The Alienist: Angel of Darkness Review: Last Exit to Brooklyn (Season 2 Episode 7)
Terror strikes when you least expect it on The Alienist: Angel of Darkness Season 2 Episode 7, “Last Exit to Brooklyn,” as Libby Hatch finds herself at a disadvantage with a new revelation.
The episode holds some similarities to its sister episode from season one, The Alienist Season 1 Episode 8, “Psychopathia Sexualis,” where the killer’s past is revealed by diving into their origin. Here it’s a Brooklyn apartment and a daughter who is still alive, but the spirit is the same through learning how all of what we see has come to be.
One of the most interesting scenes on the episode is when Laszlo manages to deduce down to the letter the contribution Libby’s mother has provided to her downfall. It’s a reminder that monsters aren’t always necessarily born, but are made. The realization that the institutionalization and adoption of Clara is the reason for Libby’s madness is a deep irony.
Libby becomes a monster because her mother accuses her of being one.
The scene is the moment where everything finally ties together, especially with the revelation of Libby’s child, Clara, still being alive.
Clara still being alive is a surprise, since Libby’s wording and the foreshadowing (of sorts) has been past tense, as though she’s no longer around. But it does prove to be her main vulnerability, as she places herself in compromising positions not only with Captain Doyle, but at episode’s end with Sara and John.
Byrnes and his reckless plans does produce results, but it’s such a brash and damaging way to go about it.
His way of using violence and bribes as a means of progress leaves him no better than the very criminals he looks down on, but it leaves him with a moment that speaks volumes about his character.
When he returns to Hearst to scheme and plot, he admits that Kreizler has been right all along. It may seem like a small admittance, but it’s a massive piece of irony given how dogged he has been to prove the man wrong over both seasons. It’s not even begrudgingly, even: he is fully aware Laszlo is onto something with Libby and her mother.
As we learn later, his moves only further set Libby on a path of rampage. Where Sara, Kreizler, and John are more determined to solve Libby and take her down through understanding, Byrnes’ way of instigation only leaves her more dangerous than before.
The thing about Captain Doyle’s murder is that it comes as one of those scenes where he’s too comfortable and boastful about capturing her, so clearly she will get away.
It’s the kind of scene where it’s telegraphing its intentions far too much, but at the same time, we know what Libby’s capable of and he is taking it for granted, and so it’s a bit of a joke on the character and on us, if the scene is given the benefit of the doubt.
But on the whole, it’s a moment that, for me, reads as a minor fumble. Characters trusting in their advantage usually never come out of those instances alive, and it’s been done an awful lot over the years, both in film and television. He is a fairly minor character, however, so it’s not a huge detriment to the show heading toward the end.
With Sara (and later John), all signs of advantage are taken away, and there’s this clear sense of malice of Libby making demands. She’s unreadable now that Clara has been added into the equation as the missing piece of her now potentially within her grasp.
What Libby is willing to do in order to get her daughter back is a terrifying thought, and even the suggestion of a trade for the Vanderbilt child is completely off the table. There’s no more reasoning with her, not really; she wants everything, and nothing else will suffice.
With her knife to John’s neck during the last instant of the episode, we’re going into the finale with the potential of either losing John or with one last hunt. This moment will likely give Sara and John that moment of clarity they need for their “will they or won’t they” ordeal, as a life and death situation is the kind of jolt their hemming and hawing needs right now.
Life and death, it will likely turn out, is quite the motivation.
Some stray observations:
- Everyone is starting to pair up: Sara and John may be on shaky ground, but they are certainly still pining for each other; Bitsy mentions that she is meeting up with Lucius, finally confirming those longing glances aren’t for nothing; and Laszlo and Miss Stratton feel like they’re on the verge, even if she’s considering taking a new job elsewhere. It’s all about the looks!
- Hopefully during the finale everyone realizes to keep distance from Libby. She is far too active with knives and people’s throats.
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.