The Alienist is based on a 1994 book by historian Caleb Carr. It takes place during the Gilded Age of American Society in New York City, and features historical figures from the era. TNT has produced a ten episode miniseries based on the book, starring Daniel Brühl (Inglorious Basterds and Captain America: Civil War) as Dr. Laszlo Kreizler, Dakota Fanning (War of the Worlds and Man on Fire) as Sara Howard, and Luke Evans (Beauty and the Beast and The Hobbit) as John Moore.
Title: “Silver Smile”
Directed by: Jakob Verbruggen
Synopsis: Byrnes discusses the case with the Van Burgen family, because their son was a parton of Paresis Hall. John wakes up after his ordeal. Stevie saved him, noticing him wandering pantsless. They have set up headquarters at 808 Broadway. At Mulberry Street, Sara talks about being taught to shoot with Alice Roosevelt, Teddy’s daughter. The Issacsons discuss fingerprinting with Kreisler while the killer prowls a bathhouse.
When the brothers go to examine Santorelli’s body, they find the body is missing. Sara goes to a Vassar reunuin where she discuss a friend’s engagement and feels out if place. John has similar engagement with his grandmother friends his late brother is discussed. He remembers that Santorelli never left his room and there is a three story drop.
They track down Sally to confirm her story. Kreisler and cyrus talk. Cryus reveals that he felt pleasure in killing. Mary helps Kreisler, nrevealing to us his withered right ar.
Another body is found at the old immigration station at Castle Clinton in the Battery. The Issacsons examine the body. Sara figures out that the killer likes heights and water, and is no longer hiding his victims. Byrne gets wind of the murder and he and Conners arrive. The team barely escape exposure.
Mary makes them breakfast at 808 Broadwat, but Kreisker is upset that she is there. Kreisler upsets John and Sara about talking about her father’s suicide. John talks about Mary, and how she set her father in fire.
Historical characters:
- Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt (August 6, 1861 – September 30, 1948) was the second wife of President Theodore Roosevelt and served as First Lady of the United States during his presidency from 1901 to 1909. She was the first First Lady to employ a full-time, salaried social secretary. Her tenure resulted in the creation of an official staff, and her formal dinners and ceremonial processions served to elevate the position of First Lady.
- Alice Lee Roosevelt Longworth (February 12, 1884 – February 20, 1980) was an American writer and prominent socialite. She was the eldest child of U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt and the only child of Roosevelt and his first wife, Alice Hathaway Lee.
Historical Locations
- Castle Clinton or Fort Clinton, previously known as Castle Garden, is a circular sandstone fort now located in Battery Park, in Manhattan, New York City. It is perhaps best remembered as America’s first immigration station (predating Ellis Island), where more than 8 million people arrived in the United States from 1855 to 1890. Over its active life, it has also functioned as a beer garden, exhibition hall, theater, and public aquarium, and currently is a national monument.
- 808 Broadway The building where their headquarters is located still exists.
Changes from the book: John was out for two days, and by this time they had already figured out how the killer moved around. The Van Bergens, I believe, are fictional, and do not appear in the book.
My take: We delve into the personal histories of our characters. John’s brother, Sara’s father, Cyrus’s mother, and Mary’s father.