Critic Reviews

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Mr. Mercedes has yet to fire on all cylinders in the early stages of Season Two. But a nice slow simmer is well-suited to Gleeson’s talents as an actor who doesn’t mind taking his time in further molding a character with a gruff exterior and an old, buttered soul. It’s a beauty of a savory performance, with the bigger chills still coming. All in due time.

Four episodes in, the season’s still in cruise control, taking its time to build mood and character in ways a lesser show might deem unneccessary but that continue to make Mr. Mercedes one of the most sturdily constructed thrillers on television. ... Still one of television’s darker, most compelling rides.

Mr. Mercedes is a fine example of something that has been less frequent over the years--an effective Stephen King adaptation carried by strong performances and smart writing choices.

David E. Kelley has delivered another powerful adaptation on the heels of his Emmy-nominated Big Little Lies for HBO. In the first four episodes made available for preview, he does justice to Bill Hodges, on e of King's most colorfully compelling heroes in ages. [7-20 Aug 2017, p.16]

Mr. Mercedes is premium-unleaded nightmare fuel right out of the gate, without even a touch of the strange or supernatural.

The 10-episode Mr. Mercedes isn’t a horror story. King’s tales are generally known for capturing middle-class angst, and the series has creepily translated that to the screen.

Fans of Mr. King's Bill Hodges Trilogy might wonder how a mostly internal cat-and-mouse game between Brady and Bill, a retired police detective with too much time (and drink) on his hands, is played out over 10 episodes. Very well, as it happens, and to chilling effect.

Kelley has made Janey Patterson, as played by Mary-Louise Parker, into a romantic interest for Hodges. This fix is not only needless--that’s one reason Taylor’s Ida exists, as she did in King’s novel: to provide Hodges with some intimate comfort--but it seems both less believable. ... Putting that aside, Mr. Mercedes is awfully good.

Mr. Mercedes‘ pacing likely won’t do the series any favors with the weekly crowd, but stick with it and you’ll find a fascinating spin on genre conventions packed to the brim with smart character drama and uniformly excellent performances.