Mr. Mercedes (TV series)

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Mr. Mercedes
File:MrMercedes.png
Genre <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
Based on Mr. Mercedes, Finders Keepers &
End of Watch
by Stephen King
Developed by David E. Kelley
Starring <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
Opening theme <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
"It's Not Too Late"
by T Bone Burnett
(season 1)

"I Shall Not Be Moved"
by Mississippi John Hurt
(season 2)
"Series of Dreams"
by Bob Dylan
(season 3)
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English
No. of seasons 3
No. of episodes 30 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s) <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
  • Marty Bowen
  • Wyck Godfrey
  • Chris Long
  • Shane Elrod
  • Tom Lesinski
  • Jenna Santoianni
  • Stephen King
  • Jack Bender
  • David E. Kelley
Producer(s) <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
  • Kate Regan
  • Ellen Stafford
  • Brian Walsh
Camera setup Single-camera
Running time 49–57 minutes
Production company(s) <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
Release
Original network Audience
Original release August 9, 2017 (2017-08-09) –
November 12, 2019 (2019-11-12)
External links
[{{#property:P856}} Website]

Mr. Mercedes is an American crime drama television series based on the Bill Hodges novel trilogy by Stephen King, which consists of Mr. Mercedes, Finders Keepers, and End of Watch. The series premiered on Audience on August 9, 2017. It was developed by David E. Kelley and stars Brendan Gleeson and Harry Treadaway. In November 2018, it was announced that Audience had renewed the series for a ten-episode third season, which premiered on September 10, 2019. In May 2020, Audience was discontinued, with no indication of whether the show had been officially canceled or that it would return for a fourth season. Its existing three seasons were later picked up in September 2020 by streaming service Peacock.

Premise

Retired detective Bill Hodges is still haunted by the unsolved case of "Mr. Mercedes", who claimed 16 lives when he drove a stolen Mercedes through a line of job-seekers at a local job fair. Meanwhile, brilliant young psychopath Brady Hartsfield emerges to focus his attention on Hodges. What begins as an online cat-and-mouse game soon has deadly real-life consequences as an increasingly desperate Hartsfield becomes bent on leaving his mark on the world.

Cast and characters

Main

Actors are credited among main cast only in the episodes in which they appear.

Recurring

  • Nancy Travis as Donna Hodges (seasons 1–2), Bill's ex-wife
  • Maddie Hasson as Allie Hodges (seasons 1 and 3), Bill's daughter
  • Neko Parham as Lawrence Robinson (seasons 1–2), Jerome's father
  • Makayla Lysiak as Barbara Robinson (seasons 1–2), Jerome's sister
  • Ann Cusack as Olivia Trelawney (season 1)
  • Katharine Houghton as Elizabeth Wharton (season 1), Olivia and Janey's mother
  • Laila Robins as Charlotte Gibney (season 1), Holly's mother
  • Nicole Barré as Izzy Torres (season 1), a detective
  • David Furr as Josh (season 1)
  • Tammy Arnold as Nurse Wilmer (season 2)
  • Virginia Kull as Sadie MacDonald (season 2), a nurse who cares for Brady who suffers from mild epilepsy
  • Mike Starr as Library Al (season 2), a hospital employee who distributes books to patients and, like Sadie McDonald, suffers from mild epilepsy
  • Adam Stephenson as Jonathan Pettimore (season 2), a hospital administrator
  • Kate Burton as Mrs. MacDonald (season 2), Sadie's mother
  • Brett Gelman as Roland Finklestein (season 3), a smart and passionate defense attorney who represents Lou Linklatter in her murder trial
  • Natalie Paul as Sarah Pace (season 3), an assistant district attorney prosecuting Lou's case who believes in pursuing justice
  • Glynn Turman as Judge Bernard Raines (season 3), a no nonsense district judge presiding over Lou Linklatter's murder trial
  • Bruce Dern as John Rothstein (season 3), a reclusive bestselling author living on the fringes of Bridgton, Ohio
  • Kate Mulgrew as Alma Lane (season 3), a resident at Bridgton and a "compelling force" in Morris' life since he was a child
  • Josh Daugherty as Tom Saubers (season 3), Pete's father
  • Claire Bronson as Marjorie Saubers (season 3), Pete's mother
  • Meg Steedle as Danielle Sweeney (season 3), Morris' girlfriend
  • Patch Darragh as Andrew Halliday (season 3), a former friend to Morris Bellamy, who runs his own scheme with John Rothstein's manuscripts from his bookstore in town

