The Lingering Pain of Netflix's Crime Drama Cancellation: A 4-Year Wound

Article Overview

Mindhunter was a visually and narratively exceptional crime drama that stood out from other series in the genre on Netflix.

Netflix's other crime dramas have not been able to achieve the same level of excellence and significance as Mindhunter, often romanticizing serial killers and causing further distress to the families of the victims.

Although it was ended prematurely, Mindhunter has rightfully established itself as one of Netflix's finest television series, leading the way for other crime dramas in terms of intricately crafted characters, respectful treatment of sensitive narratives, and impressive visual standards.

Despite housing various crime dramas, Netflix's cancelation of Mindhunter, one of its best TV series ever, remains a tough blow even four years later. It is unlikely that the streaming giant will be able to replicate its quality. While Netflix has found success in producing and distributing a variety of TV shows, particularly in the crime drama genre, not all of them have achieved the same level of acclaim. Many have been canceled after just a few episodes, but one show in particular was unfairly cut short.

In 2017, Netflix released Mindhunter, a psychological crime drama TV series based on the true-crime book Mindhunter: Inside the FBI’s Elite Serial Crime Unit by John E. Douglas and Mark Olshaker. The series was executive produced and mostly directed by David Fincher, who also served as the showrunner. Mindhunter was highly regarded as one of the best TV shows of 2017, and its second season in 2019 received critical acclaim as well. Unfortunately, despite speculation and hope for its renewal, Mindhunter did not return for a third season, effectively bringing an end to the series.

Mindhunter Season 3 Is Definitely Not Happening (& That’s A Shame)

The first two seasons of Mindhunter were successful, but a potential third season was put on hold in November 2019. The reason was that David Fincher, the creator, was working on his new project, Mank. The cast was released from their contracts in January 2020, and the series remained on hold as Fincher continued working on Mank and producing Love, Death and Robots. Netflix stated that Fincher might revisit Mindhunter in the future. Fincher later confirmed that a third season wasn't in his immediate plans due to the high cost of the show and its viewership. He mentioned that the possibility of revisiting it might be in five years. It was revealed that Fincher fired Mindhunter's original showrunner during the second season and discarded several scripts and the show's "bible". Mindhunter co-producer Peter Mavromates mentioned that Fincher was involved in overseeing every episode, which was exhausting. Despite having a passionate audience, Mindhunter didn't generate enough numbers to justify its cost.

Why David Fincher’s Mindhunter Worked So Well

Mindhunter's fate has been officially confirmed by David Fincher, dashing all hopes for a third season. In an interview with Le Journal du Dimanche in early 2023 (via GamesRadar), Fincher revealed that Mindhunter has come to an end. He expressed pride in the first two seasons but acknowledged that the show's high production costs and lack of a large enough audience led Netflix to decide against further investment. While he does not blame Netflix for taking a chance on the series's launch, Fincher stated that it no longer has a future.

Mindhunter’s standout feature lies in its exceptional blend of visual and narrative elements. Setting it apart from other crime dramas on Netflix, Mindhunter boasts a visually stunning presentation that enhances its overall quality, justifying Fincher’s acknowledgment of its high production costs. Rather than glorifying serial killers, Mindhunter deliberately veers away from this troubling trend often seen in recent crime dramas. Instead, it intelligently focuses on the psychological ramifications of violence, centering its narrative on the FBI agents grappling with the aftermath. By challenging established conventions, Mindhunter revolutionized the genre of crime dramas, leaving an indelible mark that unfortunately wasn't fully absorbed by other productions.

Netflix’s Crime Dramas Have Yet To Match Mindhunter’s Quality

Despite Mindhunter being a shining example of excellence in both visual and narrative aspects within the crime drama genre, Netflix's subsequent projects in this category have failed to reach the same level of achievement. Instead, Netflix's crime dramas have faced accusations of glorifying serial killers, causing further trauma to victims' families, and creating overly sympathetic portrayals of criminals, as exemplified by Ryan Murphy's Dahmer - Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story. While other crime dramas on Netflix have exhibited visual appeal, it is evident that the streaming platform has learned from its experience with Mindhunter, as it has yet to produce a crime drama of equal cinematic quality.

Mindhunter, despite its premature conclusion, has secured a significant place in Netflix history as one of the platform's top TV shows. Therefore, it should serve as a guiding example for other crime dramas in terms of character development, handling sensitive narratives, and visual excellence, allowing the streaming giant to avoid the notable issues that have plagued its other crime drama productions and distributions.

Sources: /Film, Vulture, TVLine, Variety, Games Radar

Editor's P/S

As an enthusiastic fan of Mindhunter, I am deeply saddened by the news that the show has been officially canceled by David Fincher. Mindhunter was a visually and narratively exceptional crime drama that stood out from other series in the genre on Netflix. It's unfortunate that Netflix has not been able to replicate the same level of excellence and significance with its other crime dramas, many of which have been canceled after just a few episodes.

The premature ending of Mindhunter is a tough blow for fans who were eagerly awaiting a third season. The show's intricate character development, respectful treatment of sensitive narratives, and impressive visual standards set a new benchmark for crime dramas on Netflix. It's a shame that we won't get to see the story of Holden Ford and Bill Tench continue to unfold.

While I understand that the show's high production costs and lack of a large enough audience may have contributed to its cancellation, I believe that Mindhunter's critical acclaim and passionate fan base justify its continuation. I hope that in the future, Netflix will take more risks on innovative and high-quality shows like Mindhunter, even if they don't immediately attract a massive audience.