Shuvrajit Das Biswas
If you thought ‘Mindhunter’ Season 2 Episode 1 was taking the show in a new direction where the BSU applies what it has learned from convicted serial killers to capture active ones, then Episode 2 serves to enforce the idea and brings some new ones to the able. We are sent back to the darkest corners of the human mind as this episode has a fascinating segment of an interrogation of one of America’s most notorious serial killers.
The entire special unit of the FBI seems to be back in full swing with the team working seamlessly together to do what they do best – delve into the psychological aspect of criminals to help create a national database that will change the course of history on how violent crimes are solved.
Mindhunter Season 2 Episode 2 Recap
When Episode 2 starts we are left wondering if Holden is alright since the last episode saw the onset of another panic attack when his former boss chastised him at his retirement party. However, our mind is soon turned to the BTK killer, who is now shown attempting to come to terms with his deviant sexual desires. The extremities of his deviance soon become evident as Tench goes off, actively tailing the BTK killer. He meets a police detective by the name of Drowatzky, who has been investigating the BTK murders. As Tench catches up with the investigation and revisits the crime scenes, we are made privy to the extreme violence of the crimes and the psychosexual nature of the murders committed. Tench also interviews the only witness left alive in the trail of the BTK murders and we can sense he is on the right track as he enquires whether the killer is aroused by strangulation. If viewers recall Episode 1 of Season 2, the killer was shown attempting autoerotic asphyxiation.
However, Tench’s investigation really picks up steam when Holden pitches in his ideas about the BTK killer. His sharp mind finds similarities between the BTK’s callsign and the one left behind by David Berkowitz, infamous as the Son of Sam killer. ‘Mindhunter’ then proceeds to take us to a territory that it is immensely familiar with – an interrogation of a dangerous serial killer. Holden and Tench interview Berkowitz although Wendy Carr is quick to express her problems with interviews being shifted around to assist active investigations. However, the rest of the team gets her to change her mind. Nonetheless, she is not too convinced about whether Holden will be okay with conducting such a high-profile interview without his panic attacks getting the best of him.
When the interview starts, however, it is a very different ball game. Son of Sam starts off with an assured air around him, retelling the story of how demons made him commit the crimes. Holden soon cuts to the chase and sees through the story as an excuse. The killer is impressed and they actually have a candid conversation where he reveals his motives and actions, telling them how he was concerned not just about the crime, but about how the media and public perceived him to be. The interview with Son of Sam is a goldmine because he volunteers some insights into the mind of how BTK might be operating as well. It is very reminiscent of Hannibal Lecter helping out in the capture of Buffalo Bill.
While the interview goes successfully, we can see that the BSU is more sure about the direction that their database is taking as they decide to start an entirely new category for killers like Son of Sam. Meanwhile, heinous crimes can occur anywhere as the Tench family is about to find out. Bill and his wife are surprised with a visit from a police detective who informs them that one of the houses that Bill’s wife is a realtor of had a murder take place in the garage. Whether it is a one-off incident or something more sinister, is what we have to wait to find out.
Mindhunter Season 2 Episode 2 Review
‘Mindhunter’ Season 2 Episode 2 feels like familiar grounds where interviews with serial killers are used to glean information on methodologies. However, what is refreshingly new is how this information will now help in an open case. Episode 2 teases the beginnings of the culmination of theory and practice, where all the research from the Son of Sam case can be applied to the BTK killer’s case, which might help in apprehending him. We witness the BSU becoming more capable with each passing episode, but perhaps the best thing about Episode 2 is how Holden seems to have returned to his cocksure self. While the team members are still keeping an eye on him, for now, it would appear that our virtuoso is back in action. However, not all is well in Episode 2, as the investigation of the BTK killer seems to be getting to Tench ever so slowly and we have to wait and watch if the stoic FBI agent begins to unravel over the next few episodes. Episode 2 is easily one of the best of the show’s entire run.
Rating: 5/5
