The Alienist – Die Einkreisung

A quality series. I like period detective/crime series and the atmosphere of nineteenth-century New York was great. I reveled in the total desolation of the slums. I was pleased with the excellent acting performances of the central three protagonists, and I was surprised that Luke Evans somewhat overshadowed Daniel Brühl (in my view). Perhaps it was because the character of John Moore had more layers and seemed more intriguing. It’s a shame that the creators didn’t manage to avoid some current trends. I don’t think I would come across certain issues in 1896 New York, or even in 1956 New York, or even later than that. Too bad, it made me give a lower rating. (05.10.2018)

Like with any series, the pilot was a chance to get into the story and meet the characters, and it did just that. Luke Evans (John Moore) really stood out, while Dakota Fanning gave a solid performance as Sara Howard. However, her character felt a bit too on-the-nose — strong, independent, and, of course, the first woman in the police force. The story started off fine, but it didn’t offer anything extra that would make me rate it higher. (04.10.2018)

After two episodes, I can confidently praise the excellent acting performances. However, I’m not as thrilled with the story itself. It feels like it’s missing a certain spark, so I find myself watching without much engagement. It really needs an extra push to draw me in. (04.10.2018)

This was the best episode so far. Moore's "walk of shame" was hilarious, and the matchmaking grandma cracked me up. Sara's school reunion was also a nice touch. The discovery of the second victim and the crime scene events were much more engaging this time, so I'm adding an extra star. (04.10.2018)

It seems the show has finally found its stride after a couple of shaky episodes. I'm really starting to enjoy the overall atmosphere, and the dynamics between the characters are as entertaining as the case itself. I hope it keeps up this momentum. (04.10.2018)

The creators really annoyed me with that ridiculously clichéd door-knocking scene. This trope is so overused it should be officially banned. What was the point? Was that supposed to build suspense? It just made me mad. (04.10.2018)

A pretty solid episode overall. The story had a great atmosphere and a good pace. Amid the frantic search for the killer, there was still time to develop the characters and their relationships. Sara’s got her work cut out for her to make sure Stevie doesn’t steal the spotlight as the most intriguing character of the show!:-) (05.10.2018)

I had to dock a star due to the creators' oversight. It's 1896, and a well-educated Black woman becomes an editor at the Philadelphia Tribune? Sure, why not? Such absurdities can completely overshadow the rest of the episode for me. (05.10.2018)

An interesting episode where the investigation made significant progress, and Laszlo Kreizler finally showed his human side (though given the situation, it might not last long). As I expected, the story is picking up pace, and you can feel the conclusion drawing near. (05.10.2018)

The ninth episode has been my favorite so far, even without the show's titular character. Surprisingly, I didn't miss Laszlo Kreizler at all, thanks to the excellent performances by John Moore and Sara Howard. The investigation was intense and methodical throughout, and the ending didn't disappoint at all. Full marks for this one. (05.10.2018)

The finale didn’t quite hit the heights of the previous episode, but I’m not complaining. The return to the Opera initially worried me, but thankfully, things moved quickly this time. The story maintained a great pace with plenty of tension and action. However, the conclusion of the hunt for the killer was a bit predictable. Overall, I wasn’t disappointed and had a good time watching. (05.10.2018)