Fans of crime dramas are being urged to discover a hidden gem period series that has been described as a 'chilling masterpiece' and even 'better than Peaky Blinders'. All episodes of The Alienist are currently streaming for free on the platform U.
What is The Alienist?
The Alienist is an American period crime drama series based on the 1994 novel by Caleb Carr. It stars Daniel Brühl, Luke Evans, and Dakota Fanning as an ad hoc team assembled in mid-1890s New York City to investigate a serial killer targeting street children. The show blends fact and fiction, featuring historical figures like Theodore Roosevelt, who served as police commissioner from 1895 to 1897.
The ten-episode limited series first aired on TNT in early 2018, followed by a second season in 2020. The official synopsis reads: 'The Alienist opens when a series of haunting, gruesome murders of boy prostitutes grips New York City. Newly appointed police commissioner Theodore Roosevelt calls upon criminal psychologist (aka alienist) Dr. Laszlo Kreizler and newspaper illustrator John Moore to conduct the investigation in secret. They are joined by Sara Howard, a headstrong secretary determined to become the city's first female police detective. Using emerging disciplines of psychology and early forensic investigation techniques, this band of social outsiders set out to find and apprehend one of New York City's first serial killers.'
Cast and Reception
In addition to Brühl, Evans, and Fanning, the cast includes Brian Geraghty as Theodore Roosevelt, Robert Ray Wisdom, Douglas Smith, Matthew Shear, Q'orianka Kilcher, Matt Lintz, Rosy McEwen, and Melanie Field. All 18 episodes are free to stream on U, with some fans bingeing the entire series in one night.
Viewers have praised the show highly. One IMDb user wrote: 'Hidden gem. People romanticize the Victorian period and our history and this show shines a light on the realities of that time, the seedy underbelly, the corruption, ignorance and greed.' Another commented: 'Peaky Blinders meets True Detective, with a bit of the Exorcist mixed in! A must-watch. Compelling to the end.' A third fan simply called it a 'chilling masterpiece,' while a fourth said: 'I actually think this is better than Peaky Blinders. Better writing than Ripper Street with all the flair of a horror film.'
Other viewers described it as 'dark and twisting,' 'one of the greatest TV shows,' and 'one of the best crime series.' The Alienist is streaming for free on U.
