Introduction: Stepping Into the Chase

What if the greatest stories ever told weren’t just about the past, but also about you? The Apple TV+ series Manhunt brings the drama of Abraham Lincoln’s assassination and the 12-day pursuit of his killer, John Wilkes Booth, to vivid life. But beneath the surface of this gripping historical thriller lies a timeless journey—one that echoes in every life, including your own. Through the lens of Peter de Kuster’s Hero’s Journey story model, Manhunt becomes more than a period piece; it becomes a mirror for our own quests, fears, and transformations.

The Call to Adventure

On April 14, 1865, a single shot in Ford’s Theater shattered the peace of a nation. President Lincoln, the symbol of hope and unity after years of Civil War, was gone. For Secretary of War Edwin Stanton, this was the ultimate call to adventure. The world he knew was upended. The Hero’s Journey always begins with a rupture—a moment when the ordinary world is lost and a new, perilous path beckons.

Stanton’s response is immediate and relentless. As the Herald, the news of Lincoln’s death forces him to cross the threshold from statesman to avenger, from peacetime leader to the architect of the greatest manhunt in American history. His journey is not just about catching a killer, but about preserving the very ideals Lincoln stood for.

Allies, Enemies, and the Shadow

No hero travels alone. Stanton is joined by a cast of allies and adversaries, each embodying archetypes familiar to us all. There’s Lafayette Baker, the controversial investigator whose methods and motives are as murky as the times. There’s Mary Simms, a Black woman whose courage and quest for freedom add depth and humanity to the story. There are the Guardians—political realities, public panic, and the ever-present threat of renewed war.

But the greatest adversary is the Shadow: John Wilkes Booth. Booth is more than a villain; he is a man driven by ideology, ego, and a desperate need to make history. His escape is aided by luck, loyalists, and a network of Southern sympathizers, turning the manhunt into a battle of wits, will, and endurance.

Trials, Temptations, and the Ordeal

The journey is fraught with danger and doubt. Stanton must navigate misinformation, betrayal, and the looming specter of a wider Confederate conspiracy. The investigation leads him not only to Booth, but to George Sanders—a real-life Confederate agent believed to be the mastermind behind the assassination plot. As the chase unfolds, Stanton’s own life is threatened, and the lines between justice and vengeance blur.

Each episode of Manhunt is a trial by fire. The investigation is methodical, but the stakes are deeply personal. Stanton’s ordeal is not just the pursuit of Booth, but the preservation of Lincoln’s vision for America. The series shows us that the Hero’s greatest test is often internal: the struggle to hold onto hope, to resist hatred, and to act with integrity when the world is watching—and when it isn’t.

The Reward and the Return

After 12 days, Booth is cornered and killed. Justice, in one sense, is served. But the reward is bittersweet. The wounds—personal and national—remain. The conspirators are tried, and some are executed, but the true cost of the journey is measured not in verdicts, but in the transformation of those who walk the path. Stanton is changed forever, as is the nation he sought to protect.

The Hero’s Journey ends with a return to the world, but nothing is as it was. The ordeal has left its mark. For Stanton, for the country, and for us as viewers, the story invites reflection: What have we learned? How have we changed? What will we do with the wisdom gained in the darkness?

Your Manhunt

Manhunt is not just history—it is a living metaphor for every journey we take when faced with loss, injustice, or the need to stand for something greater than ourselves. The archetypes—Hero, Shadow, Mentor, Ally, Guardian, Outlaw, Explorer, Lover, Caregiver, Creator, Trickster, Herald—are not just characters on screen. They are parts of us, waiting to be recognized and called into action.

As you watch Manhunt, consider: Where are you on your own Hero’s Journey? What is your call to adventure? Who are your allies and adversaries? What shadows must you confront? What ordeal are you facing, and what reward do you seek?