The Daily Think

David Fincher’s Mindhunter on Netflix hit the ground running with the exploration of some of the most prolific serial killers in 20th Century American history. It gave us the massive Ed Kemper scare in season finale, it gave us the Atlanta Child Murderers hunt, and has been epically building up Dennis Rader and his eventual takedown! But a funny thing happened on the way to the BTK’s arrest, Netflix stopped making the show…

IS MINDHUNTER REALLY CANCELED?

Netflix has not provided a specific reason for why they cancelled Mindhunter after two seasons, but there are several factors that may have contributed to the decision:

Cost – Mindhunter was a relatively expensive show to produce, with high production values and a large cast of actors. As a result, the show may not have been generating enough revenue to justify its cost, especially given the current competitive landscape of streaming services.

Scheduling conflicts – Another factor that may have played a role in the cancellation of Mindhunter is the busy schedules of its creators and cast. David Fincher, who was the show’s executive producer and directed several episodes, is known for his meticulous approach to filmmaking and may have been too busy with other projects to continue working on Mindhunter. Additionally, several members of the cast, including Jonathan Groff and Anna Torv, were committed to other projects at the time of the show’s cancellation.

Uncertainty over the show’s future – Mindhunter was never officially cancelled by Netflix, but the show’s future was left in limbo after the second season. This uncertainty may have made it difficult for the show’s creators to move forward with new episodes or storylines, leading to its eventual cancellation.

Ultimately, the decision to cancel Mindhunter was likely a combination of these factors and others that may not be publicly known. While the show had a dedicated fan base and critical acclaim, it may not have been enough to keep it on the air given the current state of the entertainment industry.

REAL LIFE HOLDEN

John Douglas the FBI agent and profiler behind the show’s main character is also a New York Times bestselling author. With several books already under his belt, Douglas and Mark Olshaker basically storyboarded the whole TV show with his book Mindhunter. But beyond his ability to help create a Netflix TV show, Douglas had a more powerful influence on crime fighting and helped develop modern FBI techniques in profiling.

Here are some ways in which Douglas impacted the field:

1. Developing profiling techniques – Douglas was one of the first FBI agents to develop a systematic approach to profiling serial killers, which involved gathering information about the killer’s background, behavior, and motives. Douglas used this information to create detailed profiles of the killers, which helped investigators identify key traits and patterns that could be used to identify suspects.
2. Interviewing serial killers – Douglas conducted hundreds of interviews with some of the most notorious serial killers of the 20th century, including Ted Bundy, Charles Manson, and John Wayne Gacy. By interviewing these killers, Douglas was able to gain insights into their behavior and thought processes, which he used to develop his profiling techniques.
3. Sharing knowledge with law enforcement – Douglas wrote several influential books about his experiences as an FBI agent and profiler, including “Mind Hunter” and “Journey Into Darkness.” These books helped educate law enforcement officials around the world about the techniques and insights that Douglas had developed.
4. Solving high-profile cases – Douglas was involved in the investigation of several high-profile serial killer cases, including the Atlanta Child Murders and the Green River Killer. His profiling techniques helped identify suspects in these cases and bring them to justice.

Overall, John E. Douglas’s contributions to the field of criminal profiling and his work in capturing serial killers have had a lasting impact on law enforcement and criminology. His pioneering techniques and insights continue to be used today in investigations around the world.

FUTURE OF MINDHUNTER

In a recent interview with David Fincher, the costs seemed to doom the show the most. Fincher pushed back on Netflix for a season 3 and needed his budget to be approved, but a compromise could not be reached. All parties involved have basically ended any chance for a season 3 at this point.

So pour a drink for your homie Mindhunter, binge what you can of seasons 1 and 2 and just remember your TV training in how to spot and profile a serial killer and just remember that somebody was trying to help us learn those skills, literally the guy who wrote the book on it.

For further reading see: Mindhunter by John Douglas and Mark Olshaker, Gallery Books, 1995.