Ep 1. UNABOM

The first episode of Manhunt: Unabomber sets up the premise behind one of the most infamous domestic terrorism cases in American history. The episode focuses on the initial bombing in 1978 and the FBI's first encounter with the Unabomber.

The episode opens with a flashback to the 1978 bombing at Northwestern University, which is believed to be the first mail bomb sent by the Unabomber. From there, we jump to the FBI's field office in San Francisco in 1995. FBI agent Jim Fitzgerald (played by Sam Worthington) is introduced as a maverick profiler who has a unique talent for connecting the dots between seemingly unrelated pieces of evidence.

The FBI is still reeling from several baffling bombings carried out by the Unabomber, a shadowy figure who has managed to evade law enforcement for over 17 years. Fitzgerald is asked to join the Unabom task force, headed by Special Agent Don Ackerman (played by Chris Noth). Initially, Fitzgerald is ambivalent about the assignment, feeling that the FBI is wasting its resources chasing down a lone bomber who is unlikely to strike again.

However, Fitzgerald warms up to the case once he begins studying the Unabom's writings. The bomber has been sending increasingly verbose and disturbing manifestos to various media outlets, which have allowed Fitzgerald to start building a psychological profile of the killer. Meanwhile, Ackerman is running out of leads and is increasingly desperate to catch the elusive bomber.

The show alternates between two timelines: Fitzgerald's investigation in 1995 and the Unabomber's origins in the 1970s. The flashbacks are particularly effective in establishing the Unabomber's motivations and background, which are complex and often contradictory. We see how the Unabomber (played by Paul Bettany) began as a promising young mathematician at Harvard in the 1960s, but gradually became disillusioned with society's reliance on technology.

As the Unabomber's attacks escalate, our sympathies are constantly tested. On the one hand, the Unabomber's disdain for modern technology has some merit, especially in today's era of omnipresent social media and smartphones. On the other hand, his methods are undeniably cruel and unjustifiable. It's a tricky balancing act, but the show manages to pull it off with nuance and sensitivity.

Perhaps the most impressive aspect of the first episode is the acting. Sam Worthington and Chris Noth are both excellent as the gruff, no-nonsense FBI agents tasked with bringing down the Unabomber. However, the standout performance belongs to Paul Bettany as the Unabomber himself. Bettany is a chameleon actor who can play everything from a superhero (Vision in the Avengers movies) to a British gangster (Gangster No. 1). Here, he brings a haunted intensity to the role of Ted Kaczynski, the Unabomber's real-life alter ego. The show doesn't shy away from the fact that Kaczynski is a deeply disturbed individual, but Bettany brings a measure of humanity to his portrayal.

Overall, the first episode of Manhunt: Unabomber sets the stage for an engrossing and thought-provoking series. While it covers familiar territory (crime procedural, psychological profiling), it does so with confidence and flair. The show doesn't resort to cheap thrills or easy answers, instead opting to delve into the complex moral and ethical questions at the heart of the Unabomber case. If you're a fan of true crime, gritty FBI dramas, or Paul Bettany, this show is definitely worth checking out.