Mr Mercedes has landed on Netflix, and many are diving into the captivating crime thriller series, following binge-watches of ITV’s Des with David Tennant, Monster: The Ed Gein Story, and most recently, The Beast in Me. Mr Mercedes originally premiered on the Audience network back in 2017, reports the Mirror.
The programme is an adaptation of renowned horror writer Stephen King’s best-selling detective novel trilogy: Mr. Mercedes (2014), Finders Keepers (2015), and End of Watch (2016). This series is the brainchild of seasoned American TV writer and producer David E. Kelley, who also brought us Big Little Lies, Ally McBeal, Goliath, and Chicago Hope.
Mr Mercedes boasts a stellar cast including Irish acting icon Brendan Gleeson, Harry Treadaway from The Crown, Holland Taylor of The Practice, Justine Lupe from Succession, Jharrel Jerome known for When They See Us, and Breeda Wool from UnREAL.
Mr Mercedes ran for three seasons before concluding in 2019. However, now that it’s available on Netflix, it’s likely to gain a fresh wave of popularity among new viewers.
The show has already sparked curiosity about whether it could be based on a true story and the plot of the drama. Here’s what you need to know.
Is Mr Mercedes based on a true story?
No, Mr Mercedes isn’t based on a true story, however, certain aspects were influenced by real-world incidents. The acclaimed writer behind The Shining and Misery has previously revealed that a news report provided the foundation for his detective series.
King had witnessed a television bulletin about an individual who had ploughed a vehicle into a queue of job applicants at McDonald’s during the restaurant chain’s National Day of Hiring initiative.
Describing how this news coverage ignited his creative spark, the novelist shared with UMass Lowell in 2012: “I thought to myself, ‘I want to write about this.’ I didn’t know why I wanted to write about it, or what I wanted to write about it. I just knew that I wanted to write about it.”
Mr Mercedes similarly opens with an individual ramming a motor vehicle into a gathering of people. Yet, in contrast to the actual incident, King’s antagonist deliberately aimed to eliminate as many victims as possible in a terrifyingly calculated assault.
The narrative expanded from a brief tale into a comprehensive novel as King began exploring the additional violent acts perpetrated by his troubled fictional protagonist. Following the vehicular rampage, the murderer retreats into concealment whilst the investigation stagnates.
What is Mr Mercedes about?
Mr Mercedes centres on Gleeson’s retired police detective Bill Hodges, who remains tormented by an unsolved cold case involving a perpetrator who killed 16 people by driving a stolen Mercedes-Benz into a crowd at a local job fair.
At the same time, Hodges faces a fresh psychopath in Brady Hartsfield (portrayed by Harry Treadaway), who begins orchestrating his own perilous games that endanger lives.
Hartsfield also craves recognition for his crimes, pushing Hodges into peril and ethically ambiguous territory as he hunts down the serial killer.
The murderer and Hodges become locked in a lethal online battle of wits as the detective frantically attempts to prevent him from attacking once more.
Mr Mercedes has garnered tremendous acclaim on IMDb from numerous viewers who have championed the series.
One individual branded it an “excellent show” in their 9/10 star review: “As serial-killer procedurals go, this is one of the finest I’ve seen, with strong writing, a talented cast, confident director, and master storyteller Stephen King pulling the strings.”
Another viewer gave Mr Mercedes a perfect 10/10 stars, declaring it “Gleeson at his best”.
The user elaborated: “After reading up on this, my curiosity was spiked when I learned that Stephen King had wrote the character of Bill Hodges based on Brendan Gleeson. Growing up, Stephen King was my Author of choice and being Irish I have always rated Brendan Gleeson as one of our best actors.”
A third viewer hailed the programme as an “incredible series” in their glowing assessment. The fan went on to explain: “What the heck are people watching this show is as good as they come, the acting, story, everything TOP notch! ! The whole cast is flawless the story incredible and to those who said only watch season 1 you are dead wrong. All 3 seasons are incredible and it all ends perfect.” They wrapped up their praise by declaring: “1 of the best series ever.”
Mr Mercedes is streaming on Netflix UK and Ireland now
By Neela Debnath
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