The Alienist (2018)

The Alienist (2018) is a dark, slow-burn crime drama set in a grim, vividly realized 1890s New York. When a string of haunting, gruesome murders of boy prostitutes terrifies the city, criminal psychologist (or “alienist”) Dr. Laszlo Kreizler (Daniel Brühl) and newspaper illustrator John Moore (Luke Evans), summoned by Police Commissioner Theodore Roosevelt, launch a secret investigation. Joined by Sara Howard (Dakota Fanning), a determined young secretary fighting to become the city’s first female detective, the trio uses the nascent tools of psychology and early forensic techniques to hunt one of the city's first serial killers. Watching the show you’ll get an atmospheric blend of meticulous procedural work, social commentary, and psychological intensity: foggy streets and smoky parlors, morally complex characters, and mounting suspense as clues and theories are tested. The series balances grisly crime scenes with thoughtful character drama and period detail, exploring class, corruption, and gender in Gilded Age Manhattan. Expect a measured pace that rewards attention, strong performances, and a tense, unsettling mystery rather than fast action.

Actors: Daniel Brühl, Dakota Fanning, Luke Evans

Genres: Crime, Drama, Mystery

7.7 /10 7.7 /10