Matt Cherniss came aboard Apple TV as head of domestic programming over five years ago, leaping from a successful run at WGN America and Tribune Studios. Except for a few clinkers, the man has been harnessing creative magic ever since. There’s good news ahead, too. Cherniss is bringing back Apple TV+ hits like Loot, Acapulco, and the Eugene Levy-led outing, The Reluctant Traveler. Upcoming series also look promising: there’s Sugar, a noir drama starring Colin Farrell; a David E. Kelley/J.J. Abrams hot ticket called Presumed Innocent with Jake Gyllenhaal in the lead; and Franklin, starring Michael Douglas as the outspoken famed figure.
Franklin is another historical drama for the streamer, enjoying a nice run with its recent WWII aerial drama, Masters of the Air. Then there’s Manhunt, yet another historical drama, and surely one that will garner attention for its powerful performances, especially from its two leads, Tobias Menzies (You Hurt My Feelings) and Anthony Boyle (Masters of Air, Tetris), who turn in career-defining performances playing Secretary of War Edwin Stanton and John Wilkes Booth, respectively.
Booth, of course, shot President Abraham Lincoln in Ford’s Theater in April 1865, and what’s remarkably compelling about creator/showrunner Monica Beletsky’s (Fargo, Friday Night Lights) take here is that the entire series becomes a beat-the-clock caper. Stanton calls for a massive manhunt to find Booth, giving the series a definitive endgame, and nearly everything leading up to it is as gripping as it is thought-provoking.
At one point, the Lincoln detractor comments: “You know how many like me are out there? I could fire this gun on Wall Street in broad daylight, and nothing would happen to me.” We’ve heard something of that ilk before. In real life. And not that long ago, in fact. The scene captures the gritty uncertainty of a country in flux and is just one of many nuances that make Manhunt captivating from beginning to end. But take note: You will have to grow accustomed to the series’ time jumps, which occasionally feel inconsistent. Beyond that, the story itself is something to savor.
A Very Stream-Worthy Conspiracy Thriller
Manhunt
4.5/5
- Release Date
- March 15, 2024
- Cast
- Tobias Menzies , Anthony Boyle , Lovie Simone , Will Harrison , Brandon Flynn
- Seasons
- 1
- Studio
- 3 Arts Entertainment, Apple Studios, Lions Gate Films
- Creator
- Monica Beletsky
- Streaming Service(s)
- Apple TV+
- Hamish Linklater delivers a performance that’s among the best Abraham Lincoln portrayals.
- The production value is notably top-notch throughout the series.
- Manhunt keeps the thrills coming, leaving audiences engaged for the seven-episode run.
- The frequent time jumps detract from the story being told.
Based on The New York Times bestselling and Edgar Award-winning nonfiction book, Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln’s Killer by author James L. Swanson, Manhunt quickly morphs into a fascinating conspiracy thriller as it chronicles what happened to John Wilkes Booth following Lincoln’s assassination, and the men that stepped forward to hunt him down. Beletsky hopes to shine a light on one of the least understood crimes in history, what’s at stake for characters on both sides, and the ominous road ahead for America after the Civil War. Ultimately, the showrunner succeeds, bringing along an all-star cast in the process: Lovie Simone (as Mary Simms), Matt Walsh (as Dr. Samuel Mudd), Damian O’Hare (as Thomas Eckert), Patton Oswalt (as Det. Lafayette Baker), and Lili Taylor in a great turn as Mary Todd Lincoln.
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The showrunner doesn’t waste time diving into the inevitable. Lincoln, played by Hamish Linklater (Midnight Mass, Legion, The New Adventures of Old Christine), meets his fate in the first episode. The Civil War ended, but there was much division in the country, a problem Lincoln and Secretary of War Edwin Stanton didn’t take lightly. The series aptly captures the issues of the day, and with unleashed men like Booth out there, America’s troubles were far from over.
Boyle shines as Booth, bringing a passionate level of believability to the role. Booth comes from an acting family. He’s well-known, however other family members are more revered, no doubt creating an eager monster within craving attention. The scenes in Ford’s Theatre play out with measured effectiveness—both jarring and frightening—capturing the frenzy of the moment and the mania of Booth, a man who would become one of the most famous criminals in history. With the help of allies, Booth is soon on the run, and Stanton steps in, issuing a robust search, which keeps this series moving along nicely—two men, determined to get what they want—Booth notoriety and freedom, Stanton justice.
The Lowdown on the Cast
Look for Tobias Menzies to join Anthony Boyle on 2024’s Emmy nomination list. He captures a man on edge, somebody mourning the death of a close friend, but also the one soul willing to go the distance. President Andrew Johnson (Glenn Morshower) wasn’t fond of Lincoln’s vision, so Stanton often worked vigilantly against a system offering little support. Stanton also has asthma. Between health issues and political upheaval, the man is racing against time.
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One of the series’ best standouts is Lovie Simone’s (The Craft: Legacy) Mary Simms, a freed slave coming into her own but whose eyewitness account of events directly following the assassination presents an opportunity for her to be more courageous than ever. Hamish Linklater shows us Lincoln, the man, the father, the husband, capturing the human being.
We’ve seen our fair share of Lincoln portrayals, most notably Daniel Day-Lewis in Lincoln in 2012. Linklater’s take is among the best. Yet Lily Taylor’s portrayal of Mary Todd Lincoln warrants attention for its wonderful range of emotion and intensity. Patton Oswalt seems miscast here as Det. Lafayette Baker, perhaps coming off a bit too modern for this period drama. Meanwhile, Matt Walsh brings to Dr. Samuel Mudd a memorable eerie disgust.
Put Manhunt in Your Queue
Writer Monica Beletsky’s use of time jumps in Manhunt takes some getting used to, as they force the viewer to pivot, perhaps too often. It’s one thing to flashback to bring in context, but here, the time jumps, well, jump, all over the place: five days before the assassination, several hours before the assassination, several years ago, and two days before the assassination. Fortunately, today’s audiences quickly catch on, so this shouldn’t mar the overall viewing experience.
It’s vital to note the production value of Manhunt, too. Beletsky’s appreciation of color is significant throughout the series, using color in unlikely places. While other historical dramas appear to exist in a toned-down, sepia world, Manhunt feels more realistic. To that end, most of the series was filmed across Savannah, Georgia. In fact, a Savannah parking lot was turned into a backlot that held roughly 30 facades to replicate the area around Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C. Costume Designer Katie Irish does wonders with hats, suits, and everything in between, further making this tale all the more believable.
But it’s the acting and fierce intensity of Beletsky’s thrilling manhunt that truly elevate the series, bringing forth yet another win for Apple TV. Manhunt is powerful and oftentimes deeply moving, sure, but it’s Menzies and Boyle who fuel this beast, turning in mesmerizing performances, with Boyle, in particular, genuinely emerging as one of the finest actors of his generation. Manhunt streams on Apple TV+ beginning Mar. 15.
