The Alienist Finale *Spoiler Warning*
This is the final episode in the Series. Will we find out the answer to all our questions? Is Joseph dead? Will they stop Beecham before he kills again? Does Kreizler join the investigation again? Does Connor ever pay for killing Mary? There seems to be too much that needs to be wrapped up to fit in just one episode.
Another Boy Murdered
We open with Laszlo Kreizler (Daniel Brühl) sitting at the dining table, staring off into space. He is still hurting from the death of Mary, will he ever recover from this? We switch to John Moore (Luke Evans) working his way through a crowd towards the bathhouse. A dead boy is being pulled from the bath. I’m thinking the same thing Moore is, please don’t let it be Joseph (Jackson Gann). As Moore approaches the body my heart is racing. I’m so nervous it’s going to be Joseph. The boy’s body is rolled over and there is a huge slice across his abdomen. Moore is so nervous that he is going to see that it’s Joseph, he truly cares about that boy. We finally see the boy’s face…it’s Maxie (Dominic Boyle). I’m as relieved as Moore is that it is not Joseph, we both can breath again.
Sara Howard (Dakota Fanning) rushes into Police Headquarters looking for Commissioner Theodore Roosevelt (Brian Geraghty). She finds him upstairs in a room full of guns on display. She informs him that the boy’s body is being transported to Bellevue. The Mayor wanted it sent there as he thought Roosevelt’s presence may inflame the situation. Roosevelt tells Sara that he dreamed that he would rid New York of corruption and stop murderers. Instead he is a bureaucrat shackled to a desk. Sara tells him an honest politician can never expect gratitude. It’s sadly a true statement. She reassures Roosevelt that they are close to catching the killer, but he tells her not close enough.
Where is Joseph?
Back in the old bar they converted to their new headquarters, Moore is staring forlornly out the window as Sara enters. He tells her that Joseph is still missing. I had hoped it wasn’t Beecham (Bill Heck) that had found him, but obviously it was. Moore tells Sara he gave Joseph money but never even considered taking him in. If he had only been listening to me, I’ve been saying that for weeks now. Sara tells him he’s not to blame, but he feels he is.
Moore tells Sara had felt sympathy for Beecham, until now. I assume when someone you care about becomes a victim, you stop feeling sorry for a person’s lousy childhood. Moore asks Sara if she really loves Kreizler. He’s still feeling jealous it seems. She says she was teasing him. I think that should make him happy. Moore tells Sara he’s in love with her. Sara seems flustered by this and Moore tells her he knows it’s embarrassing and he should keep it to himself. According to society that’s the proper thing to do, but then how did people in the 1800s get together if it’s “rude” to tell someone you love them?
Moore tells Sara she can turn him down, but not to pretend he doesn’t love her. He gives her a very sweet kiss, but I’m not sure by her expression if she liked it or not. He won’t find out either as they are interrupted by Roosevelt entering the old bar. Roosevelt asks if there is any news and Sara tells him Joseph is missing. He then asks about Kreizler.
Kreizler’s Injured Arm
Kreizler is talking about how it has been his life’s study to examine the human mind, but now his is deceiving him. Is he talking to himself? To another person? Another Alienist (therapist) perhaps? He believes he has a right to be mad at God, but instead he feels humbled by Him. My heart is still feeling so sad for him and he is on the verge of tears. He then says “forgive me” and we see he is talking to Sara. This honestly surprises me, I did not expect it to be her.
Sara asks Kreizler to forgive her also for prying into things that were not her business. She tells him she only did it out of regard for him. I’m not convinced she was “just teasing” when she told Moore she loved Kreizler. I think she does have feelings for him. Kreizler then tells her how his arm was injured as a child. After waiting weeks to hear the story I find myself a bit disappointed. I don’t know what I expected, but I certainly expected it to be more than “Father snapped while playing a fun game of tug-a-war and twisted my arm behind my back.” Sadly, the fracture never healed right.
