Mindhunterwas canceled after airing for only two seasons, and while there is nothing quite like it on TV, there is an underrated Netflix crime series that is equally disturbing. Adapted from the bestselling non-fiction novel of the same name by John E. Douglas and Mark Olshake,Mindhunterwas one of Netflix’s best TV shows. The David Fincher series focused on an FBI agent who helped spearhead the invention of criminal profiling.
While there are a lot of disturbing crime dramas,Mindhunteris in a league of its own. Granted, the subject matter inthe Netflix original seriesis by no means new, but what madeMindhunterspecial is that it perfectly combined a beloved genre with the true story of how the FBI acquired the knowledge that led the organization to understand the psychology behind serial killers.Mindhunter’s cancellation still hurts, butThe Sinneris a great replacement if you’re looking for a similar show.
The Sinner Is A Disturbing Crime Anthology Starring Bill Pullman
Mindhunter Fans Will Love The Sinner
Released in 2017,The Sinneris an anthology crime dramastarring Bill Pullmanas Detective Harry Ambrose. The show sees Detective Ambrose, who is struggling with some issues in his personal life, investigate the darkest and intriguing cases.The Sinnerwas originally meant to be an eight-part miniseries, but it ended up running for three more seasons after its critically acclaimed season 1 won over audiences. Being an anthology, each season ofThe Sinnerhas Detective Ambrose investigating a new case.
Similar toMindhunter,The Sinnerwas based on a literary work, which is why it was supposed to be a miniseries. SinceThe Sinnerseason 1 used all the material in the novel, seasons two through four of the Netflix series were not based on Petra Hammesfahr’s novel but were instead new stories. The dark subject matter, tone, and lead characters inThe Sinnerare some of the attributes that could appeal to fans ofMindhunterwho might find the crime drama’s premise interesting.
The Sinner Is More Of A Character Study Than A Traditional Crime Show
The Sinner Is A Whydunnit TV Show
LikeMindhunter,The Sinneris far from a traditional crime TV show. Of course, solving the case is a very important part of the show, but it’s not necessarily a whodunit series. Instead, it focuses on why perpetrators of crime did what they did.The series heavily leans on motivation,and Detective Ambrose’s search for the truth doesn’t stop even when he knows who committed the crime.
SinceThe Sinneris an anthology series, each new season presented an opportunity to dig deep into the psychology of its characters.
The Sinneris heavily driven by its characters. The mysteries are interesting, but what really pulls in the viewer is why some seemingly ordinary characters living normal lives didn’t act like themselves and did heinous things. SinceThe Sinneris an anthology series, each new season presented an opportunity to dig deep into the psychology of its characters, who always have fascinating stories.The series also looks into the evolution of Detective Ambroseand the toll his work has taken on him.
The Sinner’s Character Work Makes It The Perfect Mindhunter Replacement
The Sinner And Mindhunter Are Focused On The Same Thing
One of the biggest similarities betweenMindhunterandThe Sinneris their character-driven narrative. Like Holden Ford inMindhunter,theThe Sinner’s lead character is very interested in the psychology and the thought processes of the criminalswho committed disturbing crimes. The two shows put the psychology of the perpetrators of crime ahead of the crime itself.
The Sinnerexplores the complexities of the killers in the same way thatMindhunterdid. While their premises are different, the overall approach to the crime drama genre is very similar. Two ofthe greatest psychological thrillers on TV,The SinnerandMindhunterare a reminder that crime shows don’t always have to follow the same whodunit formula.
Mindhunter
Cast
From executive producers David Fincher and Charlize Theron comes Mindhunter, a series that chronicles the founding of the FBI’s Behavioral Science Unit used to track and apprehend serial killers. Mindhunter follows Agent Holden Ford (Jonathan Groff) and Bill Tench (Holt McCallany) as they work to establish a framework for understanding the minds of some of America’s most dangerous serial killers. Mindhunter adapts a number of true crime stories, including the BTK murders and the notorious Co-Ed Killer, Edmund Kemper.
The Sinner
The Sinner is a crime anthology series created by Derek Simonds that ran for four seasons on the USA Network. Bill Pullman is the star in each season, which all examine a different crime committed by the unlikeliest of culprits. The series was originally supposed to be an eight-part mini-series, but the success of season 1 caused USA to continue it as an anthology.
