We just finished up the second season of Mr. Mercedes (based on Stephen King’s trilogy of Bill Hodges books). Having loved the first season, I was anxious to see what they did with the second one. As expected, they skip the second book in the trilogy (Finders Keepers) and jumps straight into book three (End of Watch). I didn’t really have a problem with this as the character of Brady Hartsfield is the main villain in books one and three and is in a coma pretty much through all of the second book.
Warning … SPOILERS AHEAD!
What I did not expect was the abrupt 180 the series does in the final two episodes of season two. The second season was following along with the plot of the book. Brady is in a coma but they use experimental drug testing as a way to explain Brady’s newfound mental control abilities. They even have him take over the minds of two people. Alright. I am with you. The later we got into the season, the more I thought they were going to stretch the plot into a third season. In the book, Brady eventually mentally leaves his body and takes over his doctor. He’s hellbent on revenge against Bill Hodges and an elaborate plan to kill Hodges ensues. The series, on the other hand, waits until episode nine (of ten) to have Brady wake from his coma, escape the hospital, and feel remorse because the experimental drugs have altered his brain/personality. He eventually turns himself in to the police, is put on trial and is ultimately killed in the courtroom by Lou (his friend he stabbed at the end of the first season) . That all happens in the final two episodes of the season. WTF?!
I am not at all sure why the writers of the show even had the mind control plot going if they were ultimately throw it all out the window in the span of one episode. Was it because they wanted to make a statement in regards to the Me Too movement or victim trauma? Maybe they were unsure if the series would be renewed for a third season and decided to wrap it all up in the 11th hour? Whatever the reason, it was very unsatisfying and I feel like they ruined a damn fine show.