![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Entry tags:
The Alienist season 1
Finally getting around to writing this up a couple of days late.
So in spite of all the gut-wrenching stuff along the way (I had to skip rewatching parts of 1x09 because the aftermath of Mary's death was just so hard to take) the overall character arcs in this show are so lovely. I love the general theme of the characters learning to open up to each other, to stop hurting each other and take their damage on board and move past it.
I love the contrast between Laszlo in the first couple of episodes being completely unable to apologize or acknowledge his own softer emotions, to simply and tearfully asking Sara to forgive him in 1x10 and openly talking about friendship in the dinner scene. The contrast between John, in the scene where we first meet him, getting drunk and hiring prostitutes to emotionally abuse him and talk about cuckolding him, to John in 1x10 running into the actual guy Julia cheated on him with, and having no interest in even bothering to talk to him, let alone play along with his games. "If I still drank, I wouldn't drink with you!" The contrast between Sara's uncertainty and isolation in the first couple of episodes, to Sara coming into her own as their leader after Laszlo is unable to carry on. The contrast between John insisting that Sara is too fragile to look at dead bodies or have someone swear in her presence, to John stealing her cab in their final scene and leaving her standing alone on a dark street corner, laughing, because he knows she can take care of herself.
I love how often in the last few episodes we see them close ranks, protect and defend each other, and trust each other - in scenes as different as Marcus having to be held back from attacking Mary's killer, Laszo and Sara talking about their trauma together, and Laszlo giving John Mary's ring.
I didn't expect that a show this dark would end up feeling so good at the end. Rewatching it just made me appreciate all the character arcs even more. Mary's death still breaks me a little - I get it from a dramatic perspective (Laszlo withdrawing from the group allows Sara to come into her own as a leader) but, show, did you really have to? On the other hand, everyone else's endings are wonderful (even Marcus and Esther get a cautiously happy ending, and I just want Laszlo to come over every week to tell John's grandmother more about serial killers).
I do feel like the last couple of episodes felt kind of rushed and oddly paced, as if the show needed another episode to fully wrap up everything. Some things were left hanging or unexplained - what happened to Joseph after all of that, say? Laszlo outright lying to John also felt a little more manipulative than really made sense for him at that point. I think part of this is because the show is paced similarly to the book (which I read to compare) but does some different things with the emotional arcs, so where the book didn't need any additional space for emotional resolution at the end, the show could have used it. Still, that's a minor complaint in a season that overall was pretty close to perfect.
If you've seen the season, I recommend looking up the Behind the Episode features on Youtube if you want more background on the episodes; I found some really nice extra tidbits in those, as well as getting to see the actors talking about their roles. (John's actor has a Welsh accent!) Group interviews are also delightful, because the actors clearly bonded closely and really enjoy each other's company as people. Their rapport in interviews is really sweet and fun. Here's one I liked and here's a different, longer interview.
So in spite of all the gut-wrenching stuff along the way (I had to skip rewatching parts of 1x09 because the aftermath of Mary's death was just so hard to take) the overall character arcs in this show are so lovely. I love the general theme of the characters learning to open up to each other, to stop hurting each other and take their damage on board and move past it.
I love the contrast between Laszlo in the first couple of episodes being completely unable to apologize or acknowledge his own softer emotions, to simply and tearfully asking Sara to forgive him in 1x10 and openly talking about friendship in the dinner scene. The contrast between John, in the scene where we first meet him, getting drunk and hiring prostitutes to emotionally abuse him and talk about cuckolding him, to John in 1x10 running into the actual guy Julia cheated on him with, and having no interest in even bothering to talk to him, let alone play along with his games. "If I still drank, I wouldn't drink with you!" The contrast between Sara's uncertainty and isolation in the first couple of episodes, to Sara coming into her own as their leader after Laszlo is unable to carry on. The contrast between John insisting that Sara is too fragile to look at dead bodies or have someone swear in her presence, to John stealing her cab in their final scene and leaving her standing alone on a dark street corner, laughing, because he knows she can take care of herself.
I love how often in the last few episodes we see them close ranks, protect and defend each other, and trust each other - in scenes as different as Marcus having to be held back from attacking Mary's killer, Laszo and Sara talking about their trauma together, and Laszlo giving John Mary's ring.
