What Is the Story About?
Adapted from James L. Swanson’s book that goes by the name ‘Manhunt : The 12 Day Chase for Lincoln’s Killer’, Apple TV+ Original series follows Edwin Stanton’s 12 Day search for John Wilkes Booth – the killer of American president Abraham Lincoln’s in the aftermath of his assassination. The show explores the understated conspiracies, who’s, how’s and when’s of this manhunt and the aftermath of America’s most trivial historical moment.
Performances?
The first two episodes of Manhunt focuses largely on Abraham Lincoln’s Killer ‘John Wilkes Booth’ portrayed by the effervescent Anthony Boyle. After a critically raved run in Masters of Air early this year from the same streamer, the actor pulls off Booth, his racist, charismatic, delusional, arrogant and confederate-sympathizer self with ease. As a less popular self-pride injected actor hailing from a popular film family, Booth’s pro-slavery attitude and Tyrant slayer- Brutus alter-ego comes easily to Boyle.
Tobias Menzies‘ Edwin Stanton – Secretary of War understandably has the bigger piece of the pie in the series and he does portray the cool and composed Stanton with perfection. He is thoroughly believable as the one who headlines the investigation to the assassination picking up patches and pieces despite periodic asthma attacks.
Lovie Simone plays Mary Simms, a former slave to the doctor who treats Booth’s leg after his escape from the assassination scene. She becomes a key witness to this case moving forward and the actor is rightly the scene-stealer of the show already loaded with a stacked star-cast.
Analysis
Adaptated from James L. Swanson’s book that goes by the name ‘Manhunt : The 12 Day Chase for Lincoln’s Killer’, Apple TV+ ‘Manhunt’, created by Monica Beletsky and directed by Carl Franklin takes a closer look at the historical event that shook the entirety of the United States of America – President Abraham Lincoln’s Assassination. It’s a procedural thriller that follows the events prior to the assassination, the motivation , the assassination as well as the hunt for John Wilkes Booth – led by Lincoln’s close friend and Secretary of War – Edwin Stanton.
Manhunt doesn’t entirely stick to the narrative techniques used in the book. It moves a lot forward and backwards, taking the audience to the day of assassination, days before assassination as well as days after the act. The non-linear narrative also takes an up-close look at Booth’s stances against slavery abolition and his gang’s plan to kill Vice President Andrew Johnson, Secretary of State William Henry Seward and President Abraham Lincoln.
Seward is attacked but he survives, Lincoln is shot in the head by Booth and he succumbs to death the next day, while Andrew Johnson is not killed. The future of America is in chaos as it’s the first time a President has been assassinated in America’s history. The country is looking at another war and his is when the MVP character of the show : Stanton takes charge as he leads the troop to hunt Booth and his aids down.
Although the pilot episodes have merely just set up the stakes and emphasizes on America’s historical fabric, the 12 day hunt for the conspirators behind President’s assassination, an understated chapter in history books is what the series looks at going forward.
Despite flaunting a star-cast with talented actors, the show is boringly stacked with historical information that non-Americans would hardly care about. Since the show is based on real life incidents and a pivotal piece of American history, there’s not much element of suspense to hook the audience either. The target audience of Manhunt is definitely in the scarce, and to add to it : the show is painfully slow (atleast so far).
However, there are multiple things the show does right (atleast so far). It places parallels between America’s politics back then and now – both driven by racism, capitalism, bigotry and hate. It also brings to fore-front a less spoken chapter of America’s history while also giving a fictionalised treatment to the entire man-hunt journey with time-jumps and cuts. And also, yes the performances!
To be precise, Manhunt is a show catered to history-addicts and Americans. Not that it’s bad, but it’s not interesting enough either. If you belong to the former category, may be wait for all episodes to drop and binge-watch.
Music and Other Departments?
Bryce Dessners’s music and score really elevates the show to its genre pre-requisites even if the fictionalised story in entirety isn’t thrilling enough. Manhunt is also gloriously aided by its technical team. The production design is top notch and camera-work is stunning to say the least.
Highlights?
Thematic Intrigue
Performances
Cinematography
Score
Drawbacks?
Information overload
Doesn’t consistently pique interest
Less thrilling & less drama
Did I Enjoy It?
Yes, but in very few parts.
Will You Recommend It?
Yes, but only if you’re too much into history and such historical events. Otherwise, the show wouldn’t interest you in the slightest.
Manhunt Series Review by Binged Bureau