Netflix has added another gripping detective show to its ever-increasing list of crime dramas – and this one is a must-watch for fans of the genre. Mr Mercedes, which first premiered on the now-defunct US channel Audience in 2017, is based on the Bill Hodges novel trilogy by Stephen King about a retired detective who is haunted by a serial killer.
As a huge fan of detective dramas, I can't wait to sink my teeth into this one. Not only does the show boast an impressive 91 per cent score on Rotten Tomatoes and received rave reviews from viewers, but its cast list is seriously impressive. Before you get the popcorn out, keep reading to find out all you need to know about the show.
Based on the New York Times Best-Selling Bill Hodges trilogy by Stephen King, the series centres around retired detective Bill Hodges, who is tormented by a serial killer through a series of letters and emails, causing him to set out on a dangerous and potentially felonious crusade to protect his loved ones and himself.
The Netflix logline reads: "A retired detective, haunted by a deadly crime he couldn't solve, hunts for the merciless killer who intentionally drove his car into a crowd of people."
The show boasts an impressive cast list, led by Brendan Gleeson (The Banshees of Inisherin) as Bill Hodges, Harry Treadaway (Penny Dreadful) as Brady Hartsfield, Holland Taylor (Two and a Half Men) as Ida Silver and Justine Lupe (Succession) as Holly Gibney.
The series is based on the Bill Hodges trilogy by Stephen King
What have viewers said about Mr Mercedes?
The series has been praised by viewers on social media since its initial release in 2017 and has been hailed as "binge-worthy". Taking to X, one person wrote: "Season 1 of #MrMercedes was absolutely brilliant. All the cast were excellent...especially #brendangleeson and @HarryTreadaway," while another added: "Brilliant performance by #BrendanGleeson in #mrmercedes. Never heard of it before and now I can't stop watching wow."
A third described the series as "one of the best @StephenKing adaptations", while another penned: "Just binge watched #MrMercedes and I could not stop. Loved @StephenKing's #BillHodgesTrilogy. Please bring us a season 4 with the same actors. ALL of them deserve Emmys!"
Despite calls for a fourth season, the show was discontinued in 2020. No announcement was made about whether it would be renewed or had been officially cancelled.
The show was met with positive reviews from critics
What have critics said about Mr Mercedes?
The show was met with positive reviews from critics upon its release, with The Guardian describing it as a "good old-fashioned, race-against-time thriller" while The Irish Independent awarded the show five stars, hailing it as "a big, chunky, immediately addictive gem of a thriller".
All three seasons of Mr Mercedes are available to stream on Netflix now.
Sign up to HELLO TV & Film for the week's top talking points and the lowdown on the latest releases
By entering your details, you are agreeing to HELLO! Magazine User Data Protection Policy. You can unsubscribe at any time. For more information, please click here.
UK fans are still weeks away from the release of Heated Rivalry, but Netflix has the perfect film for viewers who are too impatient for the hockey show to land
Norwegian drama Home for Christmas has returned to streaming, five years after the last series aired, and fans have hailed it as the "perfect festive binge watch"
Netflix fans were obsessed with the first season of Blood Coast, and now that the second season has returned to screens, the six-part drama is climbing the charts