I didn't expect that a show this dark would end up feeling so good at the end. Rewatching it just made me appreciate all the character arcs even more. Mary's death still breaks me a little - I get it from a dramatic perspective (Laszlo withdrawing from the group allows Sara to come into her own as a leader) but, show, did you really have to? On the other hand, everyone else's endings are wonderful (even Marcus and Esther get a cautiously happy ending, and I just want Laszlo to come over every week to tell John's grandmother more about serial killers).
I do feel like the last couple of episodes felt kind of rushed and oddly paced, as if the show needed another episode to fully wrap up everything. Some things were left hanging or unexplained - what happened to Joseph after all of that, say? Laszlo outright lying to John also felt a little more manipulative than really made sense for him at that point. I think part of this is because the show is paced similarly to the book (which I read to compare) but does some different things with the emotional arcs, so where the book didn't need any additional space for emotional resolution at the end, the show could have used it. Still, that's a minor complaint in a season that overall was pretty close to perfect.
If you've seen the season, I recommend looking up the Behind the Episode features on Youtube if you want more background on the episodes; I found some really nice extra tidbits in those, as well as getting to see the actors talking about their roles. (John's actor has a Welsh accent!) Group interviews are also delightful, because the actors clearly bonded closely and really enjoy each other's company as people. Their rapport in interviews is really sweet and fun. Here's one I liked and here's a different, longer interview.
no subject
I thought that John took him in as a ward, but thinking back I am now not sure if I got that from anywhere but fanon, though it is a nice fanon to have.
no subject
The character dynamics and intense, deep emotions of the show really work for me, especially the catnippy blend of darkness and light. I agree that the plot execution is kind of rushed, especially towards the end--and Cyrus getting thwarted in his attempt to kill Connor wound up feeling pointless, since it goes nowhere and doesn't come up again, and it would have been nice to have his and Stevie's pain about Mary have that kind of narrative consequence (even though Sara shooting Connor is A+)--but it all comparatively dwindles besides how much I adore, say, Laszlo and Sara's fraught conversation about their pasts and that final dinner scene with the toast and John blowing off Julia's lover.
That being said: MAAAARY. That one still hurts a lot. I really loved her--I loved her relationship with Laszlo, and it would have been excellent to see more development of her adorable little friendship with John and her relationship with Cyrus and Stevie. The scenes where she's drifting around happily post-coital while the two of them are shooting each other confused looks is so perfect and so short-lived. :-( And she and Sara could have gotten some really cool interactions, too. ALAS.
I keep deeply craving some hugs with these characters, too. It's hard to get them there, except possibly with the Isaacsons and with John/Sara, because--Laszlo would probably get an ABORT ABORT expression at being hugged 90% of the time and Sara is pretty self-contained. But they go through the wringer so much, and I really need them to just snap and squeeze the life out of each other. And love each other so much that it's embarrassing.
no subject
no subject
Yesssss. The emotional scenes are just so much my thing, enough to make up for other aspects of the show occasionally not quite getting there.
Sara and John - but especially Sara, who doesn't get to do much with other women in the show - getting to interact with Mary as Laszlo's girlfriend would have been AMAZING. Alas for what never was. ;___;
I keep deeply craving some hugs with these characters, too. It's hard to get them there, except possibly with the Isaacsons and with John/Sara, because--Laszlo would probably get an ABORT ABORT expression at being hugged 90% of the time and Sara is pretty self-contained. But they go through the wringer so much, and I really need them to just snap and squeeze the life out of each other. And love each other so much that it's embarrassing.
AAAAHHHHHH. ♥ I totally agree about Laszlo's inevitable ABORT ABORT if anyone so much as comes near him with a hug but that's only because he needs one so much. Having them hit an emotional snapping point and hug each other would be the cherry topping on an angst-and-h/c sundae, and I waaaaant it, in fic if not on the show. Their obvious love for each other even when they're too emotionally repressed to admit it is so lovely.
no subject
no subject
I wish Mary hadn't died, though. I would have loved to see where that relationship went, and I think that would have added richness to the other relationships. It seemed kind of a cheap trick, killing her that way.
no subject
I saw your post on tumblr about S2 and I am exerting all my energy to not click the spoiler, since I won't be able to get hold of S2 for a bit, but I wish to commiserate with you on your demise. Sorry to hear that, sholio. Hopefully future episodes can re-vivify you. :P