Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.5

The Alienist: Season One Blu-ray Movie Review

Teddy Roosevelt, the early years.

Reviewed by Randy Miller III February 5, 2021

Based on the first of several novels by Caleb Carr, TNT's The Alienist is a sumptuously produced but slightly uneven series that examines crime and punishment in New York City, 1896. Well, crime at least: like so many shows before it -- going as far back as David Lynch's landmark Twin Peaks -- it leads off with a horrific crime revealing a tangled web of dirty secrets. Said crime is the gruesome murder of young male prostitute Giorgio Santorelli, who often wore women's clothes and went by "Gloria". The resulting investigation calls in criminal psychologist Dr. Laszlo Kreizler (Daniel Brühl) and New York Times illustrator John Moore (Luke Evans), who dig deeper when the police department, led by Captain Connor (David Wilmot), is more interested in covering it up. Joining them is Sara Howard (Dakota Fanning), secretary of police commissioner Theodore Roosevelt (Brian Geraghty) and the department's first female employee.

Of course, NYC is any era could hardly be classified as a quaint little city with a dark underbelly, let alone the grim and starkly divided one introduced during the show's pilot episode. But that works to The Alienist's advantage: it really does feel like an expansive and bustling metropolis you could easily get lost in, thanks to outstanding production design that meets or exceeds that of most major motion pictures. Still, this ten-episode limited series struggles to find its legs in the early going, with many ultra-progressive sentiments -- for the time, anyway -- and stunt characters like Roosevelt feeling more like dangled carrots for modern audiences, not to mention a plot that could easily have been condensed to seven or eight episodes. Nonetheless, I ended up falling for the show's other charms, which go beyond production design to other period-specific elements like early forensic science and the treatment of mental illness.

Episode summaries are included below. All 10 are included on Warner Bros.' Blu-ray edition, which also features a solid A/V presentation and a few lightweight but appreciated bonus features. A follow-up series, subtitled Angel of Darkness and based on the second Carr novel, has recently been announced for a March Blu-ray release. Running a modest eight episodes in total, possibly for reasons related to the then-new COVID-19 pandemic, it focuses intently on the exploits of Sara Howard in a male-dominated world. (Considering she's easily the show's least compelling main character, I'll keep my expectations in check.) Until then, newcomers can quickly get caught up with these ten episodes:

Disc 1

• The Boy on the Bridge: New York City. 1896. The heart of America’s Gilded Age. When a young boy prostitute is found butchered on the unfinished Williamsburg Bridge, an alienist named Laszlo Kreizler, a newspaper illustrator by the name of John Moore, a secretary, Sara Howard and a police commissioner named Theodore Roosevelt begin an investigation outside the law to find the serial killer.

• A Fruitful Partnership: The investigation heats up as Sara gets her hands on a clue and Kreizler tries to connect the evidence left behind by the serial killer. Tensions rise within the police department. Kreizler takes Moore, Sara, Marcus (Douglas Smith) and Lucius (Matthew Shear) to Delmonico’s in New York and informs them they are going to be working together as a team to catch the killer.

• Silver Smile: Innovative evidence leads the team to discover a crucial element in the case has gone missing. Kreizler and Moore interview a witness to find out what happened to Moore at the Brothel. Sara attempts to live in a world outside the investigation. Kreizler challenges them to look within themselves.

• These Bloody Thoughts: Kreizler and Sara discuss the capacity to kill. Moore goes on a date. Byrnes (Ted Levine) and Captain Connor (David Wilmot) keep an eye on a potential suspect. Roosevelt finds himself under public scrutiny.

• Hildebrandt’s Starling: The team learns more about the killer. Moore and Sara share an intimate moment. Kreizler seeks advice from an old mentor. Roosevelt takes action.

Disc 2

• Ascension: The team hatches a plan to catch the killer. Moore (Luke Evans) checks in on a friend. Kreizler faces his own self- doubt about the investigation. Roosevelt attends an event with the city’s elite. Sara looks into Kreizler’s past. Connor acts on impulse.

• Many Sainted Men: Kreizler and Moore follow a lead. Sara visits a hospital and is forced to confront her past. Cyrus (Robert Ray Wisdom), Kreizler’s carriage driver, recovers from his injuries. Byrnes and Connor plot against the team. Detectives Marcus (Douglas Smith) and Lucius Isaacson (Matthew Shear) work on a clue.

