The Alienist

:

Season 1
  • Network: TNT
  • Series Premiere Date: Jan 22, 2018
Season #: 2, 1
User Score
6.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 106 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 66 out of 106
  2. Mixed: 18 out of 106
  3. Negative: 22 out of 106
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User Reviews

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  1. sp001
    May 9, 2018
    5
    I can't really give this an honest review as I never got beyond episode two. I never took it any further as the end of the episode has a character being raped by children. Perhaps that will be crucial to the plot later, perhaps not. My thoughts are that it was there simply to shock and build support for the character. This turns the production away from artistic endeavour and toward simpleI can't really give this an honest review as I never got beyond episode two. I never took it any further as the end of the episode has a character being raped by children. Perhaps that will be crucial to the plot later, perhaps not. My thoughts are that it was there simply to shock and build support for the character. This turns the production away from artistic endeavour and toward simple entertainment. Other than that, I had no qualms with the show, but that was enough to discourage me.… Expand
  2. cherold
    Mar 5, 2018
    4
    This first episode has the same grim humorlessness that turned me off of True Detective. It's very focused on atmosphere but not so focused on character, at least to start. Even Teddy Roosevelt just comes across as part of a generic group of serious men being serious about a serious thing.

    I'm also not big on serial killer stuff.
  3. hejtyjaa
    Nov 1, 2018
    5
    Holy moly, how can you f*ck up everything in like 1 episode? It had potential, but after all i don't remember any of characters, the plot or even who was playing in it. Wasted money.

Awards & Rankings

47
#47 Most Discussed TV Season of 2018
27
#27 Most Shared TV Season of 2018

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
61

Generally favorable reviews - based on 26 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 26
  2. Mixed: 16 out of 26
  3. Negative: 0 out of 26
  1. Vox.com
    Reviewed by: Emily VanDerWerff
    Jan 30, 2018
    70
    The Alienist might go very, very wrong in future episodes, and it’s already clear how the series might be more interesting if it took the plot of the novel as a suggestion instead of a road map. But there are enough pleasures around its edges to keep me watching.
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  2. RogerEbert.com
    Reviewed by: Allison Shoemaker
    Jan 24, 2018
    60
    Something of a missed opportunity. To entertain someone is a fine achievement, but to coax them down dark hallways, to lead them willingly into unpleasant corners, to make them wonder about the monsters lurking inside of others and themselves—that’s something else entirely. Not every show needs that kind of depth, but when you’re delving into the crevices of humanity, you’d better leave something for your audience to find.
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  3. New York Magazine (Vulture)
    Reviewed by: Matt Zoller Seitz
    Jan 23, 2018
    80
    The production design and costumes often speak more eloquently than any of the characters, and work overtime to communicate subtext that feels a lot more fresh than most of the text. Despite the apparent dependence on CGI, which is true of nearly everything these days, the images are still overwhelmingly tactile. The direction by Jakob Verbruggen is consistently superb, with flourishes that can sincerely be called virtuoso. And the totality of the thing can’t fail to impress.
    Read full review
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