Dakota Fanning Stars in a Hidden Sci-Fi Thriller Worth Watching
Fans of dark, stylish mysteries will appreciate The Alienist, a Dakota Fanning-led series that expertly blends crime and psychology. On the surface, it appears as a typical gloomy period mystery with cobblestone streets, gas lamps, and corseted intrigue. However, closer inspection reveals one of the most intelligent, slow-burning thrillers of the last decade.
Plot and Setting
This two-season TNT series features Dakota Fanning, Daniel Brühl, and Luke Evans, exploring the origins of criminal psychology, forensic science, and early women’s rights advocacy. It is set against the detailed and moody backdrop of 1890s New York.
Source Material and Main Characters
Adapted from Caleb Carr’s bestselling 1994 novel, The Alienist follows Dr. Laszlo Kreizler (Daniel Brühl), a criminal psychologist—referred to as an “alienist” at the time—tasked by Police Commissioner Theodore Roosevelt (Brian Geraghty) to probe a string of brutal murders targeting street children.
Societal Contrast and Investigative Team
The series presents a stark contrast between wealthy and impoverished Manhattan in 1896, with opulent mansions situated just blocks away from brothels and tenements housing street children. Kreizler partners with illustrator John Moore (Luke Evans) and Sara Howard (Dakota Fanning), Roosevelt’s determined secretary and the NYPD’s first female employee, forming an unusual yet effective investigative team.
"The Alienist chronicles Dr. Laszlo Kreizler, a criminal psychologist, assigned to investigate a series of gruesome homicides involving street children."
Author’s Summary: The Alienist is a gripping period thriller that expertly fuses crime-solving with early psychological and social insights, anchored by strong performances and atmospheric 1890s New York.