The Alienist

[forever1267]

IMDB Page

Beginning Monday at 9 Eastern / Pacific on TNT.

Based on the best seller by Caleb Carr, about a serial killer in 1896 New York City.

Starring Luke Evans, Daniel Bruhl, and Dakota Fanning.

I read this back in the 90's and it was a terrific thriller, with Teddy Roosevelt in a supportive role as the then Chief of Police. They tried making a movie of it for years without success, as this New York Times article states, and now it finally arrives.

Hoping for good, dark things. I actually don't remember much of the details, but it was a really good atmospheric Sherlock Holmes meets Jack the Ripper type story from what I recall.

[mandasant]

I haven't read the book, but I'm really excited for the series. All set to record.

[chiquita]

I loved the book, and I'm really looking forward to this. Based on the previews, I'm cautiously optimistic.

[Millis]

I watched it last night. I had read the book ages ago but didn't remember anything about it. I thought it was good, atmospheric, some questionable acting, especially from some of the bit part characters, but overall I will continue to watch. My only problem is that I can't figure out how to turn on the subtitles on the tv that I have to watch this on (I concede the good tv to my husband since he cares more about HD and whatnot) and you NEED subtitles, I feel like I missed a lot of the dialog.

[chiquita]

So far, so good, IMO. They've definitely nailed the creepy tone of the book, and the murder is as gruesome as I remember. I also had some trouble understanding dialogue a few times, so I'm glad I was watching on my DVR, so I could replay some lines.

[Ladybug]

I read the book when it came out (1994!) and barely remember any of the plot details. I do remember thinking Kelsey Grammer would be good as one of the male leads, LOL. This was at the height of Frasier's popularity. I'm so glad they waited for Luke Evans and Daniel Bruhl.

This first episode was really well done. Someone on Twitter joked that it's True Detective 1896 (Cary Fukunaga is a producer).

[Atreides]

I'm looking forward to this. It's been in development hell forever! I remember that Paramount was planning on making a movie back in the 90s when the book came out, but that obviously never happened.

[forever1267]

This second episode was a setting up story and not that compelling. They've also set up a few jokes between the characters, but with no payoff. Bruhl's Doctor does not seem to know how to be humorous.

As a "contrarian against nature" myself, it must have been horrifying to deeply repress one's orientation and desires in that time, and have absolutely no easy way to discover others, unless one ventured into dark corners of the city like Luke Evans does. I do sometimes wonder if I was born too late, but not that far back too late!



I don't know if it means anything yet but SPOILER GUESS SPOILER GUESS SPOILER GUESS


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SPOILER: Click to show

{Spoiler Guess}so far, we have two character actors, Michael Ironside (who was J P Morgan), and Ted Levine who was Detective Thomas Byrnes, so far. Both have played memorable bad guys in film (Ironside in Total Recall and Levine in The Silence of the Lambs

END SPOILER GUESS

This is going to get gruesome, I believe, like the book.

[MrsCatHead]

Was anyone...underwhelmed by this recent episode? I'm not sure I'm feeling it anymore with this show. And I was so excited about it

[trifle]

I’m actually starting to like it more. I disliked the book, though, so my expectations were subterranean. Dakota Fanning’s performance gets marginally better each episode.