitely. Very slow moving poor enough side storylines and characters . I also like to see the murders take place and more about the killers story. On the other hand it does highlight and raise awareness about certain real life cases but I think documentaries are better at doing that.

LionelNashe

Fan of Netflix wrote: »

This is why sometimes stories based on true events are not as interesting or entertaining. True Detective Season 1 was far superior in every aspect.

I'd agree on the subject of stories based on real life (although MindHunter is an exception, I think). The problem with 'based on a true story' stuff is that they're constrained in how they write the story, because they're trying to keep it approximately accurate, but they also throw in ridiculous elements to try and make it more dramatic. The usual method is a totally unrealistic courtroom scene, as in 'Sully', or 'Men of Honor'. Or the ending of 'Argo', where Ben Affleck is escorting US hostages out of Iran, and their plane is literally being chased down the runway by military types in jeeps. Whenever I'm watching stuff like this, I'm thinking, 'Yeah, that definitely didn't happen', and it breaks the suspension of disbelief.

pixelburp

Episode 3 and I'm fine with subplots like Wendy's romance, cos if this show is "about" anything, it's surely the idea that if you surround yourself in murder and depravity, then it's very hard to tether yourself to normalcy - especially if like Wendy you're already "stuck" hiding your preferences and in an automatically unfamiliar work environment. She's basically living a triple life.

The show's drawing an interpretation of that classic line that if you stare into the abyss, the abyss stares back at you. The 3 main cast are unstuck, each in their own ways: Wendy as mentioned, Tench struggles to emotionally connect with his family, his work potentially overlapping too; Holdon of course had a full blown panic attack, when not becoming more absorbed by this world of death (maybe even becoming a little too arrogant as well, with his new found clout).

The show doesn't have an arc or plot structure as such, but it's an extended character study, both of each signature murderer, and how the FBI just ... basically, cope.

The Princess Bride

I am madly in love with Bill Tench.
Just sayin'.

The Black Oil

pixelburp wrote: »

The show's drawing an interpretation of that classic line that if you stare into the abyss, the abyss stares back at you. The 3 main cast are unstuck, each in their own ways: Wendy as mentioned, Tench struggles to emotionally connect with his family, his work potentially overlapping too; Holdon of course had a full blown panic attack, when not becoming more absorbed by this world of death (maybe even becoming a little too arrogant as well, with his new found clout).

He can barely even hug his wife at times, or just hardly tries. Quite noticeable.

IAMAMORON

Tench's storyline is a complete nightmare. Having struggled to start a family with his wife they elect to adopt a child. It turns out the child has probably been the victim of some sort of infantile trauma, most likely psychological, that is triggering his sociopathic tendencies and behaviours.

I respect that some viewers have found this storyline a bit of a stretch, but I kind of like it. It allows the writers' scope to delve into the subject of mental trauma in infants and how this can lead to adult psychotic behaviours. This storyline whilst appearing hammy has more relevance than what appears on the surface.

Can you imagine the pain ( and fear ) the parents must feel not being able to probably bond with the child? Compounding the problem is Tench's work, where he is constantly being reminded of the dangers of sociopathic development in childhood. The most common denominator in most convicted psychopaths is the lack of empathy, which was nurtured in childhood, through an abusive and or neglecting parent. They are definitely touching on this with their writing of this storyline.

Tammy!

I'm on episode 5 now. Im enjoying it but have to admit it is slower than the first series. I think the side stories or the current crimes they investigate while simultaneously interviewing convicts aren't as well put together as in series 1.

Also is Nancy's dodgy perm annoying and distracting to anyone else?

Mr Crispy

I'm more distracted by knowing she dated Tim in The Office UK!

Tammy!

Darch Nemesis wrote: »

I'm more distracted by knowing she dated Tim in The Office UK!

She was annoying in that aswell!

AulWan

Tammy! wrote: »

Also is Nancy's dodgy perm annoying and distracting to anyone else?

Oh God, yes.

The Princess Bride

Tammy! wrote: »

Also is Nancy's dodgy perm annoying and distracting to anyone else?

No, it's fab.
Perms were everywhere in the late 70s and 80s.
Big hair was BIG!

Tammy!

The Princess Bride wrote: »

No, it's fab.
Perms were everywhere in the late 70s and 80s.
Big hair was BIG!

I know TPB. I love big hair I've pictures of my mam with a perm from the 80s and she looked lovely but Nancy's is like some Shirley Temple thing gone wrong with too much lacquer!

Drumpot

LionelNashe wrote: »

I think it has all been very good so far, but Season 1 was definitely better.

Anyone who has finished Season 2, go back and have a careful look at

the swarm of photographers and journalists who appear from minute 31 in episode 6.

Anyone who hasn't finished the season, no peeping.

Ha , no way, did you actually spot that and Rememeber later?

Loved episode 2. In the last episode when Agent Barney is

talking about the potential suspects , older men near the stadium

, what is going on here? Why would somebody in APD hide evidence? Was it because one of the suspects was

white and maybe some Klan members of the cops wanted black suspects

? I didn’t really understand what was being insinuated in this piece.

