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 FinFanBlockedParent2020-04-29T11:36:27Z
I am not a big fan of Daniel Brühl so this wasn't very high on my watchlist. At the same time I like to watch period shows.
This was a very good mini-series and Brühl did a really good job. The pacing and lenght was just right, it never felt boring. There are two more books by Carr that feature Kreizler but I don't know if there are plans to film them. I certainly would watch. I am thinking about buying the books as well.
While the story itself might not be new or original in terms of the general content, the time period makes this very interesting. In a time where corruption wasn't uncommon and things like fingerprints, profiling were in its infancy (not to mention DNA not even existing) the way to catch a killer was very different. It made the hunt much more engaging.
The costumes and sets look great and althought you can easily identify the CGI, it is incorporated very well and sells the time period.
The cast is great as well, althought I never get the picture of little Dakota in Taken out of my head.
As I said I would welcome a continuation.