Honestly, finding out where can i watch mr mercedes tv series feels a bit like the cat-and-mouse game Bill Hodges plays with Brady Hartsfield. One minute it’s on one platform, the next it’s vanished or hopped over to a rival streamer. It’s frustrating. You just want to see Brendan Gleeson be a grumpy, retired detective, but the licensing rights for this show have been a mess since day one.
Originally, this gem lived on the Audience Network. Remember that? Probably not, because it was an AT&T/DirecTV exclusive that basically died off in 2020. Since then, the show has been a digital nomad. If you’re looking for it right now in 2026, the landscape has changed again, especially with Netflix recently snatching up international rights.
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The Current Streaming Home for Mr. Mercedes
If you are in the United States, your best bet is still Peacock. They’ve had all three seasons for a while now. You’ll likely need a Premium subscription to get through the whole thing, though they sometimes cycle the first few episodes into their free tier to get you hooked.
But here is the curveball. As of late 2025 and heading into 2026, Netflix has entered the chat.
For viewers in Canada, France, Germany, Italy, and the Nordics, Mr. Mercedes finally hit Netflix. This is a huge deal because, for the longest time, international fans had to jump through massive hoops or buy physical discs just to see Season 3. If you’re in one of those regions, just type it into the search bar. It should be sitting there right next to the latest true crime doc.
Wait, what about Apple TV+?
Interestingly, some regions have seen the show pop up on Apple’s service, occasionally offering a "7-day free trial" lure. It’s not a permanent resident there like their originals, but it’s worth a quick check if you already pay for the Apple bundle.
Where to Buy or Rent (If Streaming Fails)
Streaming services are fickle. They delete shows without warning. If you want to own the Bill Hodges trilogy forever without worrying about "content purging," you’ve got the usual digital storefronts.
- Vudu (Fandango at Home): Usually has the full series for purchase. Prices fluctuate, but you can often snag a season for around $15 to $20.
- Google Play / YouTube TV: Good for individual episode purchases if you just missed one.
- Amazon Prime Video: You can buy the seasons here, but be careful—depending on your country, it might say "currently unavailable." That's usually a licensing glitch.
Why the Show is Actually Worth the Hunt
Look, Stephen King adaptations are hit or miss. We all know this. For every The Shawshank Redemption, there's a... well, let's not name names. But Mr. Mercedes is different. David E. Kelley (the guy behind Big Little Lies) developed it, and he kept the grit.
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Brendan Gleeson plays Bill Hodges with this heavy, soul-weary energy that is just perfect. He’s not a "super cop." He’s a guy with a drinking problem and a heavy conscience. Then you have Harry Treadaway as Brady. He is genuinely unsettling. Not "movie monster" unsettling, but "the guy fixing your computer who has a dark basement" unsettling.
The show covers the full trilogy: Mr. Mercedes, Finders Keepers, and End of Watch.
A Quick Warning on Season 3
If you’re watching this for the first time, don't get confused by the order. The show actually swaps the order of the books. Season 2 deals with some of the more... supernatural elements from the third book, while Season 3 loops back to the more grounded mystery of the second book. It sounds like a mess, but it actually works on screen.
International Availability Breakdown
| Country | Primary Streaming Platform | Backup Option |
|---|---|---|
| USA | Peacock | Vudu / Apple TV (Buy) |
| Canada | Netflix | Apple TV (Buy) |
| UK | Disney+ (Star) / Now TV | Sky Store |
| Australia | Disney+ / Binge | Google Play |
| Europe | Netflix | Local VOD Services |
In the UK, it’s been bouncing between StarzPlay (now Lionsgate+) and Disney+ via the Star brand. It's a bit of a moving target. If you're in London or Manchester and it's not on Netflix, check Disney+.
What Most People Get Wrong About This Series
A lot of people think this is a horror show because King wrote it. It’s not. Not really. It’s a hard-boiled detective noir with some psychological horror elements sprinkled on top. If you go in expecting It or The Shining, you’ll be confused.
But if you like Mindhunter or True Detective, you’re going to love this. It’s slow-burn. It takes its time. It lets the characters breathe. Honestly, the relationship between Hodges and his neighbor Ida (played by the legendary Holland Taylor) is worth the price of admission alone.
Actionable Steps to Start Watching
First, check Peacock if you are in the US. It’s the most stable home for the show right now. If you're outside the US, your first stop should be Netflix.
If it’s not on either, don't waste hours scrolling. Use a site like JustWatch. It tracks these license shifts in real-time for your specific zip code. It’s the only way to stay sane when these streamers keep playing musical chairs with the titles we love.
Once you find it, start with Season 1, Episode 1, "Pilot." The opening scene—the job fair massacre—is one of the most intense things ever put on television. You’ll know within ten minutes if you’re in for the long haul.
Grab a sub for a month, binge all three seasons, and then cancel. That’s the pro move. Just make sure you finish it before the next licensing deal kicks in and it moves somewhere else.