One of Stephen King’s most criminally overlooked series is finally going global thanks to Netflix, meaning overseas viewers who’ve yet to see it now have the chance to discover what all the fuss is about. Released in 2017 on the Audience Network before eventually making its way to Peacock in the United States, all three seasons of Mr. Mercedes are currently available in new territory’s courtesy of Netflix, including Canada.
Per What’s on Netflix, Mr. Mercedes is also available in mainland Europe, including the Netherlands, Italy, Germany, France, and the Nordics, as well as Israel. The series stars Brendan Gleeson as Bill Hodges, and adapts the entire trilogy of novels written by King, including Mr. Mercedes, Finders Keepers, and End of Watch. Constant Readers will recognize that it does switch things up a little, however, as Season 2 is based on the final book, while Season 3 adapts the second.
Also starring Harry Treadaway as Brady Hartsfield, Holland Taylor as Ida Silver, Jharrel Jerome as Jerome Robinson, Mr. Mercedes marks the first on-screen appearance of someone who has become one of King’s most popular characters in recent years: Holly Gibney. Portrayed by Justine Lupe, the OCD private detective was also played by Cynthia Erivo in the HBO miniseries The Outsider. Holding an overall rating of 91% on Rotten Tomatoes, Mr. Mercedes was a big hit with critics, who appreciated not only Gleeson’s tremendous performance, but for its willingness to remain true to the source material. The official synopsis reads:
“Mr. Mercedes follows retired detective Bill Hodges (Gleeson), who’s dragged out of a stagnant life when the elusive killer behind a brutal mass murder begins sending him taunting messages. Determined to finish the case he couldn’t solve, Hodges enters a tense psychological duel with Brady Hartsfield (Treadaway), a disturbed young man whose plans grow more dangerous as the investigation closes in.”
‘Mr. Mercedes’ Is One of Stephen King’s Favorite Adaptations
Though Mr. Mercedes made obvious changes from the novels, including adding a few subplots, characters, and giving Holly a larger role to play, King himself has gone on record calling the series one of his favorite adaptations. “It isn’t a one-to-one translation, it’s pretty close, but everything that they did really added to it,” he told Variety in 2017, adding:
“I think it’s good when they stick as close to the story as they can, because that’s what they bought. You don’t want to think they just bought the launching pad, but they bought the rocket, too.”
Fans were a little more critical of Mr. Mercedes, giving it an overall rating of 75% on Rotten Tomatoes, but don’t let that deter you from checking it out. It’s one of those shows that will suck you in right from the opening scene, and take you on one heck of a wild ride over the course of its 30 episodes. If you’re overseas and have yet to see it, be sure to add it to your Netflix queue to enjoy ASAP. For those in the United States, all three seasons are available to stream on Peacock.