MovieChat Forums > The Alienist (2018) Discussion > The red herring (SPOILER ALERT)

The red herring (SPOILER ALERT)

posted 7 years ago by whynotwriteme (7720)
21 replies | jump to latest

OK, I've read the book one summer during my college era, but it's been over twenty years. I don't recall anything about the actual killer, but I found it a little disappointing that the creepy rich boy with the silver teeth was done away with so suddenly and this anonymous Bluto-from-Popeye sailor dude just popped into the antagonist role. That silver toothed brat was hideously creepy. How can Bluto top that? And does silver-teeth's death mean that Sean Young is out of the picture now?

[–] Costumer (1821) 7 years ago

They are adding a lot to the original story and leaving out a great deal. Finding the killer involved a considerable amount of research and travel.

While the killer being a member of the rich and powerful was certainly part of their considerations, they've taken farther than the book. And I do not recall them sending Stevie undercover as a lure.

I'm also a bit puzzled by the explicit, sexual hijinks of Marcus Isaacson. In the book there was no implication at all that either Isaacson were involved with prostitutes or had lovers. Indeed, the Isaacson's were secondary characters, though I did want to see more of them.

I haven't read the second book yet, and perhaps they are borrowing details from that book in the story.

[–] whynotwriteme (7720) 7 years ago

The show certainly seems much more sensationalized than the book. I have no recollection of all these transgender boy prostitutes and I certainly don't recall John Moore being drugged and gang-buggered by them ("He won't be able to sit down for a week!"). There's also a much more Politically Correct mood to it. I don't recall Mary Palmer being native American or Kreizler championing so many social justice causes.

[–] [deleted] 7 years ago

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[–] whynotwriteme (7720) 7 years ago

" It never implied in the book or TV show he was raped. It was more a threat then anything."

Why would they say he wouldn't be able to sit down for a week if he was not raped?

[–] [deleted] 7 years ago

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[–] jmnf19 (10) 7 years ago

That whole thing was confusing. I assumed the same thing when the cop said the line but then Moore didn’t seem as if he had been raped. He did say he didn’t remember anything, but I expected him to wince when he sat down or shift in his chair but he was sitting comfortably, chatting with his grandmother the same (or maybe next) day. Maybe the cop was just bragging, being tough but they actually only drugged him?

[–] vicky_lc2001 (1907) 7 years ago

Me too I expected and assumed he was raped as well but despite the 'drugging', he sure didn't act like he was. Or the show chose not to dwell on the pain and consequences of the rape since children were the ones who raped him?

[–] Costumer (1821) 7 years ago

Indeed, the boy prostitutes were the entire focus of the killer. We saw quite a bit of both the actual brothels and the street walkers.

I don't recall Mary being Native American but I won't swear it wasn't mentioned. They do seem to be ignoring the main points of Mary's arc, but we do have a least an episode to go.

I not sure that Kreizler championed any particular social justice causes as he championed people.

Yes, I recall Moore being drugged, but that was all.

[–] [deleted] 7 years ago

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[–] Costumer (1821) 7 years ago

For me it's not only that they are adding new stuff but ignoring a lot of the important action in the book that allowed them to solve the mystery. Unless they completely change the killer I don't see how they can be lead to him in just one more episode.

[–] [deleted] 7 years ago

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[–] Costumer (1821) 7 years ago

You could be correct on the number of episodes. I thought I heard one, but could easily have misheard. But even in two, I don't think they can get the actual investigation in understandably.

[–] Costumer (1821) 7 years ago

Well, this episode they actually started to dip into the actual detective work needed to find the killer. I'm feeling marginally better.

[–] BlueeyedSara (90) 7 years ago

Is the depiction of Kreizler close to the book character? I find him to be such a pompous, inappropriate, self-centered jerk.

BTW, it is my understanding that there are ten episodes so there are three more to go.

[–] [deleted] 7 years ago

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[–] BlueeyedSara (90) 7 years ago

Thank you. For a character that is the lead in a series, I really don't like him at all.

[–] [deleted] 7 years ago

I agree. He’s not a lead character type of actor. And he speaks in a gruff whisper that is so hard to find understand. The whole series is miscast.

[–] db20db (17235) 7 years ago

I've also been enjoying it. It's the first series in awhile I've actually followed. Gives me something to look forward to during an otherwise boring Monday night.

[–] [deleted] 7 years ago

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[–] db20db (17235) 7 years ago

Books usually do ! I made the very same observation with Stephen King's The Shining.

[–] [deleted] 7 years ago

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