Mindhunter: Season 2 (5/5) – Netflix Series Review

MINDHUNTER Season 2 is out on Netflix and it picks up right where it left off. In its long awaited second season, we’re still fully onboard after a strong beginning that leads with three episodes directed by David Fincher himself. Read more in our season 2 review of Mindhunter here!

Mindhunter Season 2 is finally out on Netflix and what a treat! Not only does season 2 of the serial killer focused series begin with two episodes directed by David Fincher himself, we pick up right where season 1 left off.

In other words, you will know exactly what’s going on and what people are dealing with. Mostly, they’re dealing with talking to the serial killers that have already been caught in order to catch more serial killers.

This time around, we are dealing with everyone from Son of Sam and Charles Manson to the BTK killer. Though neither of these are actually the focus of Season 2. Well, the last one sort of is, but he was also a big part of season 1. 

Find out more in our full Mindhunter Season 2 review below.

First, there’s the BTK strangler

You may remember that Season 1 included scenes of a man with a mustache, who was obviously up to something. He was in Kansas and not someone the agents where looking into, but many viewers guessed it was the BTK strangler. Now we know that’s exactly who he is!

When season 2 of Mindhunter begins, we first need to deal with Holden Ford (Jonathan Groff), who had a complete breakdown as season 1 ended. However, his partner Bill Tench (Holt McCallany) is quickly getting involved with the BTK strangler.

Since he has named himself and talks to the media, they head out to interview David Berkowitz AKA Son of Sam. Afterall, he also gave himself the name “Son of Sam” because he wasn’t happy with the names the media had come up with. More on this later.

The big case of season 2, however, is the Atlanta Child Murders case. This means several episodes will also take place in Atlanta. We won’t say too much about this case, but it is fascinating for both the murders and the racially charged circumstances.

Anna Torv is also back as the tough and direct Wendy Carr. While Agents Tench and Ford are busy chasing active serial killers as well as interviewing those already caught, Carr is very eager to finish their work on the profiling project. A job that would take at least two years, but the small group is quickly offered more ressources.

Also, Wendy Carr does also get more involved with these active cases and can see the importance – and thrill. 

Charles Manson in Mindhunter Season 2

By the end of the first episode, Agent Holden Ford is back in business and has gotten a deal to interview Charles Manson. However, you’ll have to wait a few episodes before we actually get that far. It will be worth the wait though since the actor portraying Manson, Damon Herriman, looks eerily like him.

Damon Herriman also played Charles Manson (though in a younger version) in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.

Again, this isn’t actually about Charles Manson, but rather Agent Ford’s huge interest in him is the reason for the interview. Afterall, Manson isn’t even a serial killer. He was more of a cult leader like Jim Jones, who had his followers (known as “The Family”) do the actual killing.

Still based on true stories

Just like season 1 of Mindhunter, this new season is also based on real-life stories. Most of it comes from agents who did the work portrayed in this Netflix series. When Holden Ford has his breakdown, this is also something that mirrors real-life events.

Agent John Douglas (whom Agent Ford is based on) had something similar happen to him, which is exactly why it’s important to include it in this show. You don’t talk to serial killers and look at what they’ve done day in and day out without being marked by it.

If you’re curious to know more about the true story behind Mindhunter Season 2, there’s a pretty great article over at Esquire that covers the serial killers from this season. It focuses on how it matches up with the true stories and real-life events as told by the agents, that lived through it. Click here to read the Esquire article (link will open in new window).

Who is playing Son of Sam on Mindhunter?

The actor playing David Berkowitz (or Son of Sam) in Mindhunter is Oliver Cooper. He was also in Runner Runner (2013) which starred Ben Affleck. Of course, we all know that Ben Affleck and David Fincher know one another from Gone Girl (2014), so maybe that’s the connection.

Sure, Oliver Cooper is wearing quite a bit of special effects make-up, but it looks good! I mean, he really does look like David Berkowitz. It is uncanny and exactly the level of brilliance you’d expect from a show like Mindhunter.

And while you’ll have to wait a bit for the Charles Manson interview in Mindhunter, we do get to see the interview with David Berkowitz by episode 2.

Watch Mindhunter Season 2 on Netflix now!

Just as it was the case with season 1 of Mindhunter, David Fincher and Charlize Theron are onboard as executive producers. Also, David Fincher is directing several episodes, which is always a good thing in our book. Yes, we do love David Fincher here at Heaven of Horror.

It’s been almost two years (just around 22 months, to be exact) since season 1 was released and yet it is very easy to get right into this series again. For good measure, we do recommend that you watch the Season 1 recap that Netflix offers. Just to be reminded of where we left off – unless you just rewatch the entire first season, of course.

For horror fans, and particularly those of us fascinated with serial killers, Mindhunter is a brilliant show. It focuses on exactly what makes them tick (their own personal brands of crazy, if you will) and that’s what I love. It never glorifies them but rather tries to understand them in order to better catch serial killers.

For me, Mindhunter Season 2 is as good as Season 1 was. Hopefully, we’ll get a Season 3 of Mindhunter without having to wait almost two years again.

Mindhunter Season 2 is out on Netflix from August 16, 2019.

Details

Directors: David Fincher, Andrew Dominik, Carl Franklin
Stars: Jonathan Groff, Holt McCallany, Anna Torv, Sam Strike, Cameron Britton, Damon Herriman

Plot

FBI agents Holden Ford and Bill Tench probe further into the psyches of those who have done the unthinkable. With help from psychologist Wendy Carr, they apply their groundbreaking behavioral analysis to hunting notorious serial killers.