Netflix viewers across the UK are currently hooked on a 'demented' and 'terrifying' crime thriller, breathing new life into a series led by Irish acting legend Brendan Gleeson. Mr. Mercedes, the adaptation of Stephen King's Bill Hodges trilogy, has rocketed into the platform's top ten most-watched shows since all three seasons were added for British audiences.
From Page to Screen: A Stephen King Masterpiece
Originally released in 2017, the series was developed by David E. Kelly, the acclaimed writer behind Big Little Lies. It adapts King's trilogy of novels – Mr. Mercedes, Finders Keepers, and End of Watch. The story centres on retired detective Bill Hodges, played by Brendan Gleeson, who is tormented by an unsolved case. The killer, known as 'Mr. Mercedes', murdered 16 people by ploughing a stolen car into a crowd of jobseekers.
The plot thickens when the psychopathic perpetrator, Brady Hartsfield (Harry Treadaway), initiates contact with the retired detective. What follows is a chilling cat-and-mouse game that escalates with deadly real-world consequences, gripping viewers from the very first episode.
Critical Acclaim and Audience Adoration
The first ten-episode season was met with widespread praise from both critics and audiences. Reviewers highlighted its faithful yet inventive approach to King's source material.
The Playlist noted the show contained enough of the author's hallmarks, including graphic violence and a terrifying villain, to satisfy long-time fans. The Boston Globe described it as 'premium-unleaded nightmare fuel', while CinemaBlend went so far as to call it 'the best TV adaptation of a Stephen King novel yet'.
Viewers echoed this sentiment, flooding social media and review platforms with descriptions of the show as 'thrilling', 'suspenseful', and 'compelling'. The success led to a second season in 2018 and a third in 2019, all of which originally aired on the since-discontinued US channel, Audience Network.
A New Home on Netflix UK
After the series was discontinued in 2020 without a formal announcement regarding its future, it has found a vibrant second life. All three seasons of Mr. Mercedes are now available to stream on Netflix in the UK, where it has quickly climbed the charts to become the sixth most-watched series locally.
Stephen King himself was heavily involved and approving of the adaptation. He revealed to Variety that he had specifically envisioned Brendan Gleeson for the role of Bill Hodges. 'He looks exactly the way I had imagined Hodges would look,' King said. The author insisted Gleeson keep his Irish accent, for which they added a backstory about his character emigrating to the US as a teenager.
For his part, Gleeson was drawn to the depth of the character. He told GQ that Hodges was not just a curmudgeon but 'very soulful', a man on the brink of suicide due to the emptiness in his life after sacrificing everything for his work. Gleeson's powerful performance adds a profound layer to the gripping narrative.
With its compelling story, stellar cast led by an award-winning Irish acting legend, and its new lease on life via Netflix, Mr. Mercedes is proving to be an unmissable binge for British thriller enthusiasts.
