Mr. Mercedes

 

Mr. Mercedes 2017-2019

 

Smart well written and wonderfully acted three part series about some really bad psychos and a serial killer to end all serial killers. Located in a small Ohio town the main man of the series is a retired police detective Bill Hodges played by the great Brendan Gleeson who although retired is randy to find “Mr. Mercedes” the nickname for the killer.  He is surrounded by quiet and noisy neighbors including the wonderful Holland Taylor who has a big crush on him, that is not returned. Gleeson cranky and annoyed most of the time somewhat comes out of retirement in order to try to resolve the crime that was committed by as I said a psycho killer right before Gleeson’s retirement from the force, and I won’t give away any details of his crime. We see the psycho’s deed right away and he is played to the hilt by a very good Harry Treadaway who lives in a  crummy house with his mother who is played by the great Kelly Lynch. Both are off the wall in more ways than one, and their relationship is dour and depressing, very much on the down low if you get my drift.

The show is based on a series of  books by Stephen King and if that throws you off, then skip this one. I thought it was terrific, all three seasons of it, but its sometimes horrific and shocking in parts. Much of the series is of course taken up with Gleeson trying to catch Treadaway with the help of some young friends including the brilliant young African American actor Jharrell Jerome who already has an Emmy for his role in “When They See Us” and plays a very smart computer nerd also in the loop is  Breeda Wool and Justine Lupe two young actresses who are new to me and are terrific.  Gleeson’s relationships are complicated, there is an estranged daughter (when isn’t there an estranged child in the mix) along with a couple of love interests played by Mary Louis Parker and Nancy Travis both good as expected.  In the third season a new plot is introduced about a reclusive author (think J.D. Salinger) played by Bruce Dern who is murdered for his unpublished manuscripts. Hey there’s loot in literature.  The show is violent and some times shocking but never dull especially when Kate Mulgrew as a demented psycho painter is around. The small town feel is good and there is a boatload of young and older actors in supporting roles  who come from famous acting families including the Burtons, the Cusak’s the Ferrer’s, the Hepburns, and the Hustons, don’t know if this was a casting wink wink or just a crazy coincidence. This one is good to go.