That is a pity that the Manson interrogation was relatively a small part of the show, however his portrayal by Herriman was excellent. Also the make up artist did a great job of his look, he just nailed the character quite perfectly. Could not quite make a difference whether watching the real Manson or the actor, superb implementation. Would not be surprised if he won Best Supporting Actor at the upcoming Emmys. Would be disappointed if not.
12 Reviews
The best episode so far
cmini-1343429 September 2019
After watching this I saw the real Manson in his first prison interview and the show's portrayal of him is more dramatic but the actor still did a good job. Is Manson as crazy as he's made out to be? The answers pretty obvious. Even Bill got the message.
Masterful
Hitchcoc27 January 2020
I have to respond to the presentation of Manson. It was so well done. Let's face it. Crazy as it sounds, the guy really understood what he was doing. His responses were out of left field but addressed the questions in his otherworldly way. I thought the guy who portrayed him was outstanding. Having seen quite a bit of footage of Manson, I thought he was captured. A word about Bill. He and the wife are coming to a major collision. He is not coming to grips with his son's problems.
Another great episode
matiasbockerman22 August 2019
By far best episode of the season; thrilling at the beginning in the last seconds, keeped me edge on the seat during whole 70 minutes.
Cameron Britton as Kemper was very good - who bring only emmy nomination to this series in previous season - well deserved.
Damon Perriman steals the show as manson - can't wait to see he's part on Tarantinos new movie where he also portay Charles.
Best portrayal of Manson by Damon Herriman
denise_actress2 June 2022
That actor gave the best portrayal of Manson, out of all the dramatic portrayals I've seen on tv shows movies, etc. He almost had me convinced he wasn't guilty because he's a product of what society made him. That was a compelling performance.
Full Circle
lesedicarlinphaahla10 September 2020
Warning: Spoilers
I'll admit I was a bit concerned to see that creator, Joe Penhall, had no teleplay or story credits for this season BUT wow has the writing stepped up.
This episode was laced with subtext. The dialogue has never been more snappy and crisp, very much like Sorkin's work. The conversation the team has at the BSU is a perfect example of this. Wendy discusses how the killer from the previous episode is so adept at compartmentalizing as he separates himself from his crimes, but really she's talking about herself and how she's been compartmentalizing her homosexuality at work. Bill has a similar experience. He finds himself almost defending the criminal from the previous episode (Who coincidentally was also a bystander during a murder like Bill's son) saying that he was under the influence of the older criminal, he's hoping Wendy; Gregg and Holden will agree with him, which will help soothe his conscience about Brian. Very thoughtful writing. Wendy admitting that her formulaic interview style does not work with criminals was a very satisfying moment, how long have Holden & Bill been telling her this?!
Of course, from season one, we all knew the Manson interview was coming and boy, what a surprise! Everybody is praising Damon's performance in the episode, which I cannot take away from. However the reason his performance is so great, is really because of Holt McCallany. You could feel how disgusted Bill was with Manson's presence and his lies. Manson really got under his skin and McCallany displayed that wide range of emotion beautifully. Such succinct acting from both Herriman and McCallany.
Another star in this episode is Anna Torv. Wendy has several memorable moments in this episode, firstly with Kay after they just slept together. She comments on a study she did on promiscuous mothers in reference to Kay, what an oops! Well Kay, a total free spirit, took it in her stride. Another great performance from Lauren Glazier I might add.
It was really great seeing Kemper again, he was one of my favourite characters in season one. He has this subtle charisma that brings on this ominous vibe. Speaking of ominous, we finally see Gunn's intentions in this episode. He wants to be as great as Hoover was to the FBI. When he unzips Wendy's top, it's a subtle reveal that he expects her to sleep with Warren. Of course he gets Bill to get the crowd going with some laughs, and explains that they will get to do a presentation in front of the director. My only question is why Gunn went this route, if he wanted to be so great why didn't he stay in DC? I distinctly remember in the season premiere, Bill told Holden that Gunn gave up the assistant directorship of the FBI, if he took that job he would be one step away from directorship. Maybe he didn't care for titles and just wants to achieve with the BSU, I guess we'll see in the upcoming episodes.
This episode was laced with subtext. The dialogue has never been more snappy and crisp, very much like Sorkin's work. The conversation the team has at the BSU is a perfect example of this. Wendy discusses how the killer from the previous episode is so adept at compartmentalizing as he separates himself from his crimes, but really she's talking about herself and how she's been compartmentalizing her homosexuality at work. Bill has a similar experience. He finds himself almost defending the criminal from the previous episode (Who coincidentally was also a bystander during a murder like Bill's son) saying that he was under the influence of the older criminal, he's hoping Wendy; Gregg and Holden will agree with him, which will help soothe his conscience about Brian. Very thoughtful writing. Wendy admitting that her formulaic interview style does not work with criminals was a very satisfying moment, how long have Holden & Bill been telling her this?!
Of course, from season one, we all knew the Manson interview was coming and boy, what a surprise! Everybody is praising Damon's performance in the episode, which I cannot take away from. However the reason his performance is so great, is really because of Holt McCallany. You could feel how disgusted Bill was with Manson's presence and his lies. Manson really got under his skin and McCallany displayed that wide range of emotion beautifully. Such succinct acting from both Herriman and McCallany.
Another star in this episode is Anna Torv. Wendy has several memorable moments in this episode, firstly with Kay after they just slept together. She comments on a study she did on promiscuous mothers in reference to Kay, what an oops! Well Kay, a total free spirit, took it in her stride. Another great performance from Lauren Glazier I might add.
