9 Years Later, David Fincher's Intense Psychological Thriller Is Aging Like Fine Wine

Published Sep 11, 2026, 5:03 PM EDT

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Carolyn Jenkins is a voracious consumer of film and television. She graduated from Long Island University with an MFA in Screenwriting and Producing where she learned the art of character, plot, and structure. The best teacher is absorbing media and she spends her time reading about different worlds from teen angst to the universe of Stephen King.

David Fincher and psychological thrillers have gone hand in hand since the late ‘90s, but it was in 2017 that he debuted his crowning achievement. Following the filmmaker's best crime thrillers, Zodiac, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, and Gone Girl, the acclaimed director released Mindhunter, the best television series to ever hit Netflix. Based on FBI Agent John E. Douglas’ non-fiction book about the creation of the Behavioral Science Unit, the series lasted two perfect seasons, rewriting the television crime formula.

Even better, it was a serious and compelling narrative about the rise of serial killings in America. Starring Jonathan Groff as Holden Ford, Mindhunter depicts a fictionalized account of how the FBI came up with the first psychological profiles. The series was a critical phenomenon, but tragically, Netflix didn’t see it that way.

‘Mindhunter’ Fans Are Still Yearning For Season 3

In a world of true crime that glamorizes the macabre, Mindhunter was a genuine relief. Just like the book, the Netflix series took a clinical look at serial murders and defined them for everyone to see. This was the antidote to obsessions over grisly murders and has only gotten more relevant with time. Fixation on real-life tragedies has become more prominent than ever, but Mindhunter was on the path to setting the record straight.

Holden, his FBI partner Bill Tench (Holt McCallany), and Dr. Wendy Carr (Anna Torv) set out to demystify serial killers by unpacking what makes them tick. Holden starts with Ed Kemper (Cameron Britton), who surprises the agent with his eloquent way of speaking. Lulling him into a false sense of security, Kemper ultimately reveals his horrifying nature as a convicted killer who murdered and defiled his mother.

Mindhunter gets up close and personal with these killers while also shining a light on the difficulties of police investigations. Season 2 concludes with the arrest of Wayne Williams for the murder of two men. Although believed to be the killer in the Atlanta Child Murders, he is not convicted of it. Holden experiences self-doubt, which is the primary emotion that comes with the territory. Even with all the data, there are times when some cases are inconclusive. The series wipes away the shiny veneer of visceral killings, and instead focuses on what’s important.

David Fincher’s series was so beloved by critics that it only increased in acclaim throughout its life. Mindhunter is one of the highest-rated Netflix series of all time, and yet there is still no Season 3 in sight. Fincher has publicly stated that the budget did not merit a renewal for a third season. As high quality as the show was, Netflix deemed that not enough subscribers were watching it to make it worth the money.

Almost a decade since it first premiered, and fans still prove the streamer wrong. Netflix continues to plummet in relevance, but Mindhunter is the show that everyone can agree on. Fervor for the series’ return has never wavered. If anything, it has only gotten stronger. This psychological thriller has aged better than most, fueled by the fervent hope that it will return someday.