Common Sense Media Review
By Marty Brown
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Historical fiction series plays like a parody of biopics.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Manhunt
What's the Story?
MANHUNT depicts the search for John Wilkes Booth after he killed President Abraham Lincoln in 1865. In the immediate aftermath of the Civil War, Secretary of War Edwin Stanton (Tobias Menzies) must figure out if the Confederacy was responsible for Lincoln's death.
Is It Any Good?
More than any other genre, historical dramas can have trouble finding the right tone. Manhunt, despite its compelling premise, comes off a bit like a parody of prestige drama, like something 30 Rock or Curb Your Enthusiasm might concoct. The acting tends to feel a little over the top, which pushes the historical characters into caricatures. Mary Todd Lincoln (Lili Taylor), for example, is introduced with a histrionic scene by Lincoln's deathbed and then barely heard from again. The writing doesn't help, as it seems to want to repeatedly point out the obvious similarities between American in 1865 and now. This is prestige drama gone off the rails.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about history. How familiar were you with the events surrounding Lincoln's assassination? How did Manhunt change or improve your understanding of Lincoln's death?
Does Manhunt seem to have a point of view about its characters? How does it portray Lincoln, John Wilkes Booth, Edwin Stanton, and other historical figures? Who are you introduced to that you didn't know before?
What parts of the story do you think Manhunt invents? What parts are historical fact? How can you confirm what actually happened and what didn't?
TV Details
- Premiere date : March 15, 2024
- Cast : Tobias Menzies , Patton Oswalt , Hamish Linklater
- Network : Apple TV
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : History
- TV rating :
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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