• Psychopathia Sexualis: Kreizler and Moore travel to Washington, D.C., Sara goes rogue in pursuit of the truth. Lucius tells Marcus a secret. Byrnes and Connor tighten their grip on the investigation.

• Requiem: Kreizler mourns the loss of a friend. Sara pushes the team to forge ahead. Moore warns his friend the killer will strike again. Cyrus (Robert Ray Wisdom) seeks revenge.

• Castle in the Sky: Kreizler confronts the demons of his past. Moore tells Sara the truth. Connor takes matters into his own hands. The team closes in on the killer as time is running out.

The Alienist: Season One Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The Alienist was shot digitally... but unlike, say, Michael Mann's Public Enemies, the format doesn't work against it. This is tricky material too, with endless fog and hazy interiors that, in the wrong hands, would crumble under the weight of banding and compression artifacts, both of which Blu-rays aren't immune to. And while the former flaw does creep in on more than a few occasions, it's mostly kept at bay and rarely distracts from The Alienist's otherwise terrific visuals. Colors are predominantly muted with plenty of bold blues and oranges, with period-specific signage, costume designs, and the soft glow of ambient lights looking particularly nice. Skin tones appear accurate as well depending on lighting conditions, while textures and fine details are limited but pop nicely during daytime scenes. The entire production has something of a very smooth and balanced appearance -- not necessarily waxy or flat, but more of a best-case scenario for the recreation of a year when "digital" wasn't even a word yet. Overall, it's a great-looking release.

The Alienist: Season One Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The lossless Dolby TrueHD 5.1 mix is decidedly front-heavy but does achieve regular moments of immersion, mostly by way of bustling outdoor scenes, crowded halls, cavernous interiors, diegetic music, and the original score by Rupert Gregson-Williams. Dialogue is typically given top priority and sounds crystal clear with good placement and depth, and it's mixed well enough so as not to warrant frequent volume adjustments even during the series' most violent mood swings. Discrete panning and other effects are rare and usually reserved for (hose-drawn) traffic and occasional action sequences, as well as a few jump scares and hallucinatory moments, such as the drugging of John Moore during a late-night investigation. Since most of The Alienist is relatively quiet and subdued, the majority of these 10 episodes rely more on subtle atmosphere than bombastic heft; to that end, what's here is certainly good enough.

Optional English (SDH) subtitles are included during all episodes and applicable bonus features.

The Alienist: Season One Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This two-disc release arrives in a dual-hubbed keepcase with surprisingly bright artwork with a very glossy slipcover. A brief episode guide and Digital Copy slip are also tucked inside. Extras are divided between both discs.

Disc 1 - Don't watch these featurettes until later! Spoilers for Disc 2's episodes are given away.

• Building The Alienist Pixel by Pixel (23:53) - Director / executive producer Jakob Verbruggen, production designer Mara Lepere-Schloop, writer / executive producer Hossein Amini, several visual effects artists, and key cast members talk about the extensive research and technology used to bring late 19th Century New York City (above) to life using a near-seamless combination of practical sets and three different VFX houses.

• Inside The Alienist - This series of three bite-sized featurettes includes "Reimaging the Gilded Age" (3:12), "Birth of Psychology and Forensics" (2:57), and "Behind Dakota's Look" (4:01).

Discs 1 & 2

• Inside the Episode (3-4 minutes each) - Similarly short featurettes for each of this first season's 10 episodes, many featuring brief comments from key members of the cast and crew.

The Alienist: Season One Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

TNT's ongoing series The Alienist doesn't break much ground in the ever-expanding world of forensic crime dramas, but its late 19th Century setting, aided by outstanding production design, manages to create a rich and convincing sandbox for the main and supporting characters. Its unfolding story doesn't always feel quite as satisfying but has merit, which makes this ten-episode first season definitely worth a run-through before the second one's Blu-ray release next month. Warner Bros.' two-disc Blu-ray package serves up a very solid A/V presentation and a small collection of decent extras. It's recommended to newcomers interested in the subject matter, or to fans who haven't picked it up yet.