Mindhunter

 :

Season 1
  • Network:
  • Series Premiere Date: Oct 13, 2017
Mindhunter Image
Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 25 Critics What's this?

User Score
8.3

Universal acclaim- based on 397 Ratings

Your Score
0 out of 10
Rate this:
  • 10
  • 9
  • 8
  • 7
  • 6
  • 5
  • 4
  • 3
  • 2
  • 1
  • 0
  • 0
  • Summary: The David Fincher series set in the 1979 where two FBI special agents (Holt McCallany and Jonathan Groff) in the Elite Serial Crime Unit create profiling techniques to solve cases was based on Mark Olshaker and John E. Douglas book Mind Hunter: Inside FBI’s Elite Serial Crime Unit.
  • Genre(s): Drama

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 24 out of 25
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 25
  3. Negative: 0 out of 25
  1. Collider
    Reviewed by: Allison Keene
    Oct 17, 2017
    100
    Mindhunter is telling a long story, one that is engaging on multiple levels, understanding that you need strong characters and a compelling episodic structure to make a show great. It covers a lot of ground in 10 episodes.
  2. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Keith Uhlich
    Oct 12, 2017
    90
    Groff is immediately persuasive as a person whose raw talent is as much a hindrance as an advantage, and Fincher's surgically precise touch is evident in even tiny details like the police bullhorn that distorts a cop's voice to just the right unnerving degree. ... It's never less than engrossing. Fincher's proven time and again that he can make even the most mundane activities and actions riveting.
  3. Uncle Barky
    Reviewed by: Ed Bark
    Oct 12, 2017
    83
    Patience is recommended, because it takes a while for Mindhunter to embed its hooks and acclimate Groff, who at times seems to be almost painfully “finding” his character. ... Based on what we have, Mindhunter is plodding at times but promising in the main.
  4. TV Guide Magazine
    Reviewed by: Matt Roush
    Oct 12, 2017
    80
    An unusually cerebral and chillingly absorbing drama. [16-29 Oct 2017, p.15]
    All this critic's reviews
  5. UPROXX
    Reviewed by: Alan Sepinwall
    Oct 17, 2017
    80
    Penhall, Fincher, and the rest of the creative team take a dry, no-frills approach to most of the narrative. The overall aesthetic isn’t flashy, but that’s the point--this is exhausting, sad work involving both victims and perpetrators who led small lives that have become shockingly big--and the drama is more potent because of how plain-spoken so much of this is.
  6. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
    Reviewed by: Rob Owen
    Oct 13, 2017
    70
    What Mindhunter lacks in energy it makes up for in better attention to character details. Mindhunter grows significantly more interesting in its second hour once Holden gets paired with veteran FBI agent Bill Tench (Holt McCallany, “Lights Out”) and starts interviewing co-ed killer Ed Kemper (Cameron Britton, who nails a so-serene-it’s-creepy vibe).
  7. Variety
    Reviewed by: Sonia Saraiya
    Oct 12, 2017
    60
    The show struggles to make Holden make sense--which makes for a slow, rocky start through his career woes and love life. Though the pilot’s tone is an intriguing combination of wry humor and ‘70s noir, it’s otherwise a slog of exposition and painfully on-the-nose scene-setting. Things pick up considerably as soon as McCallany’s Bill appears in Holden’s life.

See all 25 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 46 out of 58
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 58
  3. Negative: 10 out of 58
  1. Rtab
    Dec 11, 2017
    10
    While not historically correct in its time-line, the series get the late 1970's right. Lots of old cars, constant smoking everywhereWhile not historically correct in its time-line, the series get the late 1970's right. Lots of old cars, constant smoking everywhere imaginable, music etc. Some great portrayals of serial killers and good acting from the leads.… Expand
  2. geistreiches
    Oct 14, 2017
    10
    I just started yesterday and this show is good, the interaction between the characters as well as the interviews with the prisoner..I just started yesterday and this show is good, the interaction between the characters as well as the interviews with the prisoner.. especially the interviews with the prisoner is amazing.. its one of those shows where you just want to go on to see what will happen.. it's an interesting topic to find out what goes on in a mind of a serial killer and how he became what he is… Expand
  4. bigsam54
    Nov 13, 2017
    9
    Just finished watching season 1. I was very impressed with the acting of all the characters. David Fincher proved again how great a directorJust finished watching season 1. I was very impressed with the acting of all the characters. David Fincher proved again how great a director he is.... I was attracted to the drama since it's based on the FBI's profiler, John Douglas, even though the names have been changed in the series. I can't wait for season 2.… Expand
  5. TVBug
    Oct 15, 2017
    9
    I'm on episode three and find myself unable to stop watching. By coincidence, I just finished reading "Whoever Fights Monsters: My TwentyI'm on episode three and find myself unable to stop watching. By coincidence, I just finished reading "Whoever Fights Monsters: My Twenty Years Tracking Serial Killers for the FBI" by
    Robert K. Ressler. True Crime has never really been my thing but Ressler's book, which covers much of the same ground as the series (based on "Mindhunter" by John E. Douglas), was interesting, if dark and disturbing.

