Several years ago, I watched the first season of "The Alienist" and, whilst It wasn't an unqualified hit with me, I did always intend to come back for the second run. I didn't intend to take quite this long but finally I've made it back around.
The execution of a mother for the death of her baby, despite there not being any evidence, reunites Sara (Dakota Fanning), John (Luke Evans) and Laszlo (Daniel Bruhl). The disappearance of a second baby, from the home of a Spanish ambassador lead them not only to investigate an apparent killer, but institution corruption in 19th century New York.
I suppose my biggest problem with "The Alienist" is that it feels like a show we've seen a lot of times now. That sort of period piece, when technology isn't quite the tool it is now, so we see some people experimenting at the forefront and, particularly Laszlo, using a scientific analysis of the persons mental state, to help with solving it. It might be the best example of this going, in terms of the strongest cast, and the best recreation, but still it feels like the sort of show we're well serviced by. Performances are really good, though Lazslo is a bit more isolated from the other two this time than he was and is rewarded with Lara Pulver as a potential companion. This season also add Michael McElhatton as the operator of a clinic, of sorts, and rival of Lazslo and Rosy McEwen as Libby Hatch, one of the nurses at the clinic who bonds with Sara.
Performances are still good, but the plot I think lets itself down, repeating itself too frequently and I do think that perhaps with fewer episodes and some of the side plots toned down, or removed then it would have made for an improved experience. I also watched this knowing that the show wouldn't progress any further than this season, whilst this wasn't terrible, I can't say that I'm too disappointed about that.
The execution of a mother for the death of her baby, despite there not being any evidence, reunites Sara (Dakota Fanning), John (Luke Evans) and Laszlo (Daniel Bruhl). The disappearance of a second baby, from the home of a Spanish ambassador lead them not only to investigate an apparent killer, but institution corruption in 19th century New York.
I suppose my biggest problem with "The Alienist" is that it feels like a show we've seen a lot of times now. That sort of period piece, when technology isn't quite the tool it is now, so we see some people experimenting at the forefront and, particularly Laszlo, using a scientific analysis of the persons mental state, to help with solving it. It might be the best example of this going, in terms of the strongest cast, and the best recreation, but still it feels like the sort of show we're well serviced by. Performances are really good, though Lazslo is a bit more isolated from the other two this time than he was and is rewarded with Lara Pulver as a potential companion. This season also add Michael McElhatton as the operator of a clinic, of sorts, and rival of Lazslo and Rosy McEwen as Libby Hatch, one of the nurses at the clinic who bonds with Sara.
Performances are still good, but the plot I think lets itself down, repeating itself too frequently and I do think that perhaps with fewer episodes and some of the side plots toned down, or removed then it would have made for an improved experience. I also watched this knowing that the show wouldn't progress any further than this season, whilst this wasn't terrible, I can't say that I'm too disappointed about that.