Episodes

Season Episodes Originally aired
First aired Last aired
1 10 August 9, 2017 (2017-08-09) October 11, 2017 (2017-10-11)
2 10 August 22, 2018 (2018-08-22) October 24, 2018 (2018-10-24)
3 10 September 10, 2019 (2019-09-10) November 12, 2019 (2019-11-12)

Season 1 (2017)

No.
overall		 No. in
season		 Title Directed by Written by Original air date
1 1 "Pilot" Jack Bender David E. Kelley August 9, 2017 (2017-08-09)
We are in Ohio, a few years after a bad recession. Bill Hodges, a retired cop, cannot get over his failure to discover the culprit in a massacre perpetrated using a Mercedes car, during a job fair; this worries his neighbour Ida. He starts receiving mysterious messages related to this case.
2 2 "On Your Mark" Jack Bender David E. Kelley August 16, 2017 (2017-08-16)
3 3 "Cloudy, With a Chance of Mayhem" John Coles A. M. Homes August 23, 2017 (2017-08-23)
4 4 "Gods Who Fall" Jack Bender Dennis Lehane August 30, 2017 (2017-08-30)
Lou is insulted by a customer. Brady wants to teach him a lesson.
5 5 "The Suicide Hour" Jack Bender Bryan Goluboff September 6, 2017 (2017-09-06)
Brady wants to poison Jerome's dog but is interrupted. Bill meets Janey's mother at the nursing home but his questions soon upset her.
6 6 "People in the Rain" Jack Bender Dennis Lehane September 13, 2017 (2017-09-13)
Brady has an interview in order to become a manager. Bill meets Janey at the hospital where her mother rests, and there he meets her aunt Charlotte and her cousin Holly
7 7 "Willow Lake" Jack Bender Dennis Lehane September 20, 2017 (2017-09-20)
Jerome and Holly peek into Olivia's computer while Bill and Janey set up her mother's funeral. At Superstore electronics, Lou is let go. After the funeral, Brady makes Bill's car explode while Janey is driving it.
8 8 "From the Ashes" Laura Innes Bryan Goluboff September 27, 2017 (2017-09-27)
Having lost Janey, Bill is desperate. Meanwhile, Brady's mother accidentally eats poisoned meat he prepared for Jerome's dog, and dies. Jerome and Holly find a spooky sound file on Olivia's computer, which Bill takes to his former colleagues to prove Olivia was harassed.
9 9 "Ice Cream, You Scream, We All Scream" Kevin Hooks Bryan Goluboff October 4, 2017 (2017-10-04)
After finding Brady's business card from Olivia's belongings, Bill's former partner interrogates Robi, who gives him Brady's address. Bill recognizes the ice cream man. The SWAT team penetrates into Brady's house. Holly tells Bill how she was harassed as a high school student.
10 10 "Jibber-Jibber Chicken Dinner" Jack Bender Dennis Lehane October 11, 2017 (2017-10-11)
The corpse lying in Brady's house, bigger than his, is Robi's. The police know Brady is still alive and might target one of the two meaningful events that night in town.

Season 2 (2018)

