Mindhunter: Season 1

Here's a new crime show from Netflix (shocker!) about the early days of criminal psychology in 1977, right around when the term "serial killer" was termed. One genre I've never, ever been able to muster two shits for on television is the criminal procedural - NCIS, Law and Order, Bones, CSI, the whole bag of them. But this isn't really so much a case-of-the-week type of show as it is a "moment of change" type show, which actually is one of my favorite genres. Things are one way, at one point. Then something happens, and then things are another way, and the ability of different characters to adjust and react is essential as we witness a sea change of an entire industry. (This is Mad Men, this is The Americans, this is absolutely The Wire and The Deuce.)

I'll back up. I haven't even mentioned David Fincher yet. He's not the show's creator, but he's an executive producer and the director of four of the ten episodes. It's a very David Fincher show, too. Gritty and dark, but without sacrificing its pop and soul and humor. (See Gone Girl, see Fight Club, see Seven, see The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Well okay, Seven is extremely dark and without any pop or soul or humor. But you know what David Fincher brings to the table.)

But yeah, something about this just sat right with me. The main character, Holden, is an earnest boy scout type young FBI agent who concocts the idea of interviewing imprisoned murderers to try to figure out what makes them tick, what makes them go. His partner, Bill, a barrel-chested square-jawed veteran, is supportive but also disturbed. Their boss wants nothing to do with any of it. A criminal psychologist from Harvard wants to turn their informal interviews into a years-long study. And all the while, the agents' home lives experience some rough waters. Holden, he's just way too into all of this shit, and gets so far into his own need to understand serial killers that he begins to see the world through a sociopath's eyes. Bill, meanwhile - and man, Bill is the best part of this show - despite a history of crime investigation, he just can't stomach the sexual nature of some of these murderous rapists' crimes. Things like, you know, cutting off your mom's head and raping her in the neck. Yowza!

The season wasn't perfect; the first episode is fine, but the script is an absolute disaster, with some of the most naked expository dialogue I've ever seen. And the way the season ends isn't really very satisfying, either. But these ten episodes were immensely watchable and I'll be back next year for sure!