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Mindhunter follows the life of FBI agents as they aim to uncover why serial killers do what they do(Image: Merrick Morton/Netflix)

If you’re fed up with endlessly scrolling through Netflix trying to choose your next watch, there’s one series that’s been hailed as the best drama ever to land on the streaming service. With two seasons at 10 episodes each, it’s perfect for bingeing but will leave you wanting more, with devoted viewers begging for a third series to get commissioned.

Set during the late 1970s, Mindhunter follows the journey of two FBI agents as they interrogate serial killers to uncover their psychological tendencies and driving forces behind their appalling crimes. Many of the offences have already taken place with the culprits behind bars, so it’s not always a whodunit like typical crime series.

But it offers a chilling glimpse into the psyche of evil, featuring the appearances of figures like Charles Manson and Edmund Kemper.

The programme stars Jonathan Groff and Holt McCallany as FBI operatives Holden Ford and Bill Tench, working alongside psychologist Wendy Carr, portrayed by Anna Torv.

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Agent Holden Ford is a criminal profiler within the FBI(Image: Patrick Harbron/Netflix)

The trio run the Behavioural Science Unit, created with the aim of delving deep into serial killers ‘ mindsets, identifying behavioural patterns, and attempting to stop future atrocities from happening, reports the Express.

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Most of the episodes feature an interview with one of these murderers – some willing, others reluctant to speak – and with every session, they become better prepared to crack active cases. Working away in such a high-pressure atmosphere, the demanding role starts wreaking havoc on the FBI staff’s personal lives.

Ford is as a fiercely independent thinker who attempts to approach every challenge with an original perspective and unconventional strategy, though this doesn’t always prove effective with his challenging subjects, and his anxiety can sometimes get the better of him.

Tench is a lot more gruff and conventional, leading the pair to frequently butt heads over their approaches to getting information from the serial killers. Meanwhile, Carr, who appears every bit the icy, no-nonsense persona throughout the show, gradually exposes her internal battles with self-acceptance, revealing a more compassionate and tender side to her character that typically remains hidden in professional settings.

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Serial killers such as Ed Kemper and Charles Manson feature in the series(Image: Netflix)

The programme is based on the book Mindhunter: Inside the FBI’s Elite Serial Crime Unit, released in 1995. Joe Penhall is the series creator, whilst David Fincher and Charlize Theron feature amongst the executive producers.

Nearly seven years have passed since the final series aired, but devoted followers face disappointment as Fincher definitively ruled out any continuation back in 2023. Critics’ platform Roger Ebert hailed it as ‘Netflix’s best drama’, whilst it boasts an outstanding 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

One fan wrote: “Mindhunter is very real and very dark. I’ve read about most of the actual serial killers portrayed in Mindhunter, and watching this series is kind of like reliving these events that I read about or saw on the news all those years ago. Details were usually left out of the news stories back then.”

Another said: “What makes Mindhunter so gripping is the way it takes its time getting under your skin. Many scenes are just a lot of talk. But boy, it can get to you.”

All episodes of Mindhunter are available to stream on Netflix.