Derren Brown: The Experiments

Performing Arts

Performing Arts

Master mentalist and all-around mischief-maker Derren Brown is up to his old tricks in this four-part series, in which he performs sociological "experiments" on unsuspecting citizens to illustrate how easily behavior can be manipulated. Three of the experiments delve into the darker side of behavior, Brown says, while the fourth is rather lighthearted. In the opening episode, "The Assassin," the host investigates whether it's possible to hypnotize someone to kill a celebrity, a theory based on the testimonies given by political assassins who say they were brainwashed by the CIA. Another episode tests the mob mentality of a game show audience, who get to anonymously decide the fate of the game's participants by picking either a positive or negative option.