I REALLY like thrillers, I absolutely loved Hannibal, Twin Peaks, Mind hunter etc., and when I read about The Alienist, I thought I would love it too. I didn't expect a copy of the shows I cited, of course, but the screen shots looked like it had the same vibe. I tried so hard to like this show..!
...but it just didn't happen. Some things like the costumes, props, and the initial ideae of the plot are great, but the rest...
It sounds cheap, the camerawork, lighting and cuts looks cheap even when the scene, props and environment are very detailed (camerawork is extremely important y u must fvck this up?), some dialogues sounds too strange/awkward/unnatural (I can't say if the actors didn't deliver it or if the writer doesn't knows how to write dialogues, or write in general– maybe it's all the three), and the direction feels amateur.
Also I simply can't stand the principal characters. They're so so SO one-dimensional... Either white people in the 1800's didn't had any feelings, or those two actors and the actress doesn't knows how to emulate human emotions that well... Their faces = absolutely expressionless. Most of the supporting actors are very good tho. For example, the policemen and the "businessmen" are convincing and did a good job (even if they too are one-dimensional).
Overall it's a Netflix show, which says A Lot. Unfortunately (or fortunately?) I couldn't get past the first season. I wouldn't recommend to my friends, but maybe to my enemies (I don't really have any enemies so no one will waste their time watching this show). Watch at your own peril.
Review by Mai AnderBlockedParent2021-11-02T06:52:20Z
I REALLY like thrillers, I absolutely loved Hannibal, Twin Peaks, Mind hunter etc., and when I read about The Alienist, I thought I would love it too. I didn't expect a copy of the shows I cited, of course, but the screen shots looked like it had the same vibe. I tried so hard to like this show..!
...but it just didn't happen.
Some things like the costumes, props, and the initial ideae of the plot are great, but the rest...
It sounds cheap, the camerawork, lighting and cuts looks cheap even when the scene, props and environment are very detailed (camerawork is extremely important y u must fvck this up?), some dialogues sounds too strange/awkward/unnatural (I can't say if the actors didn't deliver it or if the writer doesn't knows how to write dialogues, or write in general– maybe it's all the three), and the direction feels amateur.
Also I simply can't stand the principal characters. They're so so SO one-dimensional... Either white people in the 1800's didn't had any feelings, or those two actors and the actress doesn't knows how to emulate human emotions that well... Their faces = absolutely expressionless. Most of the supporting actors are very good tho. For example, the policemen and the "businessmen" are convincing and did a good job (even if they too are one-dimensional).
Overall it's a Netflix show, which says A Lot. Unfortunately (or fortunately?) I couldn't get past the first season. I wouldn't recommend to my friends,
but maybe to my enemies (I don't really have any enemies so no one will waste their time watching this show).Watch at your own peril.