True crime fanatics tuning into Monster: The Ed Gein Story got a delightful wink from the show. The latest season cleverly linked itself to the much-loved series Mindhunter. This surprising connection gave viewers a fun moment of recognition.
The final episode of Monster premiered on Friday, October 3. In it, viewers saw the show’s take on Ted Bundy, played by John T. O’Brien. FBI agents John Douglas (Sean Carrigan) and Robert Ressler (Caleb Ruminer) were hot on his trail. Their search eventually led them to Jerry Brudos, known as "the shoe fetish killer." Happy Anderson played Brudos. He couldn’t help the agents with their immediate needs. Instead, he pointed them in the direction of Ed Gein, portrayed by Charlie Hunnam.
Showrunner Ian Brennan explained the creative choice to Tudum on Friday. "We wanted to hit that final emotional note," he shared. "Gein, through ‘The Silence of the Lambs,’ truly shaped Mindhunter too." Brennan added, "It felt like a neat way to wrap things up. We got to use that other movie language. Then we could talk about how he played a part in the FBI’s early days of profiling."
This storyline brought about an interview between Gein and three agents. Ann Burgess (Megan Ketch) was among them. These agents crisscrossed the country. They interviewed many notorious serial killers. This was all part of their research. They aimed to understand the minds of these criminals. Netflix subscribers who watched the short-lived Mindhunter series likely found this scene quite familiar.
Mindhunter drew its inspiration from the 1995 book, Mindhunter: Inside the FBI’s Elite Serial Crime Unit. The show explored how the FBI’s Behavioral Science Unit came to be in the late 1970s. This unit was pivotal in starting criminal profiling. It’s cool how Monster not only connected to a real FBI team but also brought back Happy Anderson, 48. He played Brudos in both Mindhunter and Monster. Talk about full circle!
Jonathan Groff, Holt McCallany, and Anna Torv led the cast of Mindhunter. The series gave us two compelling seasons. However, it was eventually put on hold indefinitely. Executive producer David Fincher wanted to focus on other projects. He once hinted that the series might return someday. But in 2023, Fincher confirmed that the show had officially ended its run.
Just a few months ago, McCallany, 62, gave fans a glimmer of hope. He mentioned a possible third season for Mindhunter on Netflix. "I met David Fincher in his office a few months ago," he told CBR in June. "He talked about it possibly coming back as three two-hour movies. But I think it’s just a possibility right now." He added, "I know writers are working. But David really needs to be happy with those scripts."
McCallany continued, sharing his own creative journey. "I recently wrote a script, and he was kind enough to give me notes on it," he said. "I spent two and a half years working on script changes with David. He is incredibly thorough. That’s why I believe he’s the best director in Hollywood." He concluded, "He gave me some hope during that meeting. But for it to happen, everything would have to fall perfectly into place."
Jonathan Groff, for his part, has also always been ready for more. He has shown his full support for a possible continuation in the past. "For me, ‘Mindhunter’ is Fincher," he declared to The Hollywood Reporter in 2021. "The whole experience was such an honor and privilege because I got to work with him. That was the main reason I joined." He added, "As soon as he says he wants to do another one, I’ll be there. But I trust his vision and his gut feelings. So, I always leave it in his hands."
You can catch both Monster and Mindhunter streaming right now on Netflix.