Every passing week makes The Alienist slightly more crazier, interesting, and heart-pounding. This episode is no exception. So much takes place that it’s hard to get a grasp on everything that unfolds, but let’s dig right in. The episode opens to Kreizler (Daniel Bruhl) visiting an interesting lady from the brothel. As we learn, the lady is a previous patient of his who has strong sexual inclinations and whom he feels he can gain some insight from.
Kreizler’s visit entails a thorough and deep discussion about where sexual impulses originate from and the reasoning behind them. His interest stems from his need to understand the serial killer, his patterns, and the psychology behind his actions. In his conversation with the madam, he learns that the killer finds joy in hurting others because he has been hurt as well. The dynamic between the lady and Kreizler makes for an intriguing series of scenes as his serious and somber personality conflict with her flirty, teasing banter.
As you may recall, Kreizler is on the outs with Sara (Dakota Fanning) and John (Luke Evans) after he asked them to face their inner demons. This relentless pursuit of asking them to face their own psychology highlights Bruhl’s stellar portrayal as Kreizler. Sara meets with Kreizler during the episode to hand over John’s sketchbook that Captain Connor is in the possession of following the events at Castle Garden. This is indeed the same sketchbook we believe was in the hands of the killer, but alas, it was Connor who found it.
During this meeting, Sara shares that she could never imagine killing a child, despite Kreizler’s attempts to get her to imagine such. He shares a story with her about a mother in the park who killed her children to prove his theory that society pressures women with expectations. Fanning does a superb job here of maintaining a very cold, stand-offish vibe here despite Kreizler’s attempts to break her.
John decides to continue investigating the murder on his own and finds himself visiting the Golden Rule, the location where the last victim worked. With the help of the Isaacson brothers, they also learn that the killer enjoys climbing to heights via the use of pitons. Eager to share this insight with Kriezler, Moore rushes home only to find out he is out with Sara. Moore and Kreizler’s maid, Mary, share a pang of jealousy, which leads to Moore taking Mary out for the day on a date.
The interaction that follows between Kreizler and Moore made for a great moment during the episode. Their jealous, resentful back-and-forth banter pushes Kreizler to once again prod into Moore’s personal life, namely his sex life. Kreizler believes there is a connection with Moore’s need to sleep with prostitutes and his relationship with his mother. It will be interesting to see who ends up with Sara, or rather if either of them will.
Through a mysterious turn of events, Kreizler, Moore, Sara, and the Isaacson twins all show up at a restaurant under the impression that Kreizler invited them. We quickly learn that this is the killer’s doing–and a reminder that they are being watched by him. Sara reveals that Giorgio’s mother dropped off a letter to her earlier in the day and shares the contents of it with the group. And this is where it gets freaky and frightening.
The letter reveals how the killer followed and observed Giorgio and how upon his death, he ate parts of his body. Talk about brutal, right? This episode continues to reveal glimpses of the killer and his involvement with the world he picks and chooses to kill from. However, this episode takes us one step further by revealing the killer himself, Willem Van Bergen who indeed possesses a silver smile. Thanks to John’s detective work, we learn the silver smile is a cause of Willem’s syphilis treatment.
This episode continues The Alienist trend of presenting intriguing, thought-provoking, and frightening plots every week. The reveal on seeing the killer face to face brought a whole new element to the series as the team gets closer to understanding who the killer is. His social status in the community plays a big role and we have now learned that he from a world of privilege, wealth, and status. This tidbit of information helps the audience finally make the connection between the shady behavior of the NYPD along with the fact that Willem comes from a prominent family. This connection will surely continue to reveal itself as we learn why the NYPD has so much to gain from the Van Bergen family.
The final moments of the episode were perhaps the most frightening and disturbing and really lay the groundwork for the vibe of the show. Watching the group process Willem’s grotesque letter and just how twisted he truly he is makes for an epic twist during this episode. I believe that this will mentally embed itself into each and every character that is present and we are sure to see the repercussions of it moving forward in the season.
I have to come to truly enjoy The Alienist and the dark, mysterious tone it exudes in each and every episode. The premise is frighteningly enticing, yet oddly educational because of its story, plot, and characters. I feel sucked into the drama every single week as we get closer to discovering the killer and who he is – and why he does what he does. I look forward to seeing how the season plays out and what twists and turns the story will take.
The cast in particular has been an absolute addiction to watch and deserves a shout-out for their spectacular work. Fanning shines as the sassy, hard-headed, and independent Sarah and exemplifies the epitome of girl power, especially given the time period her character is in. Bruhl’s dark and gloomy interpretation of Kreizler is daunting, scary, and carries an odd sense of allure that keeps the audience captivated. Evans is extremely fascinating to watch because the depth his character carries within him – whether it be his need to find comfort in sex or his constant need to feel loved. The Alienist continues to be a terrifying journey into the psyche of the killer and we are in for the ride.
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