Necrotongue

I found Stephen King's novel very intriguing, but I wasn't looking forward to the series. I'm usually disappointed by film or TV adaptations of King's books, so Mr. Mercedes was quite a nice shock. The creators managed to pull it off and everything was excellent - the cast, the atmosphere, the tension, as well as the soundtrack. Those minor deviations from the book didn't bother me in the least. I actually think some of them even benefited the story. Just like in the book, what I enjoyed the most were the mind games between Bill and Brady, and I hope the next season will be just as good.

The finale was a bit of a letdown, but only slightly. I expected it to be a bit more impactful. The oddly concluded meeting with Lou left me puzzled, but overall, it stayed true to the book, including the open ending leading to "Finders Keepers."

Once again, I wasn't disappointed. Everything worked as it should, and the creators are steering the story toward its conclusion really well. As the plot intensifies, the creators have cleverly managed to reduce the budget, saving at least one salary per episode since the seventh episode.

The pace slowed down a bit this time, but I didn't mind at all. It gave the creators a chance to delve into the psychology of the characters. Holly is truly perfect — King did a great job with her, and the filmmakers did her justice. Bill's interaction with his daughter was also interesting. Sure, I could nitpick if I wanted to, but I just don't feel like it.

Usually, I have issues with film and TV adaptations of books I've read, but I'm really enjoying this series and overlooking any differences. With three episodes left, I expected the plot to ramp up, and it did not disappoint. It can't get any better than this.

This was an unusual episode with its ups and downs. A large part of the plot focused on Brady's mother, which I didn't mind at all. Kelly Lynch delivered a very strong performance, giving the episode a different but still high-quality atmosphere. We finally got to meet Holly, and despite my initial concerns, the casting of Justine Lupe was spot on — she was fantastic. On the downside, there were too many flashbacks, and I wasn't a fan of Brady's visions during his promotion interview.

The creators refocused on the main storyline, and it paid off. The plot drew me in, allowing me to fully enjoy the ongoing psychological war between the protagonist and the main antagonist. I was entertained from start to finish, and once again, hats off to Brendan Gleeson.

For the first time, I dropped my rating by a star. The story seemed to stagnate a bit, with the creators focusing on less important side plots. On top of that, I almost started to sympathize with Brady, remembering all the self-important jerks I dealt with daily at work...

This show might not be for everyone, but I'm really enjoying it so far. Interestingly, what captivates me more than the hunt for the serial killer is Hodges' interactions with his former colleagues and his surroundings. I know it might be getting repetitive, but once again, I have to praise Brendan Gleeson's performance.

Another great episode. Sure, there's no frenzied action, but I didn't expect any. Instead, the creators focused on the story's flow and let Brendan Gleeson shine. He seems to be really enjoying his role, and it shows.