Episode 4 of Mr. Mercedes Season 1, titled ‘Walk Like a Man,’ masterfully continues the chilling parallel narratives of Bill Hodges and Brady Hartsfield. Both men, locked in a silent yet deadly game of cat and mouse, find themselves spending considerable time within the confines of cars, symbolic perhaps of their confined mental states and the paths they are driven to take. This episode also delves into various forms of ‘breakups’ – fractured relationships and severed connections – further deepening the unsettling atmosphere of the series.
The episode opens with a disturbing glimpse into Brady’s psyche as he engages in a graphic act in his car, fueled by twisted fantasies involving his mother and the horrific Mercedes killings. This unsettling scene is immediately followed by a flashback, confirming Jerome’s astute theory from the previous episode: Brady infiltrated Olivia Trelawney’s Mercedes by stealing her key fob code. The flashback shows Brady assisting Olivia with a purchase from an electronics store and subtly activating a device as she uses her fob – a chillingly simple yet effective method of gaining access to her vehicle and setting the stage for the devastating Mercedes massacre. This crucial revelation underscores Brady’s calculated and methodical nature, highlighting the depth of his depravity.
Bill Hodges, meanwhile, returns home after his encounter with Janey Patterson, only to be met with signs of a break-in. Ida, Bill’s sharp-tongued but observant housekeeper, is present, adding to the unsettling atmosphere. At lunch, Jerome proposes a humorous, albeit inappropriate, theory about Ida’s supposed loneliness and heightened libido being connected to the break-in. However, Bill’s instincts point directly to Mr. Mercedes. While the idea of Ida having a more prominent storyline is appealing, the evidence strongly suggests that Brady, the Mercedes killer, is responsible for this unsettling intrusion into Bill’s personal space.
Brady’s day takes an unexpected turn when he arrives at the electronics store. Lou Linklatter informs him about Ryan’s fatal car accident, a piece of news Brady skillfully deflects with feigned innocence. More significantly, Frobisher, Brady’s manager, offers him the position of day manager. This promotion, seemingly a grand gesture, is revealed to be driven by Frobisher’s own ambition. New store openings are on the horizon, and Frobisher needs a reliable replacement to manage the existing store if he wants to climb the corporate ladder. Brady, characteristically subdued, accepts the interview, his lack of enthusiasm clearly disappointing Frobisher, who is oblivious to the sinister machinations brewing beneath Brady’s calm exterior.
Brady’s focus is indeed elsewhere, consumed by a far more sinister plan: preparing hamburgers laced with rat poison. His mother, however, misinterprets his preoccupation as excitement about the potential promotion. In a darkly comedic scene, she offers to take Brady on vacation to escape the “rat race,” oblivious to the literal bottle of rat poison sitting on the counter. Her forced laughter encapsulates the tragic nature of their relationship – a twisted co-dependency where even moments of supposed joy are tainted by underlying despair.
Following the unsettling break-in, Bill contacts his old friend from the evidence department. He learns about a series of similar incidents – “creepy-crawling” – where perpetrators break into homes and cars not to steal, but to rearrange items and instill fear and unease in the victims. This revelation further solidifies Bill’s suspicion that Brady is escalating his psychological warfare, extending his torment beyond the digital realm and into the physical lives of his targets.
Bill receives a call from Janey, informing him that her mother, Elizabeth Wharton, is having a lucid day, offering Bill an opportunity to speak with her about Olivia. Elizabeth, sharp-witted and grieving, recounts the tragic events leading to Olivia’s suicide. She reveals that Brady, posing as “Gerald,” manipulated Olivia, convincing her of her shared responsibility for the Mercedes killings. He then seemingly drove Olivia to isolation and despair, ultimately contributing to her tragic end. Elizabeth’s account paints a clearer picture of Brady’s manipulative tactics and the devastating impact he had on Olivia’s fragile mental state.
During their conversation, Elizabeth recognizes Bill as one of the detectives who relentlessly investigated Olivia after the Mercedes attack. The painful truth of Bill’s past actions surfaces. Flashbacks depict Bill and Pete questioning Olivia repeatedly, dismissing her claims of not leaving her keys in the car, and even publicly humiliating her by tipping off the press, leading to the cruel “Killer Cunt” graffiti on her walls. Janey, unaware of Bill’s role in her sister’s torment, is understandably devastated and storms off upon realizing the extent of his past behavior. Bill attempts to apologize and salvage their budding relationship, but his pleas fall on deaf ears.
Reeling from the fallout with Janey, Bill reverts to his familiar coping mechanism: whiskey and anger. Jerome arrives with a new digital camera and news of Brady’s unsettling visit to his house. While Brady’s attempt to poison Jerome’s dog failed, his presence was noted. Unfortunately, Jerome, lacking Bill’s detective instincts, failed to gather crucial details like a physical description or license plate number. Bill’s frustration boils over, leading to a harsh outburst directed at the well-meaning Jerome.
Seeking connection, Bill ultimately turns to the one person who, in a twisted way, understands him: Brady. Through a distorted, glitching video call, Brady and Bill finally confront each other directly. Brady initially appears to have the upper hand, revealing intimate details about Bill’s daughter’s life. However, Bill delivers a brutal counter blow, correctly surmising Brady’s incestuous relationship with his mother. “You all want to think you’re special. It turns out you’re all the f—ing same: disappointing,” Bill declares, his words hitting Brady with unexpected force. Visibly shaken and enraged, Brady abruptly ends the conversation, his carefully constructed facade momentarily shattered.
The episode concludes with Brady’s mother attempting to seduce him, only to be met with his angry rejection. The closing scenes paint a bleak picture of the cyclical nature of alcoholism, anger, and sexual dysfunction plaguing Brady, his mother, and, to some extent, Bill. With the highly anticipated confrontation between Bill and Brady finally taking place, ‘Walk Like a Man’ leaves viewers on the edge of their seats, anticipating the escalating conflict and the increasingly dangerous game about to unfold in Mr. Mercedes Season 1.
