The Alienist Episode 7
The killer has managed to snatch a boy right under their noses. His body left at the feet of “Lady Liberty.” How can they possibly stop this man? What will the ramifications be from this murder? Will Roosevelt have to pull them off the case? Will the latest murder provide any new clues to the man’s identity? How long until the next Holy Day? A lot of questions in The Alienist Episode 7!
We open to the sound of a ticking clock, we then find John Moore (Luke Evans) attempting to sketch the man Stevie (Matt Lintz) saw at the brothel. Dr. Kreizler (Daniel Brühl) is becoming frustrated with Moore who, according to the doctor, is drawing what he wants to draw and not what Stevie is describing. As the two men argue Stevie becomes frustrated and yells at them to stop. It’s sad that a boy has to be the one to remind the men that all the arguing will not help them find the killer.
Rosie
There is a huge mob of angry people being held back by a line of policemen. Moore and Kreizler are making their way through the crowd. The immigrants are outraged that another one of their boys has been murdered. I’m surprised how easily Moore and Kreizler make it through, I would have expected them to be more accosted. The men are headed into the morgue where Rosie’s (Oliver Cater) body is.
Lucius Isaacson (Matthew Shear) describes the boys wounds to everyone gathered. Like the other victims his genitals have been removed and his right hand is missing. There are also lacerations to the abdomen. Unlike the other boys though Rosie is only missing one eye and his heart is missing. The boy was also, unlike the others, scalped. This makes me immediately think that perhaps the murderer is Native American.
The Wild West
Commissioner Roosevelt (Brian Geraghty) says he has only ever seen someone scalped out west. He explains that when he was working on a ranch in the Dakotas he saw the bodies of some white men that had been mutilated after an Indian massacre. Kreizler asks Roosevelt if he is sure it’s the same. The commissioner tells him the scalping and the missing eye and genitals are similar to what he saw.
Kreizler tells Lucius and his brother Marcus (Douglas Smith) to go through the information they received from mental hospitals and asylums. He wants them to look for any patients with connections to the west. He asks Sara Howard (Dakota Fanning) to assist them. Kreizler then asks to be left alone with the boy’s body. It’s a strange request, even for him. No one questions it though and they all leave the morgue.
What Is Kreizler Doing?
While the request to be alone with the body was strange, what he does next is completely bizarre. After lovingly stroking the boy’s hair Kreizler picks up a sharp instrument. Why? What is he going to do with that? He begins tracing the wound on Rosie’s abdomen. Then for no apparent reason he slowly stabs the body with the scalpel. Kreizler has always been strange, but this is beyond strange, it’s down right creepy. Does he just want to know what it feels like to stab someone? After pulling the scalpel out of the boy he tells him “I’m Sorry” in what I assume is German.
Leaving the morgue is much more difficult for Kreizler and Moore than arriving was. A man from the crowd manages to break through and grab the doctor. Moore jumps in to try to help him. They are rescued from the irate man and brought to a waiting carriage. When the door is opened we see Paul Kelly (Antonio Magro) welcoming them. Kreizler and Moore are surprised but they enter the carriage. I’m surprised too, I wonder what Kelly is up to now.
A Harsh Reality
A newspaper is thrown down and we see an article entitled “BOY-WHORE KILLER STRIKES AGAIN.” Thomas Byrnes (Ted Levine) is showing the paper to a shocked Connor (David Wilmot). He tells Byrnes it wasn’t Willem Van Bergen who did it. Byrnes is surprised by this announcement and Connor tells him the timing is off. Connor would certainly know since he had already killed Willem by the time that murder had happened. He is left no other option but to confess to Byrnes that Willem is dead, although he lies and claims it was an accident.
Byrnes loses his temper and grabs Connor, telling him he was suppose to keep an eye on Willem. Connor assures him the body won’t be found. Byrnes looks to me like he is going to pass out. It’s never good when a member of “The 400” is killed in cold blood under your watch. Byrnes then explains to Connor, who he calls a “stupid Mick”, how the city is run. They serve the rich, who think of them as nothing more then dumb animals. The rich don’t think of Byrnes and Connor any better than the scum they protect them from. If they don’t do the bidding of the rich they will pay someone else to sink them to the bottom of the river like Connor did with Willem. Byrnes looks really worried because he knows Connor has really fucked up big time.
