Mindhunter Season 3: Netflix Release Date & What to Expect

Entertainment Netflix

Mindhunter season 2 is now available to stream on Netflix

Twenty-two months on and the second season of Mindhunter has arrived. After solidly binging the series over the course of the weekend, many subscribers have been left with the burning question “will Mindhunter return for season 3?” We certainly think so. But what can we expect from the third season? and when is the potential release date for season 3 of Mindhunter? Let’s find out.

Mindhunter is a Netflix Original crime-drama series based on the book Mindhunter: Inside the FBI’s Elite Serial Crime Unit by John Douglas and Mark Olshaker. First debuting in October 2017, the series was a smash hit amongst subscribers and critics alike. Most notably the series had Charlize Theron and David Fincher on board as executive producers, both know a thing or two about serial killers.

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Mindhunter Season 3 Netflix Renewal Status

Official Netflix Renewal Status: Pending (Last Updated: 20/08/2019)

After another excellent season, we’re fully expecting Mindhunter to be renewed.

Renewal entirely depends on the number of subscribers that tuned in to watch the second season. Going by the reaction online, this shouldn’t be an issue. Despite the popularity of the series, it could take up to a month before we hear news on the renewal of Mindhunter.


What can we expect from the third season of Mindhunter?

Notably, the story of Mindhunter is steering towards the BTK killer, Dennis Rader. It will be interesting to see where that story goes due to the fact he wasn’t caught until the mid-2000s, and by the end of the second season, it’s only 1981. The eventual conclusion to the series should end with the capture of the BTK killer.

Our three main characters still have character development to explore:

Holden Ford

Holden came back with some serious vigor after his panic attack at the end of the first season. Despite Holden’s instincts, he still allows his ego to get in the ways of being professional and working with others. Despite his tunnel vision, he exhibited far more emotion when it came to investigating the Atlanta Murders, as shown by his willingness to help the grieving mothers.

At the very end of the season, Holden was unable to keep the promise he made to the mothers of the murdered children. With the main suspect apprehended, the FBI has shut down their investigation into the murders and instead each case will be dealt with on an individual basis by their respective police departments. Holden was told the news directly by Gunn and later witnessed the announcement made on TV, by his body language alone you can tell this has left him dejected.

Despite the capture of Wayne Williams, Holden definitely took the closure of the FBI’s investigation as a huge loss. He’ll throw himself into his work, which could make him even more emotional and vulnerable to the serial killers interviewed.

Holden Ford as portrayed by Jonathan Groff – Copyright. Denver and Delilah Productions 

Bill Tench

Tench had a very emotionally draining season, to say the least. With his adoptive son’s, Brian, involvement with the death of a toddler, it leads to all sort of problems for Tench and his wife Nancy.

Brian was exhibiting many of the red flags associated with the killers that Tench would interview. There were hints throughout the season that Nancy would leave Tench and by the season’s end she did. Taking all but Tench’s possessions, Nancy left with Brian in tow. With a displaced father and an increasingly distant mother, the likelihood of Brian’s integration into society is getting slimmer by the day.

Unless Tench can repair the relationship between him and Nancy, it’s likely he’ll have to get a divorce. If Nancy and Tench were to get back together it would have to result in Tench taking a desk job to be closer to home, or he has to quit the FBI. We don’t expect Tench to put up with Holden’s shenanigans, either that he’ll also throw himself into his work to distract him from the breaking up of his family.

Bill Tench as portrayed by Holt McCallany – Copyright. Denver and Delilah Productions

Wendy Carr

Rather than being trapped in the basement, Carr has made it abundantly clear she wants to be out in the field conducting interviews. What’s standing in her way is the FBI’s misogyny and the attitude towards her position as a professor and not a government agent.

Carr also found a love interest in bartender Kay Mason. What looked like a budding romance, ending abruptly when Carr felt manipulated after overhearing Kay talk with her ex-husband. Accusing Kay of having an “inauthentic relationship” and manipulating her ex, Carr looked down on the life that Kay was leading. But ultimately Kay was right and Carr’s anger is due to her being unable to her own issues of the past and her acceptance of her own sexuality.

The natural progression of Wendy’s character is to eventually come out as homosexual publicly or of least to her colleagues. Homophobic remarks have been made by her team throughout the second season which has deterred from doing so thus far. Despite being fantastic at her job, predjudices may get in the way of her being able to work with the team. Between homophobia and the FBI’s misogyny, Carr may struggle to get out of the office and back into doing interviews. Hopefully, if Carr has the courage to face her fears head-on it could lead to reconciliation with Kay.

Wendy Carr (center) as portrayed by Anna Torv – Copyright. Denver and Delilah Productions

Which killers could we see?

Characters aside there are plenty of avenues that Mindhunter can explore. The 80s were filled with some of the most infamous serial killers in America’s history, such as:

  • Jeffrey Dahmer (Active – 1978 to 1991)
  • William Suff (Active – 1974 to 1992)
  • Lorenzo Gilyard (Active – 1977 to 1993)
  • Aileen Wuornos (Active – 1989 to1990)
  • Robert Ben Rhoades (Active – 1975 to 1990)

As you can see from the years active above, some of these killers weren’t caught until the late 90s. We’re expecting a time skip for the next season so we have every reason to believe the series may pick up again towards the late 80s or early 90s. This could result in passing over the growth of the Behavioural Science Unit.


Mindhunter Season 3 Netflix Release Date

Assuming Mindhunter is renewed for a third season, we could still be waiting for a long time for season 3.

Almost 22 months separates the first and second seasons, and if that were to apply to the third season we’d be waiting until June 2021 until the next season.

While it’s unlikely Netflix would make us wait that long, we thought the same of season 2 so it isn’t out of the question.

Potential Release Date: Q2 2021


Would you like to see another season of Mindhunter? Let us know in the comments below.

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