Originally released in 2017, by David Fincher (Fight Club, The Social Network), who also directed a significant number of episodes during the series' two-season run, and also essentially acted as showrunner. The show's take on the creation of the FBI's Behavioral Science Unit in the late 1970s was compelling, gritty, and featured incredible performances across the board.

Unfortunately, Mindhunter was canceled after only its first two seasons, despite Fincher's desire to continue with the series, and major clamor from audiences for more. After years of no positive news and essentially radio silence, David Fincher finally opened up about why Mindhunter was canceled, revealing it was simply too expensive for Netflix as a viable investment.

Inevitably, in the wake of its cancelation, Mindhunter fans have been trying to find a suitable replacement to scratch that true crime itch. Fortunately, Netflix already has another show available to watch right now that can fill the Mindhunter gap: the underrated series, Aquarius.

Aquarius Tells An Infamous True Crime Story In A New Way

Like Mindhunter, Notorious Crimes Are At The Show's Heart

Similar to how Mindhunter operated, Aquarius dives into a true-crime story, this time focusing on Charles Manson (played by Gethin Anthony), his cult, and their infamous killing spree. What helps Aquarius stand out among other true-crime shows and films, is that it takes a real-life crime, with real people and blends them into historical fiction. The series features a fictional Los Angeles detective navigating the rise of Charles Manson and his cult in the 1960s. In doing this, Aquarius can craft a thrilling narrative that allows viewers to get a better glimpse into how Manson's cult rose in prominence.

Tarantino's Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood explores the Manson Cult in a historical fiction setting as well.

Manson is arguably one of the most famous cult leaders in United States history, and he never actually killed anyone himself, having his followers carry out the killings for him. Aquarius gives a look behind-the-scenes at how Charles Manson was able to build his cult and eventually have them do his bidding, including the killing of actress Sharon Tate.

Why Aquarius Can Help Ease Your Mindhunter Disappointment

If Fincher's Show Isn't Returning, This Can Scratch The Itch

As Mindhunter's very vocal fanbase - and countless podcasts - have proved, a good true-crime show can be incredibly addicting. Fincher's show captured that magic and it is a great shame that it never got more seasons on Netflix. It can also be hard to find a replacement for it, given just how high quality and chilling it actually is. Aquarius could help fill that gap, though, as it dives into the psyche of Charles Manson, and a variety of his followers over the course of the series.

Nothing will ever be able to replace Mindhunter entirely, of course. It is one of Netflix's best series, and a gold standard for the true-crime genre. Still, there is a lot to like about Aquarius, and David Duchovny's central role is up there with the work done by Jonathan Groff and Holt McCallany on Mindhunter, and it could be the perfect way for fans of Fincher's work to dive back into a similar world. At the same time, the underrated show is unique enough that it doesn't need to live solely as a stand-in for Mindhunter.