This article mentions sexual assault.
Mindhunteris a difficult series to replicate, as it has a style and tone like no other TV show. However,Unbelievableis the perfect crime drama for anyone looking to fill the void left by the other series. One of Netflix’s best TV shows,Mindhunterrevolutionizedthe crime drama genrewith its focus on how the FBI invented criminal profiling.
Mindhunterwas canceled two years ago, and it’s still disappointing that such an intriguing series ended way too soon. Finding a crime drama that’s 10/10 is tough, but fortunately, Netflix’sUnbelievableshares several similarities with David Fincher’s hit psychological thriller, even though it’s not on quite the same level. This makes it a great replacement.
Unbelievable Sees Two Detectives Tracking Down A Serial Rapist
Unbelievablepremiered the same year thatMindhunterseason 2 was released. The series centers around Detective Grace Rasmussen and Detective Karen Duvall, two law enforcement officers searching for a serial rapist. The two detectives work in different police precincts, but when they realize that their cases intertwine, they join forces to bring the assailant to justice.
Each episode ofUnbelievableis a masterpiece, with intriguing clues and new revelations driving the show’s narrative.Unbelievableis a slow burn because it shows the painstaking work that goes into convicting a rapist, especially when there is little to no evidence. However, every minute ofthe true crime dramais worth it, as each detail is an integral part of seeing the whole picture.
LikeMindhunter,Unbelievableheavily focuses on its characters, which makes it an intense series with high stakes. Kaitlyn Dever nails her portrayal of the troubled teenager Marie Adler by making her vulnerable, while Toni Collette and Merritt, who play Rasmussen and Duvall, respectively, are the perfect duo with an evenly matched resolve to track down the serial rapist.
Like Mindhunter, Unbelievable Is Inspired By A True Story
Unbelievableis a perfect example of how fact can sometimes be stranger and even more devastating than fiction, because, likeMindhunter, it’s based on a true story. The Netflix original crime drama was adapted from a 2015 Pulitzer Prize-winning ProPublica article by T. Christian Miller and Ken Armstrong, titledAn Unbelievable Story of Rape(viaThe Guardian).
Unbelievable’s Detective Karen Duvall was inspired by Golden’s Stacy Galbraith, while Detective Grace Rasmussen was inspired by Edna Hendershot.
Because it’s a fictionalized portrayal of real events, the Netflix show doesn’t change much about the true story. It instead brings Miller and Armstrong’s article to life with a staggering attention to detail that shows the heart-wrenching struggle that victims of sexual assault go through. It’s masterfully done, making it an important viewing experience even for those who aren’t looking to replaceMindhunter.
Why Mindhunter Is A Masterpiece
Mindhunteris, in so many ways,the best serial killer show on Netflix. The crime drama placed huge emphasis on showing a side to law enforcement that is usually ignored, that of understanding the psychology of serial killers and why they commit such heinous crimes. This resulted in an engrossing premise.
However, it’s not just thatMindhunterhad an interesting plot that earned it its masterpiece status. The crime drama is a character-driven series that not only focuses on the psyche of the serial killers but also the personal struggles of detectives Ford and Tench.Mindhunter is a beautifully shot series that maintained its quality, so it’s no wonder viewers may look to fill that void with shows likeUnbelievable.
Unbelievable
Cast
Starring Toni Collette and was created by Susannah Grant, Michael Chabon, and Ayelet Waldman. The 2019 miniseries takes an introspective look at a serial assault case that took place in Washington State and Colorado
Mindhunter
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.