Greyfox

Tammy! wrote: »

I'm on episode 5 now. Im enjoying it but have to admit it is slower than the first series.

Hmm.. I've finished the 1st season and found that to be a bit slow. I think as I know a good bit about criminal psychology already i feel like this is covering some stuff that everyone already knows like what motivates serial killers

mrcheez

I'm thinking of starting into this though out of curiosity I picked the Charles Manson episode to get a sense and found it really plodded along. Is it generally slow going?

Also is everything factual or a lot of dramatic license on show?

Tammy!

Greyfox wrote: »

Hmm.. I've finished the 1st season and found that to be a bit slow. I think as I know a good bit about criminal psychology already i feel like this is covering some stuff that everyone already knows like what motivates serial killers

I don't know because I liked the first series. I'm not as excited about the second one so far but its still good. For me it's just not as well put together but maybe give it a try anyway if you watched the first one..

Greyfox

Tammy! wrote: »

I don't know because I liked the first series. I'm not as excited about the second one so far but its still good. For me it's just not as well put together but maybe give it a try anyway if you watched the first one..

Yeah I'll give it 2/3 more episodes, will try S2 tonight

Mr.Maroon

Question for you guys.

Is Mindhunter a show with a continuous storyline similar to a True Detective series or something a long the lines of CSI with a different case/story each episode?
(I hope I'm making sense).

Slydice

Feels more continuous storyline.

sheroman01

Ferris_Bueller wrote: »

Just finished it there, probably the quickest I ever got through a series, but it didn't blow me away.

It felt like it took a while for it to settle, initially there was so much going on it felt like it didn't know what it was focusing on. I know the show does like to give snippets of lots of different serial killers but it felt like it didn't really tie together this year.

It started to take shape a bit when it decided to focus on the Atlanta child murders and I enjoyed that story line, but even then it felt like there were some silly side stories that went nowhere. What was the point in Webbs character this season and her love affair with the bar woman?! It literally went nowhere. Then the whole story with Brian being involved with the murder of that child etc felt a bit pointless, it has potential to lead to something in future series I guess.

I don't think any of the characters are particularly likeable either and find it hard to warm to them at times. The topic of the series is interesting but the delivery is patchy at times I think, in fairness I would watch another season of it but not as good as last season IMO.

Tend to agree a lot with this post. However, overall, I still bought in to it all. Despite the slow burning pace, the acting, scenery and aesthetics kept me gripped. I still want season 3! Some gripes though:

The total lack of

Holden!

. It was almost as if he played a cameo role!

The

ending, and how quickly it was discovered, and not delved into at all,

was quite disappointing and rushed.

The Black Oil

This, I did not expect to see...

https://twitter.com/mindcunter/status/1166793589692780546

Slydice

That can't be Tench! :eek:

mrcheez

mrcheez wrote: »

I'm thinking of starting into this though out of curiosity I picked the Charles Manson episode to get a sense and found it really plodded along. Is it generally slow going?

Also is everything factual or a lot of dramatic license on show?

judging by the slow plodding response to my question I'm going to assume the answer is "Yes"?

Cina

mrcheez wrote: »

judging by the slow plodding response to my question I'm going to assume the answer is "Yes"?

You can't just jump into the midway point of a show like Mindhunter and form an opinion based on that. it's a dialogue heavy, character driven show that you need to watch from the start to get into. Why would you watch the Manson episode over the first episode in order to gauge whether you'd enjoy it? That's bizarre.

yourdeadwright

AulWan wrote: »

I spotted that too. It was masterfully inserted, barely a second on screen. Highlight of the season for me, so far.

I'm up to episode 7 and definitely thought season 1 was better, but this one is still good. I loved the re-appearance of Kemper, plus the guy who played Manson gave me chills.

I think the whole plotline of BTK in the background is to show us exactly that. There are always more serial killers hunting and killing in the background that are never caught or yet to be caught. I read a stat somewhere (don't quote me on this) that there are 8 serial killers active at any one time in the US.

I spotted that and it actually annoyed me , I know it was only a second but it was something that the camera hadn't down before and I felt it was a bit to obvious ,


I have to say I love this show and the pace of it ,
I like the fact that it does not give in to the pressure of everything on tv havening to be fast moving these days ,

Tammy!

Cina wrote: »

You can't just jump into the midway point of a show like Mindhunter and form an opinion based on that. it's a dialogue heavy, character driven show that you need to watch from the start to get into. Why would you watch the Manson episode over the first episode in order to gauge whether you'd enjoy it? That's bizarre.

And it has a great first episode...

yourdeadwright

an interesting little bit of triva ,

The man who plays Bill Tench , Holt McCallany lived and attended national school in our very own Howth for a number of years , His dad was Irish ,

pixelburp

It's somewhat bizarre & hilarious this has basically turned into a Tench Appreciation / Thirst Thread

Tammy!

pixelburp wrote: »

It's somewhat bizarre & hilarious this has basically turned into a Tench Appreciation / Thirst Thread

He also played the mechanic in Fightclub. I just looked that up