Back in Kelly’s carriage he asks Kreizler and Moore where they would like to be dropped. Kreizler says The Natural History Museum. I was surprised by this because I did not realize the museum has been around that long. I’ve discovered it was created in 1869 and has been showing exhibits since 1871. Kelly tells the men he is proud of “his people” back at the police station. When Moore says Kelly probably arranged the mob, Kelly retaliates by reminding him of the last time he saw him. He doesn’t say when it was, but I’m sure everyone remembers it was when Moore was drugged up in the brothel with the boys. When Kreizler asks what Kelly wants he tells him he wants his brothel reopened.
Indian Massacres
Sara adds “Indian Massacres” to the very long list of clues towards the killer’s identity. The Isaacsons arrive and Sara shows them large stacks of letters they need to go through in hopes of finding a connection to the West. Lucius finds a description of the aftermath of Little Bighorn. He doesn’t want to read it to Sara, but she’s having none of that. When are they going to learn she does not want to be treated any differently than the men? Lucius reads the gruesome description which is very similar to what is being done to the boys.
Kreizler and Moore are meeting with an expert on Natives at the Museum. He is explaining that mutilation of the genitals was common with the Sioux. They would remove their enemy’s penis so he could not use it in the afterworld. The eyes were removed so they would be lost and not find their way to the afterworld and be stuck in this world as a ghost. The expert explains no Plains Indian would mutilate a child in this way, it would be a cowardly act. So it’s obvious then that the killer is not Native American, but appears to be copying their methods.
Kreizler remembers that the killer had said “dirtier than a red injun” in his letter to Mrs. Santorelli. He deduces that the killer must have been witness to a massacre. That he must have been a child when it happened, because there have not been any Indian massacres in 20 years. Moore then remembers that Willem was never out West. Kreizler has been telling people it was not Willem, maybe now they will listen to him. He tells Moore they are getting closer.
Cyrus
Cyrus (Robert Ray Wisdom) , who was attacked by the killer, is laying in a hospital bed with his head wrapped in bandages. Kreizler arrives to visit him and his niece is sitting by his bed. She tells Kreizler she has a job at The Philadelphia Tribune and will pay him back the money he gave Cyrus for her education. He tells her it’s not necessary, that the services he has provided over the years covered it. His niece is angry that Kreizler has not released Cyrus from his services yet, and nearly got him killed. When the doctor tells her they are friends, she says his “friend” spends most of his time in the stable. She equates her Uncle’s treatment by Kreizler to that of a slave. She tells him she still plans to pay him back for her education and walks away. He is left looking stunned.
Sara finds four patients that match the killer’s description and spent time in the west. All four of them had been sent to St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Washington. One of them, Rudolf Bunzl, had been released and later committed to Blackwell Island in New York City. Marcus tells Sara that they will have records on Bunzl.
Cyrus is back at Kreizler’s house and is given Mary’s room so he will have a more comfortable space. Kreizler is attempting to thank Cyrus and Stevie for their help, but I don’t think he is use to doing this. He is stumbling over what he wants to say. He tells them he is responsible for them coming close to death. I guess what Cyrus’s niece told him really hit a nerve. He then apologizes for taking them for granted. Cyrus, the sweet man that he is, tells the doctor he doesn’t need to apologize.
A Kidnapping
Moore is back at the Ice Cream Shop where he had talked to Joseph. He sits down and orders and Egg Cream, which if we all remember has neither egg nor cream in it. As he begins a new drawing of the killer he is grabbed from behind, a rag held over his face. I jump when this happens as I wasn’t expecting it. Who is this man? Why is he grabbing Moore? Is that rag to knock him out? And why is the clerk in the shop not flustered at all by what is happening? Moore finally passes out, at least I hope he has just passed out and not been suffocated.
Moore awakens in the back of some sort of wagon and Kreizler is standing over him. What is going on? Did the doctor find Moore passed out somewhere? He tells Moore that he has been chloroformed, that he smelled it when he got in the wagon. The wagon stops and Connor opens the door. Why has he kidnapped Kreizler and Moore? What is he going to do to them? When they climb out Moore manages to give Connor a dig asking him what happened to his uniform. Yes! I love it. As they are led into a large building we see that the wagon they had been in was a Police Patrol wagon.