    Surprisingly, Mindhunter the TV series is often funny, while still remaining fascinating and staying mostly true to the actual events. The well drawn characters make this show a must watch.    … Expand
  6. micheldbruin
    Oct 15, 2017
    7
    Unfortunately I got bored after 2 episodes. Not very original for me. New ideas for the agents at that time but not for us viewers today IUnfortunately I got bored after 2 episodes. Not very original for me. New ideas for the agents at that time but not for us viewers today I think. But nice dynamics between the two agents.… Expand
  7. imthenoob
    Oct 19, 2017
    7
    The first half of the show is great. It's interesting to see them get together, starting interviewing these killers and then building theThe first half of the show is great. It's interesting to see them get together, starting interviewing these killers and then building the science. There should have been more of that imo. In the second half of the season, They attempted to make this needless drama where personal problems start effecting their work and it just doesn't fit with the show. Well not really fit with the show, The problems just weren't that interesting and the show kind of fades from a strong 8 (nearly a 9) to barely a 7. Now as for the characters:

    Wendy is a rather boring character that isn't given enough time to shine or really given any character exploration. I felt that Debbie was a surprisingly enjoyable wild card to the show, A yin to Holden's yang and a polar opposite of him in every way and that to me made their interactions very enjoyable to watch. And then you have Bill, the experienced vet who isn't given enough dialogue because he's quite an interesting character.    … Expand
  8. CaMcG
    Nov 5, 2017
    0
    I just don't get the praise for this show. To me the acting comes off stiff, stilted, forced and very amateurish--think high school play. TheI just don't get the praise for this show. To me the acting comes off stiff, stilted, forced and very amateurish--think high school play. The delivery and timing is just off and the "witty banter" isn't. I found the characters unconvincing--I felt like I was watching practice takes, with the actors still learning their lines and pacing. Maybe it's not completely their fault, maybe the writing and directing share some of the responsibility. I couldn't finish the first episode--and not because it was slow, I just couldn't keep subjecting myself to the acting.… Expand

See all 58 User Reviews

Related Articles

  1. Best of 2017, TV

    The 20 Best New TV Shows of 2017

    The 20 Best New TV Shows of 2017 Image
    Published: December 27, 2017
    These were the highest-scoring TV series to debut during 2017.
    More »
  2. 2017 Preview, TV

    26 TV Shows to Watch This Fall

    26 TV Shows to Watch This Fall Image
    Published: September 1, 2017
    These are the most promising new and returning shows debuting this fall.
    More »

Awards & Rankings

46
#46 Best TV Season of 2017
15
#15 Most Discussed TV Season of 2017
15
#15 Most Shared TV Season of 2017

Current TV Shows

Full List »
96 America to Me: Season 1
96 The Good Place: Season 3
92 BoJack Horseman: Season 5
90 Big Mouth: Season 2
89 Russian Doll: Season 1
88 Documentary Now!: Season 3
87 Springsteen on Broadway
87 My Brilliant Friend: Season 1
86 The Deuce: Season 2
86 Surviving R. Kelly
86 You're the Worst: Season 5
85 The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel: Season 2
83 Homecoming: Season 1
83 Sorry for Your Loss: Season 1
82 Breslin and Hamill: Deadline Artists
82 One Day at a Time (2017): Season 3
82 PEN15: Season 1
81 Sex Education: Season 1
81 Brooklyn Nine-Nine: Season 6
80 Narcos: Mexico: Season 1
All Current TV Shows »