TV Review: The Alienist Continues Its Season Observing Social Honesty
As seen by my previous The Alienist review, its season continues with exemplar story-telling and subtle notes that pander to current, political tones. In a time when everybody, even if for different reasons, believes government is corrupt. The Alienist reminds us that it is not so much conspiracy that obstructs justice but the wealthy.
Social scandal or dead boys? That is the question that pervades throughout The Alienist as sex, money, and the eagerness of the social upperclass to hide their sins continuously blocks Dr. Laszlo Kreizler (Daniel Brühl), John Moore, (Luke Evans), Sara Howard (Dakota Fanning) from figuring out this murder. Time is not their friend, because truth is not friendly with the rich. Thus, more children die, and Brühl’s Kreizler teeters with his own madness as he tries discover what triggers a killer’s.
I am unsurprised that Daniel Brühl and Luke Evans are killing their roles as a darker, more guarded version of Sherlock Holmes and John Watson. The comparisons are inevitable, but their characters of Kreiszler and Moore carry themselves with an elegance and frustrated/ unwilling regard for their intelligence. While Sherlock and Watson are motivated by a genuine love for a good mystery and an opportunity to display their wits; Kreizler and Moore are seemingly driven by a desire for justice and their inability to shut down their minds from thinking over injustice. Their thoughts are like moths to flames, which is why their obsession grows in the next episode over who is killing these young boys.
The Alienist thrives as a show because it is smart and simmers in pacing. Every episode froths with fascinating details on culture, forensics, and psychology during the late 19th century. Yet, the most fascinating part is society or rather our social, human behaviors. It is our eagerness to impress each other with images of ourselves that often leads us to hurting the reality of it. In this case, Dakota Fanning’s Sara Howard begins to grow in intrigue. As she displays more of her intelligence, and her secrets, to help Kreizler and Moore, you grow to respect Fanning’s interpretation of the character. It is as if she walking with a spiritual wall that is masked by her beauty, soft-spoken voice, and sporadic moments of wisdom. Yet, even the best cannot get better if they are not honest with themselves.
It may not seem so overt, but truth and whether individuals, actually, want it recurs throughout The Alienist. This theme underscores the heartbeat of this show, from which I hope you begin to watch it, especially with this perception. It only makes the murder-mystery edgier, and filled with anticipation for its grand reveal. Why? Because you know that this case is more than just finding out who is the serial killer, as much as discovering why the road to truth is always shrouded by political hands. For More Information On The Alienist Click Here. Watch The Alienist on TNT Monday’s at 9.
