Another topic at the roundtable discussion with Director and Executive Producer of Mr. Mercedes, Jack Bender, describes how the show avoided being too plot heavy.
QUESTION: “How much do we get to see the supporting characters deal with the repercussions of the events at the end of the first season?”
Jack Bender: “As much as possible. The first few episodes, in terms of outlines before they were written, were much too plotty. I basically said, ‘We’ve got to slow down the plot. Slow it down, give us room for these characters and let’s see where they are now a year later.'”
“I would say yes, in terms of Lou Linklatter and what she suffered and how her life was drastically altered by being stabbed literally by her friend. How Hodges was affected by the loss of Janey and all he went through. Ida and Holly, who’s now come into her own more and become more adult. How her relationships working with Hodges is complicated and grown up and all that that brings.”
“I think we spend a lot of times with our characters both a year later from what they experienced and where they are now. I fought for that because I feel that’s the strength of our show.”
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I’d say that was the right call. I am definitely in favor of slowing the plot down in order to create stronger character development, which makes them more relatable. I wish other shows would take this stance (a few CW shows come to mind).
Did you think Mr. Mercedes did a good job sticking close to the source material while slowing down the plot, or do you think it should have been done differently? Leave your thoughts in the usual spot, and thanks for reading!