Sara’s Shocking Secret
While Kreizler’s admission was not as shocking as I imagined it would be, Sara shocks me with a confession of her own. She tells Kreizler that as a child she did not realize that her father was depressed. It became so overwhelming that he tried to take his own life. Tried? Poor Sara was the one who found him. I remember Moore said she was only 12 at the time. Poor thing. At the last moment her father tried to pull the gun from his mouth. She says he was in terrible pain. Oh no, is this going where I think it is? Yes it is. At 12 she helped her father kill himself. I’m stunned by this confession. Poor sweet Sara has had to carry that around since she was 12. She tells Kreizler she has learned from him to either carry the pain forever, or use it to help others. Kreizler says he doesn’t believe a person gets to make the choice. Sara disagrees saying if it weren’t a choice we would all be murderers.
Sara had asked Kreizler to come back to the investigation. We now find him in the bathhouse questioning the Caretaker (Simon Harvey), it appears he has accepted Sara’s request for his return. He examines the location where Maxie was killed. Kreizler then asks the caretaker to describe the wounds. The caretaker tells him he was cut across the abdomen and legs. Kreizler asks if the eyes were missing and the man tells him no, that the pale eyes were staring up at him from the water. Why didn’t Beecham take the eyes? Was it because he was interrupted by Joseph? As Kreizler retraces the killer’s steps he somehow knows to stop at the stall Joseph was hiding in. Is Kreizler psychic now? In the stall he finds what looks like a bit of blood on the wall. I cringe in disgust as he tastes it.
Continued on next page…
The Feast of John the Baptist
Sara is looking at a calendar with the next Holy Day circled on it. As I see the date, June 24, I have an immediate reaction inside of “Please No”. That is my youngest son’s birthday. For some reason it bothers me that his birthday is the date of the next murder. And not just any murder, but most likely Joseph’s murder. The calendar shows it is now June 16, they have a week to stop Beecham before he kills again.
Kreizler is met by Marcus Isaacson (Douglas Smith) outside Beecham’s apartment house. Lucius Isaacson (Matthew Shear) is already in the apartment. As Kreizler looks around the place Lucius tells him “the organic evidence” (body parts) was taken away for analysis. On the wall is a map of the city’s water system. Marcus thinks he is using the system to get around the city. Marcus comments that The Feast of John the Baptist is 10 days away. That would make the date June 14, but Sara’s calendar clearly showed it was June 16. Mistakes like that bother me.
Kreizler seems unsure about Marcus’s assumption that he is using the water system for travel. He wonders if the water is associated with his next murder. I thought the same thing when I first saw the map. It seems so obvious. Then suddenly Kreizler tells the Isaacsons he thinks they are right. Now I’m confused. Kreizler asks for a moment alone. The last time he did that he stabbed a poor dead boy. He lays on Beecham’s bed while the voices of people talking about evidence play in his head. Is he trying to feel as Beecham feels while laying in the bed? Is he losing his mind? As he lays there he stares at the map of the water system, then he rolls over into a fetal position.
Little Boy Lost
Joseph! He is still alive, but curled up in the fetal position in what I’m assuming is the underground water system. He is crying and scared, there is a small fire burning near him. Joseph’s legs and hands are bound. We hear a door squeak open in the distance. Joseph is terrified and I’m terrified for him. A cat is meowing in the distance. Beecham suddenly lowers himself down from the ceiling. We see an orange tabby on the floor in a bag. Beecham picks the bag up. What is he going to do with the kitty? Is he going to throw it in the fire? Please don’t do that! Beecham suddenly slams the bag against the wall and I yell No! What an evil bastard! I close my eyes as he repeatedly slams the bag over and over. I can’t even imagine the level of terror poor Joseph is feeling.
Sara and Moore are at the old bar with Roosevelt. She is telling the Commissioner she is not sure that Beecham had the map for traveling. Sara then reads Luke 3:16 which is about Baptism. She believes that Beecham took the first name John from John the Baptist. Sara tells Roosevelt she believes water is important to his morbid ritual. She thinks Beecham used to map to choose his next location. That’s what I have thought the whole time. Of course now we also know he has Joseph held prisoner down in the water system. They have 6 days until The Feast of John the Baptist. Sara suggests they start at High Bridge Water Tower, the highest point in the city.
