The Alienist: Angel of Darkness Review: Labyrinth (Season 2 Episode 3)
All roads lead back to the hospital on The Alienist: Angel of Darkness Season 2 Episode 3, “Labyrinth.” For Sara, Laszlo, and John, though, their journeys on this episode reveal their regrets and ambitions.
The Lying-In Hospital is becoming an increasingly darker, terrifying location, one where even a visit feels like it could turn into a lengthy stay if Dr. Markoe deems it so.
It’s curious how Colleen, of the orderlies, reacts upon learning she must go to Dr. Markoe’s office, which gives off the impression that something awful must happen when called upon. Is it that those called in must perform these false deliveries, or is there something more sinister or perhaps even abusive afoot?
There is a somewhat offhanded comment about the nurses having gone through childbirth themselves, and so it’s possible that they hold grief and resentment toward Markoe. But more will need to come out to be completely certain on that theory.
The way patients are treated, in plain sight in front of Sara, is certainly cause for concern. There’s a definitive sign of neglect on display, but it isn’t quite clear where babies are taken once they are listed as a mortality.
Based on John’s check on the child death certificates at work, it sure sounds common, and so it will be interesting to see if we find out more about the horrors behind the scenes.
Sara does come across a ward called “Maternity Research,” but hopefully that’s simply what it means at face value and not something devastating.
Dr. Markoe is adamant of keeping noses out of the hospital, especially during his conversation with Byrnes, and so he clearly wants to keep something from getting out, and it’s doubtful it’s simply the treatment of patients.
Libby turns out to be a large help for Sara on the episode, but it does feel like she’s setting up the matron somewhat. She immediately points the finger at her, and with her being a rather demanding taskmaster to her subordinates, maybe the matron is the real suspect, or perhaps it’s a sleight of hand.
Maybe rising through the ranks will provide Libby a way out of Markoe’s grasp of whatever he has them doing, or maybe there is more to the matron that we will find out soon enough.
Either way, Libby is proving to be an asset so far, and hopefully she sticks around when a fresh set of eyes on the inside is needed.
A nice little bit of cheer outside the gloomy investigation is when Kreizler helps cheer a student up with a quick magic trick with scarves.
It is a heartwarming, feel-good moment, not only because of the joy it brings a traumatized child, but by showing that beyond his more criminal-based work, Kreizler is doing some good for the troubled youth of the time.
This moment, and showing us a more weightless, carefree version of Laszlo Kreizler at John’s bachelor party, is fixing a lot of the hardened shell personality that he has been carrying over the last season, allowing him to break free and be a kind, caring character, one who is willing to confess his love of his friends rather than retreating to his work, as he has done in the past.
Kreizler is also more compassionate when it comes to his hypnosis. He isn’t pushing Señora Linares into an uncomfortable place in her mind’s eye, but guiding her to a truth she may not comprehend yet.
The use of painting as a form of memory therapy is a novel idea, and helps gain some footing for where she and her baby may have been stalked.
It’s a different story for John, who appears to be growing more isolated in his life as the episodes go on. Even at a lively bachelor party, he looks to be on the verge of running for it while surrounded by friends.
He isn’t happy in his current set-up, with the wedding date growing ever closer; it’s this sense of missing out on the real life he wants, which is likely with Sara (given the longing glances at her throughout) and a life of excitement that these cases provide him.
The life he’s jumping into instead is full of affluence and rigidness, a complete one-eighty from the John we know and love. He may portray wealth due to his standing, but he is far more interested in the rugged life of being on the ground and putting in the work. It will be curious to see if he sabotages this new life, or if the old life will sabotage it for him.
Given his future father-in-law’s anti-Spain rhetoric and friendship with Byrnes, it won’t be pretty, whatever it is.
With Martha’s documents from the hospital and with the knowledge that it’s a woman committing the crimes, The Alienist: Angel of Darkness Season 2 Episode 3, “Labyrinth,” moves the narrative needle, but it finds its most success within its characters.
Sara’s proactive nature, Kreizler’s softening, and John’s shaky regret are solid touchstones for where their heads are at, and proves that there is a fountain of fascination looking inward just as much as the investigation pushing outward.
What did you think of this episode of The Alienist: Angel of Darkness? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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The Alienist: Angel of Darkness airs Sundays at 9/8c on TNT.
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Kevin Lever
Kevin Lever has been following television closely for most of his life, but in starting to cover it, he has grown a further appreciation. He strives to give the blockbusters their due, and give the lesser known shows a spotlight to find more fans.