Show Review: Season 2 of The Alienist
The Alienist is an American period drama television series based on the 1994 novel of the same name by Caleb Carr. The ten-episode limited series first aired on TNT as a sneak peek on January 21, 2018, before its official premiere on January 22, 2018, and ended on March 26, 2018. The series stars Daniel Brühl, Luke Evans, and Dakota Fanning as an ad hoc team assembled in mid-1890s New York City to investigate a serial killer who is murdering street children. The series incorporates fact with fiction by including the characters that are historical figures, such as Theodore Roosevelt, who held the post of police commissioner from 1895 to 1897.
Season 2 of The Alienist will keep you at the edge of your seat during every episode. The second season is about a murderer who due to either prior trauma, or psychosis is stealing babies to fill a gap in their life.
The way in which information is revealed to the audience, is done so in a very uniquely captivating way providing just the right amount of information to leave you in a heightened state of suspense.
The cinematography and set design are also beautiful as you can clearly see how the show’s high production budget are put into play through the clothing designs and building interiors that are period and thematic of the early 20th century.
Vanderbilt had a large presence in this season vs Theodore Roosevelt who had a strong presence in the first season. The show exposes how the wealthy used to interact with law enforcement in the Tammany Hall era of police enforcement and local government in New York City.
The moment when the police detective talks about how the motives of him and the NYPD are that “they are bought by greenbacks” as opposed to “to defend the city” is really illuminating as disagreements over the police’s power and presence has been controversial for almost a century.
The final confrontation between the group of detectives and the antagonist is almost euphoric, as the motives of the killer are brought to light to the audience. Overall I highly recommend this show for anyone interested in period crime dramas. The first season is as good if not better than the second.
