Apple TV's 7-Part Historical Thriller Is Its Best Show To Binge This Weekend

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Tobias Menzies, Damian O'Hare, and Brandon Flynn in Manhunt

Published Apr 17, 2026, 5:59 AM EDT

Liam Gaughan is a film and TV writer at Collider. He has been writing film reviews and news coverage for ten years. Between relentlessly adding new titles to his watchlist and attending as many screenings as he can, Liam is always watching new movies and television shows.

In addition to reviewing, writing, and commentating on both new and old releases, Liam has interviewed talent such as Mark Wahlberg, Jesse Plemons, Sam Mendes, Billy Eichner, Dylan O'Brien, Luke Wilson, and B.J. Novak. Liam aims to get his spec scripts produced and currently writes short films and stage plays. He lives in Allentown, PA.

The American Civil War has been a popular subject in many films and shows, but there hasn’t been as much interest in the period that directly followed. America’s Reconstruction era was complex, multi-faceted, and critical in establishing key infrastructural achievements and impediments, many of which still affect the country today. The assassination of President Abraham Lincoln changed the course of American history when the nation was at its most divided. Lincoln himself has been covered in several biopics, but the innovative Apple TV thriller Manhunt examined the desperate hunt led by his allies to track down those responsible for the killing.

Apple TV's 'Manhunt' Is a Different Type of Historical Thriller

Based on the novel of the same name by James L. Swanson, Manhunt looks at the two-week period following Lincoln’s death in which secretary of war Edwin Stanton (Tobias Menzies) put together an espionage operation to find John Wilkes Booth (Anthony Boyle), who had gone on the run to the South. Although there are flashbacks that show Lincoln (Hamish Linklater) during his last year in office, Manhunt shows the quick descent that the nation could face with his Vice President, Andrew Johnson (Glenn Morshower), in charge of the Reconstruction era. It has all the trappings of a TV thriller, but Manhunt also engages in an important conversation about the difference between revenge and justice, and whether the ends can truly justify the means in such a desperate situation.

The story itself in Manhunt is fascinating as an insight into the post-war era, but the show also takes a significant look at just how different law enforcement and espionage were when the digital era was still generations away. Manhunt is a thriller at heart, but it’s also a detective show, and one that emphasizes the importance of certainty in an era where any verified information was powerful. Given that news travelled at a much slower pace, there’s pressure upon Stanton and his inner circle to ensure that Booth is apprehended in a timely manner. A concern among the Radical Republicans was that Lincoln’s death could be seen as a sign of the Union’s weakness, which could lead to a rise in Confederate sympathy that would provoke another war. Even if Stanton personally desires revenge upon Booth, the task of killing him is done for the sake of preserving the peace that the late President had fought so hard for.

close-up of Anthony Boyle as Lincoln's assassin John Wilkes Booth in 'Manhunt'

Lincoln was the first of four United States Presidents who were assassinated in office, and Manhunt perfectly captures the confusion and conspiracies that followed such a blow to the nation’s stability. Lincoln had chosen Johnson to be his Vice President because having a Southern member of the Presidential ticket was more likely to earn him a larger swathe of support from voters. However, the two disagreed on many key topics, and Johnson’s ascension to the position of commander-in-chief created a situation in which the most powerful man in America was sympathetic to the Southern cause — and not willing to put in the necessary precautions to ensure that further violence could not break out.

Apple TV's Thriller 'Manhunt' Is Both Informative and Thought-Provoking

While the thriller aspects of Manhunt are expertly done, the show is also a well-acted, powerful character drama that puts a spotlight on some of the most underrated working actors. Menzies was best known for his role as Prince Philip on The Crown, but Manhunt offered him the perspective of a much different character who never expected to be the “face” of a movement. Stanton is comfortable taking orders from Lincoln, who he considers to be a true friend, but he is less confident in his ability to lead, particularly when there is turmoil within the party itself. Boyle is also terrific because he does not depict Booth as a psychopathic villain, but rather a pathetic, failed actor who chose the most destructive route to pursue fame. Manhunt is visceral, propulsive, and action-packed enough to be entertaining for anyone who just wants to watch a compelling thriller, but for those that want to learn something, it is also a series that has more than a few insights.