Ep 2. Episode 2

In MINDHUNTER season 1 episode 2, we continue to follow FBI agents Holden Ford and Bill Tench as they travel around the country, interviewing incarcerated serial killers to gain insight into their motives and methods. The episode begins with Holden and Bill arriving at a prison in Vacaville, California to interview Edmund Kemper, also known as the Co-ed Killer.

Kemper, a towering man with an eerie calmness, immediately begins to manipulate Holden by ingratiating himself and trying to make Holden feel important. Holden, who is eager to prove himself as a profiler, responds to Kemper's charm offensive, and through their conversation we learn more about Kemper's troubled childhood and the factors that may have contributed to his violent tendencies.

As the interview progresses, Kemper becomes more and more frank about his crimes, describing in grisly detail the ways in which he decapitated his victims and engaged in necrophilia. Holden, on the other hand, becomes increasingly unsettled by the graphic nature of Kemper's confessions, and begins to doubt his own ability to handle such dark subject matter.

The tension between Holden and Kemper reaches a climax when Kemper asks to speak alone with Holden, and proceeds to toy with him by revealing details of his personal life. The scene is chilling, as we see Holden's confidence crumble in the face of Kemper's psychological expertise.

Meanwhile, back in Quantico, Virginia, Bill is dealing with his own set of challenges. He meets with the head of the Behavioral Science Unit, who is skeptical of Holden's methods and warns Bill that Holden's unconventional techniques could damage the reputation of the FBI. Bill is torn between his loyalty to Holden and his desire to advance his career within the Bureau.

The episode ends with Holden and Bill returning to Quantico, where they prepare to present their findings to the rest of the unit. Holden is shaken by his encounter with Kemper, and begins to question the toll that his work is taking on his own mental health.

Overall, episode 2 is a tense and thought-provoking continuation of the series' exploration of the psychology of serial killers. It offers a compelling portrayal of the dynamic between Holden and Kemper, and raises important questions about the ethics of using convicted murderers as sources of information.