Watch Manhunt: Unabomber

Manhunt: Unabomber, a Discovery Channel original series, is a gripping true-crime drama that vividly illustrates the intense psychological battle between the FBI and one of the most notorious serial killers in American history. The show revolves around the Unabomber case, where a seemingly random series of mail bombs terrorized the United States for nearly two decades.

The series, which premiered in 2017 and aired for two seasons, stars Gethin Anthony as Ted Kaczynski, the infamous Unabomber, Arliss Howard as experienced FBI agent and criminal profiler, Jim Fitzgerald, and Kelly Jenrette as Special Agent Tabby Milgrim.

The show deals with Jim Fitzgerald's obsession with capturing the Unabomber, who had already killed three people and injured 23 with his homemade bombs. Fitzgerald is convinced that the seemingly random bombings have a pattern that could be deciphered, and he tirelessly works to prove his theory despite opposition from his superiors.

Throughout the series, we see Fitzgerald grappling with the Unabomber's twisted ideology and methods before finally getting a break: he discovers a 35,000-word manifesto written by the killer in which he lays out his intricate, anti-technology philosophy.

The manifesto's language is bizarre and highly coded, and Fitzgerald soon realizes that the Unabomber has been able to outsmart investigators and stay one step ahead through careful use of language. He decides to use a new method called forensic linguistics, which involves analyzing the Unabomber's writing style and word choice to identify him.

The series is a tight thriller, moving between moments of high tension and quiet exposition to deliver a complex story. It explores the psyches of both the killer and the investigator, and the competing ideologies underlying their work. Fitzgerald is an interesting character, questioning his own methods and motivations as he races to stop the next bombing. His colleagues are brought together as they try to solve the puzzle, and some form unexpected relationships based on the shared struggle.

The show's performances are exceptional, with Gethin Anthony impressively embodying the twisted philosophy of the Unabomber. He portrays Kaczynski as unlikeable and cold, but with a barely suppressed rage that makes him dangerous. Conversely, Arliss Howard's Jim Fitzgerald is warm and earnest, presenting a stark contrast to the aloof killer.

The series is visually stunning, often depicting the Unabomber's remote cabin in Montana as a stark and desolate place. This isolation is mirrored in the character's philosophy, with the show showing scenes of the natural world and students in the woods with the same austere sensibility.

Overall, Manhunt: Unabomber is an impressive achievement for the Discovery Channel, offering both an intriguing true-crime story and a powerful commentary on modern politics and culture. It's a great watch for those interested in crime-dramas and true-crime stories.

Manhunt: Unabomber is a series that ran for 2 seasons (18 episodes) between August 1, 2017 and on Discovery Channel