We had the pleasure to watch the first two episodes of the new Netflix’s series Mindhunter by legendary director David Fincher.

Mindhunter is set in the 1970s and it’s based on a true crime book by former agent John E. Douglas. It tells the story behind the creation of the Criminal Profiling Programme.

Agents Holden Ford (Broadway Star and Tony Award Nominated Jonathan Groff) and Bill Tench (Holt McCallany) bring on-screen John E. Douglas interviews with notorious serial killers and rapists like the Boston Strangler, Edmund Kemper and Charles Manson; and working on the murder cases of JonBenet Ramsey (1996) and The Three of West Memphis (1993). And we start, in the 1st episode right from Edmund Kemper (in the show played by Cameron Britton) and Ford interview with him to study how his mind works.

After few minutes from the beginning we understand that Holden’s ego tends to make him arrogant and to look down on those he feels are not at his level. But it’s this side of him to make him able to manipulate the serial killers he’s talking to; mixed to an inch of deep interest in the dark side of any human being.

The characters from Thomas Harris’  novels (Silence Of the Lamb, Hannibal, ...) fans know that Jack Crawford and Will Graham were inspired by Douglas with his extraordinary gift (or curse) of empathy who allowed him to assume the killer’s point of view. Also few characters from the TV series Cold Case are modeled after him.

Based on interviews, this is a pretty much conversational show but Jonathan Groff outstanding interpretation and ability to empathize with any kind of character plus a very catching script are able to charm all kind of audience.

The way crimes and murders are described in words are so strong and accurate than audience imagination fall in a so much worse idea of them than if they’d be shown on-screen.

Mindhunter takes us into the extraordinary but dangerous mind territory in a fascinating ride. And we can’t wait, totally addicted, for season two.

Video from the night here: part I, part II, part III