The historical miniseries Manhunt has come to an end with its final episode now available for streaming on Apple TV+. The intense chase for Lincoln’s murderer, John Wilkes Booth, reaches its peak in this episode as Booth and his accomplice find themselves trapped in a barn surrounded by soldiers. The climax of the season focuses on the trial of Booth’s accomplices, most of whom are sentenced to death. However, Secretary of War Edwin Stanton’s efforts to prove a grand conspiracy against Lincoln are in vain due to President Andrew Johnson’s arrival, leading to Stanton’s removal from his position and the loss of any chance to continue Lincoln’s Reconstruction efforts.
A recurring theme in the show is the significance of hands, particularly in relation to Booth. The significance of Booth’s hands is established early in the series, with the camera focusing on his hands as he prepares to assassinate Lincoln. Showrunner Monica Beletsky explained that this detail was inspired by real aspects of Booth’s personality, creating an interesting psychological exploration of his character. Actor Anthony Boyle, who portrays Booth, discussed how focusing on the physicality of his character, including his hands, helped him bring Booth to life on screen.
The actors reflected on the historical context of the show and imagined scenes they wish they could have witnessed to better understand their characters. Boyle expressed interest in witnessing the conversation between Booth and his accomplice in the barn, while Hamish Linklater, who plays Lincoln in the series, imagined what part Lincoln would have played if he had pursued a career in acting instead of politics. Patton Oswalt, who plays Lafayette Baker, was intrigued by Lincoln’s ability to unite people from different backgrounds. Tobias Menzies, who portrays Stanton, discussed his approach to embodying his character, which involved incorporating physical elements like Stanton’s severe asthma.
Lovie Simone, who portrays Mary Simms, one of the 10 black witnesses in the trial, discussed the challenges of portraying a character with limited historical information. Despite the lack of documentation on Mary’s life, Simone emphasized the importance of infusing humanity into the character to create a complete portrayal. The final episode of the series sees Stanton weakened by his health issues, yet determined to carry out Lincoln’s vision of leading Reconstruction to its completion. Stanton’s death on Christmas Eve symbolizes the challenges faced by democracy and the ongoing need to maintain and protect it.
As the show delves into the aftermath of Lincoln’s assassination and the political turmoil that ensued, the actors and creators of Manhunt reflect on the relevance of these historical events to the present day. Menzies highlighted the current strains on democracy and the need for continual maintenance to ensure its survival. Through its exploration of complex characters and historical events, Manhunt offers a timely reminder of the importance of upholding democracy and the consequences of political upheaval.
