Netflix’s Mindhunter season 2 finale recap

In the season 2 finale of Netflix series Mindhunter, the FBI pressures suspected serial killer Wayne Williams. Also, we see into BTK’s twisted fantasy life.

Previously on Mindhunter, Agent Holden Ford (Jonathan Groff) and company seemed to find a key suspect: Wayne Williams (Christopher Livingston). Also, Agent Bill Tench (Holt McCallany) and wife Nancy (Stacey Roca) dealt with their disturbed son, Brian (Zachary Scott Ross).

Also, Psychologist Wendy Carr (Anna Torv) seemed to break up with Kay (Lauren Glazier) permanently. However, the season 2 finale focuses overwhelmingly on the Atlanta Child murders case.

Upon getting stopped near the Jackson Parkway Bridge, Wayne Williams is immediately questioned about the massive splash sound heard by an officer. He’s asked by Tench and Ford why he’s out and about at 3 a.m. He first jokes that “Nighttime is the right time,” then elaborates that he was there to meet someone named Cheryl Johnson about a music audition.

Tench and Ford ask for Cheryl’s phone number. When asked if he threw something off the bridge, he says, “You mean like a kid?” Agent ford finds hair on the backseat of his car, as well as rope and gloves. Wayne immediately emphasizes that it’s his uncle’s car, not his.

Williams then says Cheryl lives on Church Street in Smyrna but doesn’t have her exact address. Ford then asks him if he knows the victims, but Williams denies any connection.

There are a few disappointments, from the law enforcement perspective. At first, they must let Williams go due to a lack of evidence for an arrest. Also, the officers present did not bag the rope, even though they could have legally done so after Williams agreed to let them search the vehicle.

When Cheryl’s phone number proves to be a dead-end, they conclude that Cheryl Johnson likely doesn’t exist.

Investigating Wayne Williams

Mindhunter demonstrates some of the scrutiny placed on Wayne Williams. The next day, we see that Williams lives with his dad, Homer (Myles Cranford). Also, curiously, Agents Ford and Jim Barney (Albert Jones) see that Williams’ car looks rather thoroughly cleaned.

When they mention the dead-end “Cheryl” number, Wayne says the call could have been a prank. He adds that his mother took the call. Ominously, Wayne’s talent scout flyer involves younger acts — a fact which doesn’t look good.

It turns out that Wayne Williams rents the studio at “Hotlanta Records,” mostly using his dad’s money after his own radio station closed down (the reason is not totally explained). Melvin (Euseph Messiah) at “Hotlanta Records” notes that Wayne doesn’t have any demos and that most (though perhaps not all) of Wayne’s clients are14-15 years old. Melvin also mentions how, a little while ago, Wayne had cuts all up and down his arms

On that note, Agent Barney says victim Terry Pue was known as a fighter, which could theoretically explain such cuts. Also, the composite drawing of the man seen with victim Lubie Geter looks eerily like Wayne Williams.

Soon after this, we learn that the body of Nathanial Cater was found. Agent Ford calls Bill Tench back to Atlanta, upsetting Bill’s wife. However, Tench knows he’s needed to apply pressure to DA Slaton (Beau Baxter) for a warrant (Tench is to Mindhunter what Mickey Goldmill is to Rocky).

They do have some mounting evidence that could link someone to a crime: Dog hairs, rope, and pieces of green fabric. Barney, Tench, and Ford want 24-hour surveillance and wiretaps, and Slaton reluctantly agrees to it.

It’s soon revealed that Williams was a photographer for the Department of Public Safety’s arson investigations. This indicates he liked being close to authority, which isn’t uncommon for serial killers.

Following Wayne

After they ruin putting a tracer on Williams’ car, the FBI starts monitoring him more intensely. The multiple cars and a plane following him around are far from subtle. As they follow him, Tench and Ford discuss Williams’ likely motivations.

Tench thinks it’s a shame that’s motivating him, and Ford calls him a narcissist (of course, it could be some combination of things). Soon, though, it’s obvious than Wayne Williams knows of the police presence. He approaches their vehicle and gives them food! Later on, a neighbor (Alton Fitzgerald White) tells the agents that Wayne is annoyingly burning some trash at 5 am!

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Soon the Williams house is searched. There is no obviously large green carpet, but there’s a small patch in Williams’ room. They also find a book called “How To Beat a Lie Detector Test.” Also of interest: Williams drove a blue 1978 Plymouth Fury that looked like a police vehicle and found a police light in the vehicle.

It led to an arrest for impersonating an officer, and the agents think he used the disguise to win trust from victims. During the interrogation, Tench says to him: “You know what I call a child talent scout who makes no music and no money? A ****ing pedophile.”

Press attention

Soon, Wayne Williams’ name gets named leaked to the press. In response, Wayne talks to reporters and even distributes copies of his résumé! Meanwhile, a man named Wade Marcus (Rich Morrow) speaks to the FBI about Williams, noting that Wayne was actually mad at him for giving money to a charity for the murder victims.

He adds that Wayne called the victims prostitutes. Ultimately, carpet fibers from Wayne’s bedroom are said to match fibers found on 14 victims, while the dog hairs match 5.

Sensing the pressure on him, Wayne leads the media and police to the home of Mayor Jackson (Regi Davis), who he antagonizes by beeping the horn while proclaiming his innocence. This prompts Ford to call him the ringmaster of his own media circus.

This turns out to be a strategic distraction. While this was happening, Homer was looking into a charter plane to South America, most certainly for his won. Wayne Williams is surprisingly arrested for the murders of Cater and Payne, who notably are not children. Shortly after this, all other investigations into Williams are suspended.

Other stuff

Mindhunter doesn’t totally ignore the tense Tench relationships in the season 2 finale. When Bill returns to his home, it’s to an empty house. They also have another ultra-creepy scene of the BTK killer (Sonny Valicenti) getting kinky with his murder mementos.

On the lighter side, as Tench and Ford followed Williams around, Ford’s code name over police radio was “Model T,” after the Ford vehicle. Agent Tench jokes that he should be called “Tin Lizzie.”

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