Manhunt (TV Mini Series) A Man of Destiny (2024) User Reviews

"A Man of Destiny"

[allmoviesfan · 9/10 · 19 May 2024]

"A Man of Destiny" is the shortest episode of Manhunt to this point and one of the best, and it features a flashback to ten years before the assassination, which I think is also a record for this show, where the flashbacks ha have been plentiful, and necessary to telling various parts of the story.

Whilst President Jackson continues to try and undo everything Lincoln had achieved, Stanton and the cavalry he is working with are closing in on John Wilkes Booth, who isn't actually in Virginia, but still in Maryland due to a navigational error on the part of David Herold.

The walls are closing in. Doctor Mudd is arrested, and there are leads coming thick and fast. The episode ends with a strong one as to Booth's whereabouts, and with Stanton in serious personal jeopardy.

The Destiny of a Man.

[moviesfilmsreviewsinc · 9/10 · 20 May 2024]

In Manhunt Episode 5, Stanton discovers the spy lines used by the Confederacy and leads his team to intercept Confederate soldier Booth. They encounter a band of surrendered soldiers who are on their way to pledge allegiance to the Union. Stanton learns about Johnson's intention to take back the land grants under Lincoln's reconstruction plan. Johnson insists that Black people cannot own land, and Mary Simm and her brother are forced to work at Samuel Mudd's ranch. Mudd brutally whips her in return. Stanton finds Mudd's house on a spy line used by the Confederacy, making the union suspicious of his role in the conspiracy. Mudd claims he took an oath to care for the sick, but Stanton doesn't believe him. Mary reveals that Mudd knew who he was and had been a collaborator with the Confederates. Stanton and his men arrest Mudd and offer shelter to Mary and Miles at a camp in Arlington. Booth and Herold find an opening to cross the river into Virginia, but they end up circling back to Maryland due to cloud cover. They change into Confederate uniforms and sail back into the river. They reach Virginia and take shelter in an empty cottage. They are intercepted by a Black man and his son, who force the father to escort them to a group of surrendered Confederate soldiers. Booth reveals the shocking truth to the soldiers, shamed for killing the defenseless president. Booth's supporters suggest they visit Garrett's lodge to help them reach Richmond, but Booth succumbs to an infection on his leg and collapses. He is treated by Garrett's daughter. Stanton and his team search for Confederate soldiers and encounter a Black man who overhears a conversation Booth had with a local named Willie Jett. They track Jett and reveal the location to Stanton, who is one step closer to catching the man who killed Lincoln. Stanton suffers an asthmatic attack and collapses before leaving. The episode uses vast creative license, but the story is entertaining. Stanton and Booth finally face off, creating a political thriller rather than an action show. The story is entertaining and keeps viewers on their toes, making it a must-watch for fans of the Civil War.

Episode 5

[bobcobb301 · 11 April 2024]

We're winding down and that is kind of disappointing as this show has been quite entertaining. I still think they made a bit of a giant leap with how quickly they were able to track down Booth though. Yes, they made a huge mistake with their navigation and circling back into Maryland while in the water, but they still had a huge head start on these people. How quickly were they able to get across all of this land while traveling on horseback?

I do like how the show is focusing on Stanton though as he was an integral character at the time who does not get much attention when this is covered in history class.