Description
The Alienist opens when a series of haunting, gruesome murders of boy prostitutes grips New York City. Newly appointed police commissioner Theodore Roosevelt calls upon criminal psychologist (aka alienist) Dr. Laszlo Kreizler and newspaper illustrator John Moore to conduct the investigation in secret. They are joined by Sara Howard, a headstrong secretary determined to become the city's first female police detective.Using the emerging disciplines of psychology and early forensic investigation techniques, this band of social outsiders set out to find and apprehend one of New York City's first serial killers.
Personal Thoughts
First, a warning that this period drama set in the closing years of the 1900's earns it's TV-MA rating, so be prepared for some amount of graphic gore. That aside, the first two seasons live up to the modern trend of complex, long-form storytelling, unfolding compelling a complex investigation into the motivations and behaviors of serial killers across each season.The title character of the Alienist (the time period's term for psychologists) consults on investigations at a time when Jack the Ripper was the only known serial killer, and most police forces were ill-equipped to handle cases where the killers had no obvious personal connection to their victims. His college friend, an illustrator for the New York Times, and Police Commissioner's personal secretary, the first woman employed by the NYPD, dig deeper in the criminal mind to understand seemingly unconnected murders and anticipate the killer's next moves.
These 3 main characters are the show's lifeblood, driving the story with compelling performances by Daniel Bruhl, Dakota Fanning, and Luke Evans. And while the show's plots are fiction, actual historical figures like Theodore Roosevelt and William Randolph Hearst blend into the storyline to create an immersive and believeable setting.
I'm very much looking forward to Season 3's release in late 2023.