No.
overall		 No. in
season		 Title Directed by Written by Original air date
11 1 "Missed You" Jack Bender Dennis Lehane August 22, 2018 (2018-08-22)
12 2 "Let's Go Roaming" Jack Bender David E. Kelley August 29, 2018 (2018-08-29)
13 3 "You Can Go Home Now" Jack Bender Mike Batistick September 5, 2018 (2018-09-05)
14 4 "Motherboard" Jack Bender Samantha Stratton September 12, 2018 (2018-09-12)
15 5 "Andale" Peter Weller Alexis Deane & Sophie Owens-Bender September 19, 2018 (2018-09-19)
16 6 "Proximity" Laura Innes Bryan Goluboff & Alexis Deane September 26, 2018 (2018-09-26)
17 7 "Fell On Black Days" Jack Bender Samantha Stratton & Mike Batistick & Dennis Lehane[lower-alpha 1] October 3, 2018 (2018-10-03)
18 8 "Nobody Puts Brady in a Crestmore" Jack Bender Samantha Stratton & Mike Batistick & Dennis Lehane[lower-alpha 1] October 10, 2018 (2018-10-10)
19 9 "Walk Like a Man" Jack Bender Dennis Lehane and David E. Kelley October 17, 2018 (2018-10-17)
20 10 "Fade to Blue" Jack Bender David E. Kelley & Jonathan Shapiro October 24, 2018 (2018-10-24)

Season 3 (2019)

No.
overall		 No. in
season		 Title Directed by Written by Original air date [1]
21 1 "No Good Deed" Jack Bender David E. Kelley September 10, 2019 (2019-09-10)
22 2 "Madness" Jack Bender David E. Kelley and Jonathan Shapiro September 17, 2019 (2019-09-17)
23 3 "Love Lost" Jack Bender Jonathan Shapiro and David E. Kelley September 24, 2019 (2019-09-24)
24 4 "Trial and Terror" Jack Bender David E. Kelley and Jonathan Shapiro October 1, 2019 (2019-10-01)
25 5 "Great Balls of Fire" Laura Innes David E. Kelley and Jonathan Shapiro October 8, 2019 (2019-10-08)
26 6 "Bad to Worse" Jack Bender David E. Kelley and Jonathan Shapiro October 15, 2019 (2019-10-15)
27 7 "The End of the Beginning" Jack Bender Jonathan Shapiro and David E. Kelley October 22, 2019 (2019-10-22)
28 8 "Mommy Deadest" Michael J. Leone David E. Kelley and Jonathan Shapiro October 29, 2019 (2019-10-29)
29 9 "Crunch Time" Jack Bender Jonathan Shapiro and David E. Kelley November 5, 2019 (2019-11-05)
30 10 "Burning Man" Jack Bender David E. Kelley and Jonathan Shapiro November 12, 2019 (2019-11-12)

Production

Development

In 2015, Sonar Entertainment optioned the screen rights to Stephen King's novel Mr. Mercedes with the intent of developing into a limited series. David E. Kelley was set to write the series while Jack Bender would direct. Executive producers were expected to include Kelley, Bender, Marty Bowen, Wyck Godfrey, and Gene Stein. Production companies involved with the series were to include Temple Hill Entertainment and Sonar Entertainment.[2]

On May 25, 2016, it was announced that Audience had given the production a series order for a first season consisting of ten episodes. The previously announced creative team was still expected to be involved. In addition to writing and executive producing, David E. Kelley was also announced to be serving as the series' showrunner. Additional executive producers announced included Christopher Long, Bart Peters, Jenna Glazier, and Tom Patricia.[3] On May 11, 2017, it was announced that the series would premiere on August 9, 2017.[4]

On October 10, 2017, the Audience Network renewed the series for a second season consisting of ten episodes. It will be based on the three novels in the Bill Hodges trilogy, Mr. Mercedes, Finders Keepers and End of Watch.[5] On April 15, 2018, it was announced that the second season would premiere on August 22, 2018.[6] On November 19, 2018, it was announced that Audience had renewed the series for a third season consisting of ten episodes,[7] which premiered on September 10, 2019.[8]

In May 2020, Audience was discontinued, with no indication of whether the show had been officially canceled or that it would return for a fourth season.[9]

