For those unfamiliar with Audience Network’s Mr. Mercedes or who missed its gripping first season, you missed a compelling Stephen King adaptation anchored by the stellar performances of Brendan Gleeson and Harry Treadaway. Season one delivered a grounded and intense thriller, showcasing Gleeson’s portrayal of the initially reluctant but ultimately determined ex-detective Bill Hodges and Treadaway’s chillingly captivating depiction of the increasingly unhinged Brady Hartsfield. Mr. Mercedes season 1 masterfully built suspense as a cat-and-mouse game, even with its leads sharing limited screen time until the finale which, while slightly underwhelming compared to the book’s climax, didn’t diminish the season’s overall harrowing tension.
The Shift in Gears: From Grounded Thriller to Supernatural Suspense
While season one of Mr. Mercedes established itself as a taut and realistic crime thriller, season two, airing in August 2018, takes a significant turn. The creative team, including director Jack Bender and writers David E. Kelley and Dennis Lehane, made a crucial decision to jump ahead in King’s book trilogy. Instead of adapting Finders Keepers, the second book which largely sidelines Brady Hartsfield, they chose to tackle End of Watch. This move directly incorporates the supernatural elements introduced in End of Watch, a departure from the first season’s stark realism. This shift, while bold, inevitably alters the fundamental nature of Mr. Mercedes, pushing it into a different genre territory. Despite this change, the writers strive to maintain the show’s captivating essence, often succeeding in keeping the initial episodes of season two engaging and suspenseful.
Image: Promotional still for Mister Mercedes season 2 showcasing Brendan Gleeson as Bill Hodges and Harry Treadaway as Brady Hartsfield, highlighting the return of key characters in the adapted Stephen King series.
Brady’s Coma and the Introduction of the Supernatural
Season two of mister mercedes season 2 picks up after Brady Hartsfield’s thwarted attack and subsequent coma. Bill Hodges, having recovered from his heart attack, is now working with Holly Gibney (Justine Lupe) in a freelance detective agency, handling a mix of cases. However, Bill’s obsession with Brady persists, leading him to regular hospital visits despite Brady showing no signs of conventional recovery. The narrative takes a supernatural turn with the introduction of neurosurgeon Dr. Felix Babineau (Jack Huston) and his wife Cora (Tessa Ferrer). Cora persuades Felix to use Brady as a test subject for an experimental Chinese serum aimed at stimulating brain activity. This risky experiment becomes the catalyst for Brady’s disturbing resurgence. Brady not only regains consciousness but also develops terrifying new abilities – the power to infiltrate and manipulate minds.
This supernatural twist, straight from Stephen King’s End of Watch, marks a pivotal departure for the series. While King is renowned for his blend of horror and the supernatural, its inclusion here fundamentally reshapes the dynamic of Mr. Mercedes. In season one, Brady was terrifyingly human, a monster rooted in reality. His horror stemmed from his all-too-real capacity for cruelty and manipulation. He was a chess player using people as pawns in a deadly game. The introduction of mind control elevates Brady to a different level of threat, shifting the show from a gritty, realistic pursuit to a more fantastical and less tangible conflict. Bill Hodges’ investigation transforms from one based on evidence and deduction to one demanding a leap of faith into the realm of the paranormal. Despite this genre shift, Brendan Gleeson’s performance remains compelling, grounding the character even as the narrative ventures into the unbelievable. His portrayal of Hodges remains authentic and engaging, even as Hodges grapples with increasingly inexplicable events.
Image: Mister Mercedes writer Dennis Lehane discussing the thematic and narrative choices behind season 2, hinting at the supernatural turn and character development in the Stephen King adaptation.
Visualizing the Unseen and Character Dynamics
Director Jack Bender effectively visualizes this genre transition, transforming Brady’s basement lair into a psychological space, a fortress of solitude where memories and hallucinations blur with reality. This allows Brady to interact with figments of his past, enriching his internal world beyond just computer screens. Treadaway masterfully portrays Brady in this simmering, pre-manifestation phase, hinting at the unleashed power within. His performance continues to be layered, building upon the disturbing depths explored in the first season, especially drawing from the intense dynamic with Kelly Lynch as Brady’s mother.
While Treadaway operates largely in isolation in these early episodes, the season introduces guest characters who become entangled in Brady’s growing powers. Virginia Kull delivers a memorable performance as a nurse vulnerable to Brady’s influence due to a medical condition. Mike Starr also appears as a hospital orderly, a character that unfortunately leans into a less nuanced and somewhat problematic trope often found in King’s work.
Holly Gibney and Shifting Character Focus
Justine Lupe’s portrayal of Holly Gibney continues to be a standout. Lupe elevates the character beyond potentially stereotypical tics described in the books, embodying Holly with humor, vulnerability, and genuine realism. Her scenes, particularly those exploring detective work with Bill and her interactions with Holland Taylor’s Ida Silver, are among the season’s highlights. Holly’s development and her dynamic with Bill become increasingly central to the narrative as the season progresses.
Pacing and Overall Impression
Unlike the gripping, high-stakes opening of season one, mister mercedes season 2 initially struggles to regain that immediate momentum. The introduction of new regular characters, such as Jack Huston’s Dr. Babineau, feels somewhat underdeveloped. Efforts to integrate returning characters like Lou Linklatter (Breeda Wool) occasionally feel forced. Despite these pacing issues and the departure from grounded realism, Mr. Mercedes season 2 still offers compelling elements, particularly for viewers invested in the characters and willing to embrace the supernatural direction. The strength of the performances and the lingering suspense keep the season engaging, provided audiences are prepared for a different kind of Mr. Mercedes experience.
Conclusion
Mister Mercedes season 2 takes a bold step away from the grounded thriller of its first season, venturing into supernatural territory. While this shift may alienate some viewers who appreciated the realism of season one, the strong performances of Brendan Gleeson, Harry Treadaway, and Justine Lupe, coupled with the inherent intrigue of Stephen King’s narrative, ensure that season two remains a tense and watchable entry in the Mr. Mercedes saga. For fans willing to follow the series down this new, more fantastical path, mister mercedes season 2 offers a compelling, albeit different, chapter in the Bill Hodges and Brady Hartsfield story.