Many Sainted Men
Kreizler and Moore are led up a large marble staircase. It looks like the same building where the silent auction was held. They enter a very grand room where former Police Chief Byrnes is waiting for them. Bishop Potter (Sean McGinley) is also sitting in what turns out to be the office of J.P. Morgan (Michael Ironside). I wonder why they had to kidnap them. Could they have not just asked them to come to a meeting? Kreizler refers to those gathered as “Many Sainted Men.” I was worried at first they were in danger, but I no longer think anything will happen to them, physically at least.
Bishop Potter tells them they need to stop their investigation. Kreizler asks why the leader of the church would want them to stop looking for a murderer. Good question! Byrnes responds saying it’s a matter for the police. That’s a bullshit answer and everyone knows it. When Kreizler calls him out on it, we get to the real reason. It’s all about clues leading to Willem Van Bergen. Kreizler tells them he is quite certain that Willem did not commit the murders. Byrnes calls him a liar. Kreizler tells him his only concern is 7 dead children.
Morgan finally speaks up, telling them he takes comfort in things he can understand. He can not understand a man who kills for no apparent reason. Kreizler explains he is trying to figure out the man’s motives and hopes to use that information to capture him. Morgan tells Bishop Potter to go tell the Van Bergens that Willem is no longer a suspect. Byrnes tells Morgan that the false accusations have forced Willem to flee the country. I guess that is the story they are going with to cover up his murder. Morgan tells Byrnes to go with Potter to reassure the family that Willem is no longer being looked at.
And The Real Reason
After Potter and Byrnes leave Morgan tells Kreizler he finds his beliefs interesting. He believes there are two reasons why a man does what he does…the good reason, and the real reason. Moore asks him the real reason on why they were forced there. Morgan tells him that New York City is poised to become the greatest financial powerhouse the world has ever seen. For this to happen they need compliant workers. The murders have caused too much civil unrest and this is worrying Morgan. As Byrnes leaves he tells Connor that Morgan is going to let them keep investigating. Connor responds nervously that they suspect something, and Byrnes replies he better hope it stays a suspicion. Are they referring to Willem’s murder? Or is there something else they are hiding?
Morgan tells Kreizler and Moore that they have made many powerful enemies in a very short time. He can’t support them publicly but offers financial support if they need it. Kreizler turns him down saying it would not be good if it were ever made public that he helped them. Both Morgan and Moore look as surprised as I do. I would have thought he would welcome the help. I’m not sure turning down J.P. Morgan is a wise thing to do. As they leave Moore asks Kreizler why he turned him down. He says had he accepted, Morgan would have expected something in return. When Moore asks what could he want from him, Kreizler says he doesn’t know and doesn’t want to find out.
Blackwell Island
Sara is being led through a room at Blackwell Island. There are a line of chairs with women tied to them. We hear moaning and crying and see women with vacant looks on their faces. Sara seems quite affected by what she sees. As she passes a woman shaking her chair we hear someone urinating on the floor. Sara stops and a young woman looks at her and pleads “help me, I’m not crazy, help me.” She doesn’t look crazy. I know people were wrongly sent to asylums in the past. Is this woman one of them? Sara, who looks on the verge of tears, seems as unsure as I am. As she leaves the room the woman yells after Sara to help her.
Sara enters the office of Mr. Chitters (Ian Hughes) and he tells her they have no one that fits the parameters she had asked about in her letter. She tells him they have discovered a patient that matches other reference points. I can’t really read his expression at this news. Is he just annoyed that he’s being bothered? Or is he nervous about something? When he sees the name he says Bunzl was released six years ago. How does he know this off the top of his head? Is Sara wondering the same thing? If she is why didn’t she ask him? When she asks to see his records he tells her all male patients were moved to another facility along with their records. As Sara begins to leave she asks why St. Elizabeth’s receives patients from the West. He tells her St Elizabeth’s is really called The Government Hospital for the Insane and their patients are former soldiers and sailors.
