How The Cast Of 'Mindhunter' Compares To Their Real-Life Counterparts

When Mindhunter first premiered in 2017, the Netflix TV show became an instant hit, captivating audiences through complex characters that told stories so unbelievable they had to be...true? Yep, as crazy as it might sound, the majority of Mindhunter's characters and plot lines are based on real people.

In fact, of the 11 notorious serial killers whom FBI Special Agents Holden Ford and Bill Tench interview (with the help of Dr. Wendy Carr) on the show, many are still alive in the real world (okay, prison world) today. Thankfully, so are most of the good guys and gals who dedicated their life's work to understanding the psychology of the criminal mind.

Season two of Mindhunter returns with Ford, Tench, and Carr exploring a whole new slew of real serial killers: Son of Sam (a.k.a. David Berkowitz), Wayne Williams of The Atlanta Child Murders, and Charles Manson. Though not much is known about the new season beyond that, fans can expect to see the cases of these infamous serial killers in a new light. But before you dive into your weekend binge-watch, here's a quick refresher on how Mindhunter's cast compares to their real-life counterparts. (Heads up: two of the killers didn't have confirmed photos online, so let your imagination wander...)