In the 60s and 70s, America had a number of sequenced murders. Everyone's heard of Charles Manson and there were a number of others too. Law enforcement didn't know how to handle this. For ages, police had a working method that relied on motive. But what if there was no motive? Why were people killing randomly and repeatedly?
This is how Mindhunter (Netflix) starts. In the late 70s we meet FBI agent and hostage negotiator Holden Ford. He's basically emotionless, but very curious. After a lecture at Quantico regarding the changing landscape, he starts asking questions. He transfers to 'road school' with a more old-school agent from Behavioral Sciences. They travel the country and teach local PDs about FBI methodology. They also want to improve and better profile the new kind of killer, and need research. From whom can they learn?
They hear about the 'Co-Ed killer,' Edmund Kemper, from some local PD, mostly that he won't shut up and will talk to anybody. At Ford's behest, they go see him. He's a huge man with a friendly disposition and, yes, loves to talk about what he did and what he was thinking. It was exactly what Ford wanted to hear, though his partner wasn't so sure. Was he genuine?
This accidental research project is on the side of their real job. Their supervisor begrudgingly allows limited hours on it. They meet more killers and bring in a Psych professor to consult. She pushes them to formalize their study, then asks around and boom, gets the project funding. Up to this point the show had been a slow burn. Now it accelerates.
Between local cops met through road school and new cases sent to them, they apply what they've learned. They solve a couple murders by profiling, narrowing the search and going after the person who fits, and get better as they go. This often involves unorthodox methods and questioning by Agent Ford, but they get their man. They create and classify the term 'serial killer,' a significant moment.
Their success results in Ford getting really cocky. He brings unnecessary media attention to their unit, tries to apply what they're learning outside his jurisdiction, and blows off an internal investigation. The larger impact is lost on him because, as he sees it, the whole thing is his baby and he needs to trust his gut. But his gut turns him into an asshole pretty quickly.
Overall I'm fascinated, by the careful thought and process behind the classification of different killers, and how this can be used to catch them. The unexpected piece is the dynamic of Ford and how he reacts to it all. The season culminates with a race to a sudden end. I'm glad we don't need to wait for s2. Will we finally get to understand the creep that keeps appearing?
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