Casting

Alongside the series order announcement, it was confirmed that Brendan Gleeson and Anton Yelchin had been cast in the series' two lead roles.[3] Following Yelchin's death in June 2016, it was announced that his role had been recast with Harry Treadaway assuming the part.[10] In December 2016, it was announced that Kelly Lynch and Ann-Margret had been cast in the series.[11][12] In January 2017, it was reported that Jharrel Jerome, Justine Lupe, and Breeda Wool, Scott Lawrence, Robert Stanton, and Ann Cusack had joined the main cast, that Mary-Louise Parker was cast a recurring character, and that Ann-Margret's role had been recast with Holland Taylor following an illness in Ann-Margret's family.[13][14][15][16][17][18] On April 25, 2017, it was reported that Stephen King would have a cameo in the series.[19] In January 2018, it was announced that Jack Huston, Maximiliano Hernandez, and Tessa Ferrer had been cast as series regulars in season two.[20][21] In March 2019, Kate Mulgrew, Brett Gelman, and Natalie Paul joined the series for the third season.[22] On April 25, 2019, Meg Steedle had been cast in a recurring role for the third season.[23]

Filming

In February 2017, principal photography for the first season began in Charleston, South Carolina.[24] That month, filming took place in the Wagener Terrace area of the city as well as at the Upper King Street restaurant Little Jack's Tavern.[25][26] Filming concluded for the first season by the end of May 2017.[27] In January 2018, Audience announced production for season two would commence the following month in South Carolina.[28]

During filming on March 2, 2019, special effects technician Mike Wilks survived a near-electrocution on set.[29]

Release

Marketing

On May 8, 2017, Audience released a series of "first look" images from the series.[30] On June 5, 2017, Audience released a "behind-the-scenes" video for the series featuring interviews with the cast and crew.[31] The following day, the first teaser trailer for the series was released.[32] By the end of the month, Audience released a set of promotional photographs featuring the series' main cast.[33]

On July 19, 2018, the series held a panel at San Diego Comic-Con in San Diego, California to promote season two. The panel featured executive producer and director Jack Bender as well as series stars Jack Huston, Max Hernandez, Breeda Wool, Justine Lupe, and Nancy Travis.[34] On July 30, 2018, the official trailer for season two was released.[35]

Distribution

The series airs on RTÉ1 in Ireland,[36] on Canal+ in Poland,[37] and on Starzplay in the United Kingdom.[38] The first three seasons of Mr. Mercedes were picked up in September 2020 by streaming service Peacock.[39]

Reception

Season Critical response
Rotten Tomatoes Metacritic
1 83% (29 reviews) 71 (17 reviews)
2 100% (11 reviews) 76 (4 reviews)

Critical response

The first season of Mr. Mercedes has been met with a positive response from critics. On the review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes, the first season holds an 83% approval rating with an average rating of 6.42 out of 10 based on 29 reviews. The website's critical consensus reads, "Mr. Mercedes propels its tense, creepy narrative with quick-witted dialogue, strong characters, and terrifying surprises."[40] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the season a score of 71 out of 100 based on 17 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[41]

The second season also received a positive response from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, the second season holds a 100% approval rating with an average rating of 7 out of 10 based on 11 reviews, with the critical consensus reading, "Mr. Mercedes gains a new, supernatural dimension in a rollicking second season that pits the talents of Brendan Gleeson and Harry Treadaway against each other, generating enough sparks to dazzle mystery aficionados and horror buffs alike."[42] Metacritic assigned the season a score of 76 out of 100 based on 4 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[43]

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Nominee(s) Result Ref.
2018 Irish Film and Television Awards Best Actor in a Lead Role – Drama Brendan Gleeson Nominated [44][45]
Saturn Awards Best Action-Thriller Television Series Mr. Mercedes Nominated [46][47]
2019 Satellite Awards Best Actor – Television Series Drama Brendan Gleeson Won [48][49]
Best Television Series – Drama Mr. Mercedes Nominated
Saturn Awards Best Action-Thriller Television Series Mr. Mercedes Nominated [50]
2020 Satellite Awards Best Actor in a Drama / Genre Series Brendan Gleeson Nominated [51]
Best Drama Series Mr. Mercedes Nominated

Related series

The character of Holly Gibney that was first introduced in the Bill Hodges trilogy was one of the main characters in King's 2018 novel The Outsider. That novel was adapted for the 2020 miniseries by HBO, with the Gibney character portrayed by Cynthia Erivo.

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Some releases credit Dennis Lehane as the sole writer of this episode.

References

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  51. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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  • Mr. Mercedes at IMDbLua error in Module:EditAtWikidata at line 29: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
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