Don Giovanni
Moore returns home and finds Kreizler in the garden talking to his Grandmother (Grace Zabriskie) about murderers. Moore asks if he came there just to frighten his grandmother, she doesn’t look frightened to me. Grandmother tells him she is not frightened of those psychopaths. Good for you Grandma. Kreizler tells Moore he is there to invite him to the Opera, Don Giovanni, on June 24. Moore asks him if he knows why that date is important. Kreizler does. What is he up to? Why does he want to go to the Opera that night? Moore tells him he will be busy with Sara and Roosevelt and asks Kreizler to join them. Kreizler tells him they are expected to be at the Opera that night. That “certain followers” of his work will expect them there. I’m not sure who Kreizler is talking about, the Mayor perhaps. He tells Moore he will meet him at 7:30.
Joseph is still lying on the floor somewhere in the water system. Beecham approaches him as he cries in fear. Joseph is so scared he wets himself. Beecham tells Joseph he is dirtier than a savage. He then says “she only loved me when she bathed me.” He keeps rambling on as he throws a cloth at the boy. A shot of Sara’s calendar shows us it is now June 24. Please let them find the boy before Beecham kills him.
June 24
We see Sara, Marcus and Roosevelt heading out to hopefully stop Beecham. As they head out we see Moore arriving at the Opera. Kreizler is already in his box and as he looks across the theater we see Thomas Byrnes (Ted Levine) watching him from another box. Moore arrives at the box telling Kreizler he is still baffled why he is there. I’m just as baffled. Moore tells him that Roosevelt is at Brooklyn Bridge and Sara is with the Isaacsons at High Bridge Tower. He keeps telling Kreizler they need to leave NOW, but the doctor ignores him.
Sara arrives at High Bridge Tower and is greeted by the Isaacsons. We then see Roosevelt and several mounted police officers arrive at Brooklyn Bridge. Kreizler tells Moore to check out Box 16. He sees that Byrnes is watching them. As Sara checks the time she tells Lucius that Moore and Kreizler will join them just as soon as they can. When Moore looks at his pocket watch we see it is now 10:00 pm. Kreizler tells him there is still time. I’m still very confused by this part. Why does Moore stay there if he is so adamant they leave? Why is Kreizler so sure that they still have time?
Every Move You Make…
Byrnes has spent the entire Opera staring at Kreizler and Moore. Sara is very anxious waiting for their arrival. Beecham kneels down next to Joseph and he has a large dagger in his hand. He puts the dagger to Joseph’s neck. Please don’t kill him! Kreizler asks Moore to see if there is anyone in the corridor. Are they finally going to leave? Moore checks and the coast is clear. As the Opera builds in intensity we see Beecham life Joseph over his shoulder and walk off with the boy. The tension is building as we jump from character to character. Many “explosions” start shooting off on stage, as part of the performance, distracting Byrnes. Kreizler and Moore use that opportunity to “escape.”
As Kreizler and Moore hurry away from the Opera Connor (David Wilmot) watches them leave. Sara is becoming suspicious of Kreizler not turning up at the Tower. She asks Marcus what Kreizler was interested in at Beecham’s apartment. Kreizler and Moore are in a carriage, but they are not going towards Sara’s location. The doctor tells Moore they are not going to High Bridge, he says Beecham’s ritual is changing and that he will not be at High Bridge Tower. So Sara is right to be suspicious.
Kreizler’s Deception
Sara looks at the map of the water system as Kreizler tells Moore that the heart they found belonged to Beecham’s mother. How does he know this? That not only love resides in the heart, but also pain. Sara tells the Isaacsons she is going to see if she can find out what happened to the other men. Kreizler admits he had Moore lie to Roosevelt so the police would be in the wrong location. Why? The two men arrive at Croton Reservoir and enter the building. How did Kreizler figure out this is where Beecham would go? I feel like chunks of information are missing in this episode.
