A Preview of ‘Manhunt’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Episode 1. Lili Taylor and Hamish Linklater in "Manhunt," premiering March 15, 2024 on Apple TV+.

These days, the word manhunt is part of our everyday lives. For it seems as though there is constantly someone breaking the law and doing their best to escape accountability for it, so they go on the run, and we simply follow along via the news when they have been caught. Because it really is no longer a big deal, and even when it is… we causally keep an eye on things, mainly to see how long they’ve been out there and what took law enforcement so long to find them and put them in handcuffs. Not to mention, the manhunt is such a normal thing now, it doesn’t even thrill us like it used to when we see it take place on television or in film. 
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But while the manhunt may not be what it used to be in our minds, which brings forth all kinds of concerns really since it means we are somewhat numb to crime, there are still ways it can be impactful and moving and concerning, at least in storytelling for certain. For in a few days, Apple TV+ will be home to a series entitled, Manhunt, and this show does the seemingly impossible by pulling us into a world where we want to see the bad guy brought to justice. All by exploring the pursuit of a man that committed one shocking crime. One that we more or less could consider to be one of the most heinous crimes to ever be committed, the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. 

For in many ways, John Wilkes Booth’s shooting of one of America’s most beloved presidents was about as shocking as it gets, and well… let’s be honest… we really only know of the moment, and the horror it imparted upon a young nation that just recovered from a Civil War. And what we don’t know, is what followed, specifically the twelve-day manhunt for Booth that so many took part in, to bring this purveyor of violence to justice and that is indeed where this series thrives. In the actions that led to the capture of Booth and that brings forth a manhunt, we care about and are genuinely invested in. Because this series does an amazing job of selling the stakes of the moment and of Lincoln’s death and we get to know the parties involved and care about those who saw a great president suffer over ideology.

Which is something that also adds depth and gravity and meaning for the audience as well. Since this is set in the days following the end of the Civil War, where tensions were still high and where two ideologies were playing out. The kind that some were still adamant to see enacted and were willing to fight for it regardless of the silence on the bloodied battlefields of America. Giving rise to parallels really, the kind that truly echo how some things have not changed in the 159 years following this bloody and brutal conflict. But it is important to see those parallels and understand what drove such actions to properly understand how hard it was to bring this fragile nation to bear, and how much work we still have ahead of us to preserve it, and those two elements really do bring forth, a manhunt we care about.

For we are indeed vested in the death of a good man, and we want to see a bad man pay the piper for his actions and the fact that it is set in April of 1865, adds a special air to the hunt in question. Since there are no forensics or alerts on a cell phone here. Just instincts and good old fashioned investigative work and that too adds a real twist to the story that is enthralling, and all of this is further enhanced by a stellar cast that brings the past to life in a compelling and powerful manner and the best news of all, is we are so close to enjoying this tale. For Manhunt premieres on Apple TV+ this Friday, March 15, 2024 with a two-episode premiere, and we here at NTG cannot wait for you to take part in this thrilling series about one atrocious and historic crime.

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