Mary
Mary (Q’orianka Kilcher) brings Kreizler some tea and he asks her to help unbuckle his boots. He tells her he has been thinking about the circumstances in which they live. Is he going to give her a better room in the house? He did make her give up her current room for Cyrus. Kreizler tells her he believes what she did when she was young was a one time event, he believes she is not dangerous. He then tells her it would be best for her to strike out on her own. What? No! He tells her she is capable of living by herself now. Mary looks so hurt. I understand why Kreizler is doing this after talking to Cyrus’s niece, but he’s making a mistake. I feel bad for him because he thinks he is doing the right thing, but he’s not. Mary can’t talk, but her response lets him know what she thinks of his idea. He hurt her badly.
Moore arrives home to find Sara waiting by his garden gate. She tells him that she thinks the killer is a soldier. She explains how she found out about St. Elizabeth’s being a hospital for soldiers and sailors, including those from out West. Sara tells Moore that that St Elizabeth’s won’t tell her anything about the man over the phone so she is going to travel to Washington. When Moore tells her they should go tell Kreizler she refuses to go with him. When Moore asks if Kreizler hurt her goes into his arms but does not answer. She doesn’t need to. Moore is not going to take this well. I think Kreizler is going to be in big trouble with him.
Moore vs. Kreizler
Kreizler discovers young Ezra (Roland Miskey) spinning a very large dagger on a table at the Institute. The doctor easily takes it from him, but for a second I wondered if he would try to stab Kreizler. After asking Ezra if he couldn’t sleep he brings him to feed the monkey. Moore suddenly arrives into the room, but he didn’t expect to see Ezra there. Kreizler sends Ezra off to bed. As soon as the boy is gone Moore asks Kreizler what he did to Sara. Is this going to end in a fist fight?
Kreizler claims he doesn’t know what Moore is talking about. Coward. Moore then tells him how Sara has figured out the killer may have been a soldier out West. Kreizler says Sara should not go to Washington, that they should go instead. Moore demands to know what the doctor did to her. Kreizler tells him that Sara brought up personal things that he does not want to discuss with him. Moore reminds Kreizler that he introduced him to Sara. Kreizler then calls Moore their “handsome but indolent friend”. When he asks Kreizler if that’s what he really thinks of him he says no, it’s what Sara thinks. He tells Moore it’s all she will ever think of him. Ouch! Moore tells Kreizler he better be careful or he will be a lonely old man.
Falling Off the Wagon
Moore is in a bar back with his old love, alcohol. It seems Kreizler’s words hit him hard. I knew he must be giving up drinking for Sara. Seems now that he thinks he has no chance with her he has gone right back to it. Moore spots Connor across the bar and when he leaves Moore follows him. This is a really dumb idea. Connor leads him into a dark alley and Moore stupidly follows him. As he goes around the corner Connor punches him and then pulls a gun on him. As he holds the gun under Moore’s chin he tells him he must be a “fairy.” For a moment I wondered if he was going to ask him to perform a sex act on him, but he punches him instead. When Moore tells Connor he doesn’t scare him he clocks him upside the head with the gun.
Kreizler is back home listening to music as Mary brings him his dinner. Kreizler nervously asks her to join him. As she walks out of the dining room he looks very sad, but I think she is just going to get a plate. He smiles as she returns. I was right, she just went for another place setting. When she goes to sit at the other end of the table he asks her to sit next to him. I love how happy she looks. Kreizler reaches over and holds her hand. Yes! For a change he is letting his feelings show instead of keeping them bottled up. When Mary puts her other hand on top of his you can see how nervous he is. Mary makes the first move by putting his hand on the side of her face. My heart feels so happy at this moment. Kreizler then puts his face to her bosom as she strokes his hair. He then looks up at her and I’m yelling at him to Kiss Her! Finally, very tentatively, the two kiss. The romantic in me is so thrilled.
The end…
I love how this episode ended. It’s wonderful to see Kreizler is human after all. I hope he and Mary live happily ever after. Knowing Kreizler though I’m sure he will find some “logical” reason why they should not be a couple. What has happened to Moore? What will Connor do with him? Now that Kreizler has alienated both Moore and Sara how will they all work together to find the killer? Will they stop him before another boy dies? We still don’t know when the next Holy Day is.
Until next week…
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