Kreizler and Moore are using candles to guide their way through the dark tunnels of the Reservoir. It feels like they have been looking forever. They just keep following the twists and turns of the tunnels. All we hear is their breathing and the ominous music. They make their way through a metal door and then hear Joseph yelling out for help. Go save him! Moore yells out the boy’s name and Beecham covers Joseph’s mouth and nose until he passes out.
Finish reading on the final page…
The Final Showdown
Moore leads Kreizler through the tunnels and Beecham carries the unconscious Joseph up a ladder. Hurry! Moore is right on his heels. As Beecham carries the boy away from the ladder we see Moore arrive at the bottom of it. Climb quickly, save Joseph. When Moore and Kreizler make it up the ladder they hear Beecham shatter a lamp plunging the room into darkness. Moore finds Joseph on the floor, unconscious but alive. Where did Beecham go? Kreizler hears clanging on the pipes and goes cautiously looking for the killer. TURN AROUND! Beecham is silently crawling along the pipes on the ceiling behind the doctor. As Kreizler enters another room Beecham attacks him from above.
Did Beecham kill Kreizler? Something catches Moore’s attention and he starts calling out for nervously for Kreizler. These guys need to watch their backs better. Beecham has lowered himself from the ceiling behind Moore. He grabs him from behind and repeatedly slams his head against the wall. As Moore slumps to the floor we see Kreizler trying to sit up. Thank God he didn’t kill him. Kreizler rushes back into the room and he is grabbed. All of a sudden we see Connor come walking into the tunnels. Will he save them? As much as I hate the man, I hope he will save them.
Japheth
Sara pulls up to Croton Reservoir. How did she know to go there? I’m not sure how Kreizler figured it out, and now Sara has too. This part should have been explained better. Beecham has Kreizler pinned to the floor, the doctor calls him by his real name, Japheth. We see the killer start to twitch, then he pulls his dagger out. He runs the weapon along the side of Kreizler’s face. He tells him “I could take your eyes, but I want you to see.” See what? Joseph’s murder? He then pulls Kreizler’s bad arm straight out causing him to scream in pain.
Sara rushes into the building as Beecham starts removing his clothes. Kreizler tells him he knows what has happened to him. Sara can hear their voices as she works her way down the tunnels. Kreizler tells Beecham that killing Joseph won’t rid him of his mother. Beecham looks at him and says “you think that’s why?” As he starts to carry the boy away Connor enters the room and shoots at Beecham. Kreizler yells out “NO!” Now I understand why he didn’t want the police there, he wanted to be able to talk to the man. Find out WHY he kills the boys. I will say that while Kreizler is upset that Connor shot him, I’m thrilled. He saved Joseph’s life.
A Blood Bath?
Sara hears the gunshot and hurries faster towards the voices. Connor says he walked in on a blood bath. What? No! He’s going to kill them all. Why would I think for even a second that he would do ANYTHING good? He’s going to kill them all and blame it on Beecham. Sara arrives in the room and he turns the gun on her. He tells her that the police department is no place for a lady as lovely as she is, and then starts choking her. Someone save her! Where is Moore? Is he still alive? As Connor squeezes harder on her neck a shot rings out.Yes! Who saved Sara?
Do I really need to ask that? Have I not learned by now that Sara can take care of herself? It was Sara that shot him. He drops to the floor and dies. Beecham is no longer in the room so Kreizler goes looking for him. Sara finds Moore on the floor, he is alive. Moore then cradles Joseph in his arms, relieved that the boy is still alive. Kreizler finds Beecham at the top of the Reservoir gasping for breath. The doctor asks him why he killed the boys, but he dies before he can tell him anything. Although I honestly doubt he would have told him the reason even if he could.
