Mindhunter has an unsettling but engrossing thriller that is, for sure, dark enough to keep the Stranger Things crowd hooked. This Netflix series dares to touch the deepest fears and crannies of the human psyche, discovering all the monsters that are not from other realms but the ones inside. Its psychological depth recalls the strangest suspense of Hawkins, effortlessly blending all episodes in a gripping movie-like experience.

Though there are several plus points of the show, here are three main reasons why Mindhunter is best paired with Stranger Things. 

Based on Mindhunter: Inside the FBI's Elite Serial Crime Unit, a true crime book by FBI agent John E. Douglas and Mark Olshaker, the show explores the psychology of serial killers, examining what motivates their crimes. In this show, the FBI agents, alongside a Psychology professor, attempt to learn how evil springs up by interviewing imprisoned serial killers and not by sensationalizing a run-and-chase. Mindhunter's essence is derived from the source authors' real-life experiences of criminal profiling at the FBI and features characters based on real agents and interviews with real, notorious killers. 

Agents Holden Ford and Bill Tench, who are only partly based on real agents, interview the likes of Edmund Kemper and other convicted killers, obtaining horrifyingly detailed accounts of their psychological state in bone-chilling conversations. Its slow-burning terror is subtle, from surreal character studies to long static shots, and unsettling dialogues that render it a compelling psychological nail-biter. Its psychological horror eerily mirrors the mental dread in Stranger Things, where Eleven and One's respective traumas from being exploited by Dr. Brenner and Will being terrorized by Vecna leave them shattered.

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This show distinguishes itself in an already crowded genre by exposing the minds of the criminals through narrative and production efficacy.

Netflix's Mindhunter is not merely a product of excellent writing but is a product of extreme precision in every aspect of production. Backed by David Fincher, Joe Penhall, and Charlize Theron, the show’s tone outperforms its peers with a cold, dark, and disturbing yet immersive atmosphere. Its tension almost recalls the Netflix sci-fi epic's ability to render small-town skies ominous, and forests a portal to dread.

Mindhunter's first season comprises 10 separate episodes, but its realistic storytelling, even pacing, and haunting soundtrack make binging it seem like one long movie with brief intervals. With award-winning actors like Jonathan Groff and Holt McCallany, it lays bare the dark side of human nature through their outstandingly impactful performances.

Boasting two seasons of critically acclaimed storytelling, with a rumored third, Mindhunter does not reduce itself to a typical cop thriller. Though Netflix is known for several crime procedural shows, this show proudly deviates from the norm. It discards the use of sensationalization or quick solutions, but takes on the difficult route of the science of behavioral analysis of criminals and studying their psychological scars, rather than thrilling chases. 

The horror is presented in an understated manner, devoid of cheap jump scares. It brews suspense slowly, dialogue by dialogue, silent glances, and profoundly disturbing moments. Moreover, it raises larger questions, such as the struggle between nature and nurture when it comes to serial killers. It does not give simple solutions, nor does it feel didactic. And that thought-provoking aftereffect of the show is very much in tune with the long nights of battle spent in Hawkins, where the monsters are both tangible and symbolic. 

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