It was really great seeing Kemper again, he was one of my favourite characters in season one. He has this subtle charisma that brings on this ominous vibe. Speaking of ominous, we finally see Gunn's intentions in this episode. He wants to be as great as Hoover was to the FBI. When he unzips Wendy's top, it's a subtle reveal that he expects her to sleep with Warren. Of course he gets Bill to get the crowd going with some laughs, and explains that they will get to do a presentation in front of the director. My only question is why Gunn went this route, if he wanted to be so great why didn't he stay in DC? I distinctly remember in the season premiere, Bill told Holden that Gunn gave up the assistant directorship of the FBI, if he took that job he would be one step away from directorship. Maybe he didn't care for titles and just wants to achieve with the BSU, I guess we'll see in the upcoming episodes.
The family
Calicodreamin2 January 2021
Going south
dierregi22 March 2021
This show started well but moved south incredibly fast. Mid-way in season two and we are already back into safe Netflix patronising territory.
Holden is the poster boy autistic genius, a serial killer groupie who wets his pants every time he interviews a "celebrity" and who's totally unaware of anything going on around him.
Bill is actually a sympathetic character, but his home issues are just too freakish to be believable and seem just a convenient plot device created to build the explosive Manson scene.
Dr. Carr is the thinking woman sex symbol. Cool, calm, collected, always perfectly groomed, smart and gay! Basically Netflix ideal superwoman. As such, not a particularly endearing character.
The Atlanta story is also ideal Netflix territory, so we're sliding back into predictable grounds very fast.
Holden is the poster boy autistic genius, a serial killer groupie who wets his pants every time he interviews a "celebrity" and who's totally unaware of anything going on around him.
Bill is actually a sympathetic character, but his home issues are just too freakish to be believable and seem just a convenient plot device created to build the explosive Manson scene.
Dr. Carr is the thinking woman sex symbol. Cool, calm, collected, always perfectly groomed, smart and gay! Basically Netflix ideal superwoman. As such, not a particularly endearing character.
The Atlanta story is also ideal Netflix territory, so we're sliding back into predictable grounds very fast.
Charles Manson's murders
AvionPrince1619 April 2022
Warning: Spoilers
That was pretty interesting and a long episode. We have also Charles Manson: we wondering how he, with other guys, killed all people. And how he did it. So the F. B. I go interrogate him and tried to understand what happened. Bill tench become emotional because Charles talk about Son and Bill remember Brian. That was a pretty interesting episode with a lot of mysteries and lot of psychological understanding and we, at the end, some answers about the case and that was great and very informative about behavior. And at the end, another murder happen.
Not as good as it used to be.
floppylobster-86-2833284 November 2019
The show seems to have been put through a focus group and has been watered down as a result. All the subtleties have gone. Where it used to show the parallels between the characters' every day lives and the serials killers they study, they now just make it super-obvious.
Clearly people were asked who was your favourite character? And so this season Bill Tench is the main character. That's not really a problem but without Holden to contrast and balance him out he doesn't seem as interesting.
The show was hugely interesting because it was exploring the extremes of humanity and we could see its effects on the 'normal' characters. Now it's more about the characters (who just happen to interview criminals). In shifting focus has become just like very other character drama show. It's lost its point of distinction and become less interesting.
The carefully researched attention to details are also getting less and less attention - Someone makes a point of being called 'Ms' without characters reacting to how uncommon that was at the time. Screw top wine bottles are mentioned like they were commonly in use at the time. Computers appear that haven't even been made yet (TRS-80 Model 4). Get ready for more obvious product placement too.
It's symptomatic of the changes in the whole show. The decline is subtle enough that it's not become unwatchable, it's just much less enjoyable. What was once one of the more interesting shows to watch is now heading more toward something you put on in the background. The interviews with criminals are still interesting, but that's about it.
Clearly people were asked who was your favourite character? And so this season Bill Tench is the main character. That's not really a problem but without Holden to contrast and balance him out he doesn't seem as interesting.
The show was hugely interesting because it was exploring the extremes of humanity and we could see its effects on the 'normal' characters. Now it's more about the characters (who just happen to interview criminals). In shifting focus has become just like very other character drama show. It's lost its point of distinction and become less interesting.
The carefully researched attention to details are also getting less and less attention - Someone makes a point of being called 'Ms' without characters reacting to how uncommon that was at the time. Screw top wine bottles are mentioned like they were commonly in use at the time. Computers appear that haven't even been made yet (TRS-80 Model 4). Get ready for more obvious product placement too.
It's symptomatic of the changes in the whole show. The decline is subtle enough that it's not become unwatchable, it's just much less enjoyable. What was once one of the more interesting shows to watch is now heading more toward something you put on in the background. The interviews with criminals are still interesting, but that's about it.
Episode 205
bobcobb3012 October 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Charles Manson was not perfectly cast, but I think they captured his ideology well and presented us with how that interview would have gone in real life.
This show is still kind of boring right now, but that was certainly good.
This show is still kind of boring right now, but that was certainly good.
Is this the worst show I've ever watched on Netflix? Yep.
justintannerpw122 August 2019
I can't take the bad writing. I went back in and got as far as Manson, but I couldn't stop groaning. The scene with Kemper, who was marvelous in season one, was so lamely written I got angry (why does every character have to be Shecky Green? Nobody was cracking jokes during the first season, now everyone speaks in "Show Runner-Ese" that bland generic, non specific language where everyone Is being wry all the time.) I can't think of another show that the bed quite as badly - Maybe Roseanne in the final season when the family won the lottery. I watched Mindhunter in the first place because it was subtle and the scenes were snaky and full of telling details. it was for grown ups who didn't need everything to be telegraphed and every point hammered in again and again and again. This season nobody sounds even remotely human. There has never been a second where I've been confused or scared or interested. Here am I am again writing a pointless review. But I'm upset. I waited two years...for THIS? ugh. I'm going back to reading books.
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