…And To Do Good
Roosevelt is at Kreizler’s institute. He is upset and asks Sara what happened with Connor. Moore, ever the gentleman, tries to take the blame for killing him. Sara of course won’t let that happen and confesses she shot him. Roosevelt looks very confused. Is he going to arrest Sara? It was self defense. I’m surprised when he tells her she always had the courage to do what needed to be done. I’m not surprised by the fact, because she does, but that he seems to be okay with what she did. He tells Sara her father would be proud of her.
Kreizler and the Isaacsons are dissecting Beecham’s brain. Kreizler then tells Roosevelt, Moore and Sara that it is a perfectly normal and healthy brain. Moore asks if it proves he wasn’t insane and the doctor tells him it proves they don’t know anything. Roosevelt reminds him he found a killer with no connection to his victims, that he stopped a monster. Kreizler says they were looking for a monster, but all they found was a wounded child. He still has sympathy for Japheth/Beecham is appears. Sara tells him she knows how badly he wanted him alive. Kreizler tells her that while Jesse Pomeroy and Japheth Dury will take their secrets to the grave, there will be more. That maybe one day they will figure out what makes someone do evil, Sara adds “and to do good.”
A Hero?
A driverless horse drawn carriage comes into Police Headquarters. There is a body in the back with some notes pinned to it. The notes say “Japheth Dury” and “This is the man who killed the boys.” We are then at a ceremony where Roosevelt is honoring Captain Connor as Byrnes looks on. He touts him as a hero. I’m torn by this event. While I don’t want that scum being thought of as a hero, if it keeps Sara out of trouble and leaves his innocent family better off, I guess I”m okay with it. Roosevelt gives a Medal of Commendation to Connor’s family and Byrnes, while looking skeptical, seems satisfied with this outcome. He leads the officers there in a salute which Connor’s son Thomas (Art Burnett) returns. Byrnes then gives Roosevelt a “screw you” look and Roosevelt smiles happily. Byrnes can’t publicly say anything negative about the case now, or it will take away Connor’s accolades.
Kreizler is out to dinner with Sara, Moore and the Isaacson twins. He says the last four months have made them all friends. Moore then calls for a toast to friendship. Kreizler slips a lovely ring he planned to give Mary to Moore. He tells his friend he hopes he can find someone to give it to. I’m sure Kreizler is assuming he will give it to Sara. After dinner Moore is walking with Sara. When he tells her he meant it when he said he loved her, she tells him he just loves what he doesn’t have. He tells her he will wait patiently until she becomes Chief of Detectives. Moore tells her the 20th Century is upon them and who knows, women may even get the right to vote one day. He climbs into Sara’s cab and rides off leaving her to get another one. This exchange between the two of them is all good-natured and fun.
You Did The Best You Could
Kreizler is walking through some beautiful grounds with a nurse. She points out a man for the doctor. Who has Kreizler gone to see? He sits next an old man (Tim Barlow) and speaks to him in German. He tells the man he’s not sure why he has come. I realize that this is his father. Also in German he tells his father maybe it’s because he is free to speak his mind now. Switching to English he tells his father he has always blamed his failings on what he did to him as a child. Kreizler then takes ownership of his failings. He tells his father he understands his father tried to prepare him for a lifetime of disappointment and pain. Kreizler then tells his father he was wrong though, that people can be better than nature intended. He tells his father “you did the best you could” and then says “goodbye Papi” The Series comes to a close as Kreizler walks away.
I loved this Series, I’m not ready for it to be over. I don’t want to say good bye to these characters. It was listed as a “Limited Series” but I hope, considering the outstanding ratings, they decide to do a Season 2. I still have questions I need answered. Did Moore take Joseph in? I had been hoping for weeks that he would, but we are never told. Will Sara and Moore eventually end up together? Or does she have feelings for Kreizler? We never did really learn how Beecham was able to gain the boys’ trust. Just because he could understand what they had been through? There had to be more to it than that. I had not read the book before watching the show so everything that happened was a surprise to me. I’m thinking maybe I should read the book now to see if there were more details that they did not have time to fit into the show.
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