Manhunt 2024 Tv Series Review Trailer

 In one of their last exchanges before his passing, Abraham Lincoln (played by Hamish Linklater) refuses to accept the resignation of his Secretary of War, Edwin Stanton (played by Tobias Menzies). Despite the end of the Civil War, Stanton maintains, Lincoln remains determined. “His heart has always been more interested in reconstruction than in victory,” the president observes.

Apple TV+'s "Manhunt" apparently revolves around the dramatic manhunt for Lincoln's assassin immediately after his death. However, like Stanton's sentiments, the true essence of the series lies in the Reconstruction era. 

Creators: Monica Beletsky

Stars: Tobias Menzies, Anthony Boyle, Lovie Simone

Long after Stanton's intense pursuit of John Wilkes Booth (played by "Masters of the Air's" Anthony Boyle) concludes, the show delves into a vivid portrait of a nation at a pivotal moment, exploring the bitter compromises and triumphs. hard-earned that they reverberate. through history.

To reach this narrative juncture, “Manhunt” initially delivers on its promise of being a gripping conspiracy thriller. The premiere immerses viewers in the fight from the day of Lincoln's death, tracking Stanton's 12-day manhunt in seven-hour episodes. While Booth's identity as the killer remains undisputed, the series maintains the tension of a gripping investigation, similar to recent murder mysteries. Stanton and his team meticulously analyze evidence, follow clues, and devise strategies to trap or thwart Booth's movements. Among his cunning ploys is banning the sale of horse feed in Maryland, where Booth is suspected of fleeing after leaving Washington, D.C.

Meanwhile, as Booth flees south toward the former Confederate stronghold of Richmond, the audience sees him not as a cunning mastermind or a sadistic villain, but rather as a pitiful figure driven by vanity and oblivious to reason. When it is suggested that he seek refuge in Mexico, Booth petulantly rejects the idea and laments: “I am not a symbol in Mexico; I am a symbol in Richmond!

However, his actions plunge the nation, still basking in the aftermath of the war's end, into a new haze of paranoia. Reporters wonder if Booth's act has sparked a new Civil War, forcing civilians to prepare for surprise attacks. Stanton dismisses such concerns as “an anomaly,” but acknowledges how much is at stake. Ignoring the warnings of his doctor and the pleas of his wife, Stanton works tirelessly, uncovering the threads of a broader conspiracy that stretches from Richmond to Montreal, implicating the highest levels of Confederate leadership.

Throughout, creator Monica Beletsky, adapting James L. Swanson's book, intercuts flashbacks to days or years gone by, offering additional insights without detracting from the momentum of the central plot. These detours provide vital context and flesh out characters who play pivotal roles in Stanton's quest for justice.

However, the heart of the series lies in the passionate dialogues between Stanton and Lincoln, which shed light on their visions of reunification. Although “Manhunt” positions Stanton as the moral compass, Menzies instills him with a quiet confidence rather than overt heroism. Yet Lincoln's performance, marred by heavy prosthetics and folksy expressions, fails to effectively humanize him.

“Manhunt” doesn’t veer into alternate history territory like “The Man in the High Castle” or “For All Mankind.” However, through Stanton's ambitious plans and unwavering determination, viewers glimpse an alternate timeline in which Confederate traitors faced harsher consequences and black citizens enjoyed a more decisive welcome. 

The series poignantly illustrates the dashed hopes of freed slaves under Lincoln's less sympathetic successor, Andrew Johnson (played by Glenn Morshower). By contrast, the Confederate characters' elation at the prospect of reviving their way of life through Booth's actions offers a chilling vision of an alternate reality where the darkest outcomes come to fruition.

Watch Manhunt 2024 Tv Series Trailer