Watched: Episode One for MINDHUNTER Season 2 on Netflix (*My #Spoiler Breakdown, Descriptions & First Impressions)

In this particular blogpost I breakdown Episode One of Season 2 of MINDHUNTER, with a generous dollop of SPOILERS, some personal impressions, and a sight nudge to what is to expect in subsequent episodes of this 9-episode season. No specific details are revealed (I am not that clever), but is an indication of where this series is heading to its finale.

As of this published post, I have two more episodes to devour before my watch for this highly recommended show is done, so perhaps I might have more to say later. Meanwhile, let's start with the official trailer, shall we?


EPISODE ONE:

The first episode for MINDHUNTER Season 2 was nearly entirely about the resolution of the key issues seen in the finale of the first season. No dilly-dallying and dragging it out, thankfully!

Woven into this one-hour episode was the "BTK Murderer" subplot (partially seen in trailers, and in season 1), and the existence of what is known as the "Atlanta murders" of 1979–81 (Source). I have - at this time - deliberately not researched on what particularly these heinous murders are about, and will do so only after I finished my watch, thanks.

HOLDEN CHAINED:

The episode starts off with FBI Special Agent Holden Ford chained to a hospital bed, and subsequent doctor diagnosis has him fallen victim to a panic attack, from his reaction to serial killer Ed Kemper hugging him in the hospital, as seen in the finale. The problem is further manifested for the better part of this episode, and has potentially far reaching effects (?). At time of this post, I have two more episodes before I finish Season 2, so let's see if this issue "pays off" within this season, shall we?

SNITCHED & NEW BEGINNINGS:

The actual person who sent the tapes off was identified by the team (whom we know and seen in Season 1), and the OPR investigations had been halted and (somewhat) resolved. We get to know the "price" of said resolution led to the "early retirement" of their boss Robert Shepard.

Resolution in the office itself was extremely civil, brought on by a new boss in the office for FBI's "Behavioral Science Unit", who portrays an exceedingly supportive role, which leaves me personally quite unnerved, truth be told.


POLITICS & EXPECTATIONS REARS ITS UGLY HEADS:

We begin to see more work-place politics in episode one and beyond, and including politics in general plays a larger undermining aspect of the season.

The more "successful" you become, the more people want pieces of you and your work. Watching throughout most of the earlier episodes in this season, seems "expectations" rears its ugly head, when in Season 1, folks were generally clueless about this "new form" of investigative techniques.

I loved the idea that their interviews become anecdotes for white-collared folks and nosey neighbours to constantly ask and joke about over drinks in a party or family barbecue, as it seems to be the start of desensitizing all these heinous murders and crime, doesn't it?

BILL & WENDY'S LIVES:

We also get to see more of FBI Special Agent Bill Tench's home life and family, starting from Episode One, and unravelling drastically in every episode. If Holden was the primary "POV" protagonist in Season One, Bill more likely is for Season 2, along with seeing more of Wendy Carr's life beyond the desk in the basement office at Quantico, as she begins to interview prisoners, and we see a dedicated a focus on her sexual preference and sexlife.

Bill's home life plays a more important story-point in subsequent episodes. I gasped hard at the end of Episode 6 OMFG...


KILLER GUEST STARS:

In subsequent episodes, we will be seeing and hearing from more incarcerated serial killers, most being "well known" names (and victims) in American history, and unknowns - at least to THIS middle-aged Chinese guy in Asia, so I might not be the ideal "viewing demographic" this series is/might-be geared towards ... but I am mindful of the craft put in to the series, which thus far is working out to be an exceedingly great watch, IMHO.

This series is based on non-fictional people and their work, on situations that have existed and happened in American history, of which my knowledge for is primarily from media (film and television).

DIRECTED BY:

The first episode was directed by David Fincher, as was Episode 2 & 3. Subsequent episodes are directed by Andrew Dominik (Ep 4 & Ep 5) and Carl Franklin (Ep6 to Ep9).

Rated "R21" (in Singapore), MINDHUNTER Season 2 consists of 9 Episodes, and watchable here on Netflix.

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