Is anyone watching Mindhunter on Netflix? I'm 5 episodes in.
It's set in the late 70s and based on the early days of FBI research into what we now know as "serial killers" (they're initially referred to as sequential killers) and criminal profiling. Two FBI agents interview incarcerated killers to understand their motives in the hopes that this knowledge will assist in solving ongoing cases.
It's a drama, but heavy on procedural. There aren't any key dramatic beats or shock moments like what we've become accustomed to with contemporary "dramas." A lot of it shows the drab routine of the agents' work, with all the clinical research and painstaking information gathering. These are the early days of heinous crimes, where cops reporting to scenes of rapes and mutilations are crippled with shock and horror, a far cry from the measured cynicism of investigators in shows set in the modern era. It's also interesting to watch the hurdles the agents face in trying to highlight the value of understanding the criminal psyche, even with their colleagues. Most of the authority figures don't care about the criminals' childhood or past experiences; they're just happy to see them either dead or rotting in jail.
I heartily recommend this show, but know what you're getting into: it isn't a sexy drama full of cool moments and snappy dialogue. If you want CSI, go watch that. This remains as authentic as possible to the era, with lovely cinematography (remember the good old days when people knew how to hold a bloody camera steady when filming a scene?) and solid performances all around. The first couple of episodes are a little dry and there aren't any cliffhanger endings to make you race to the next episode. It tells its story at a deliberate pace, but it's a fascinating look at the evolution of techniques that modern-day protective services rely on heavily for treating with incredibly dangerous people.
It's set in the late 70s and based on the early days of FBI research into what we now know as "serial killers" (they're initially referred to as sequential killers) and criminal profiling. Two FBI agents interview incarcerated killers to understand their motives in the hopes that this knowledge will assist in solving ongoing cases.
It's a drama, but heavy on procedural. There aren't any key dramatic beats or shock moments like what we've become accustomed to with contemporary "dramas." A lot of it shows the drab routine of the agents' work, with all the clinical research and painstaking information gathering. These are the early days of heinous crimes, where cops reporting to scenes of rapes and mutilations are crippled with shock and horror, a far cry from the measured cynicism of investigators in shows set in the modern era. It's also interesting to watch the hurdles the agents face in trying to highlight the value of understanding the criminal psyche, even with their colleagues. Most of the authority figures don't care about the criminals' childhood or past experiences; they're just happy to see them either dead or rotting in jail.
I heartily recommend this show, but know what you're getting into: it isn't a sexy drama full of cool moments and snappy dialogue. If you want CSI, go watch that. This remains as authentic as possible to the era, with lovely cinematography (remember the good old days when people knew how to hold a bloody camera steady when filming a scene?) and solid performances all around. The first couple of episodes are a little dry and there aren't any cliffhanger endings to make you race to the next episode. It tells its story at a deliberate pace, but it's a fascinating look at the evolution of techniques that modern-day protective services rely on heavily for treating with incredibly dangerous people.