'The Alienist: Angel of Darkness' Episode 7 Review: Moore's fate hangs in balance ahead of a nail-biting finale
Spoilers for 'The Alienist: Angel of Darkness' Episode 7 'Last Exit to Brooklyn'
It has been that sort of a series where the word 'gripping' is an understatement. While episodes 5 and 6 were all about the search for Libby Hatch (Rosy McEwen) and her dark and disturbing past, 'Last Exit to Brooklyn' was action-packed with a generous dose of emotions between Sara Howard (Dakota Fanning) and John Moore (Luke Evans). With a double-episode culmination, 'Angel of Darkness' is heading to a suspense-filled, nail-biting finale as Moore's fate hangs in the balance.
The first few minutes of the episode sees the trio of Moore, Sara and Dr Lazlo Kreizler (Daniel Bruhl) work with Ted Levine's Byrne to capture Libby red-handed in her Brooklyn home as she plans to retrieve her daughter, Claire. Needless to say, the plan goes awfully awry as Libby sends a messenger and attempts to escape Byrnes and the police hot on her heels. While she appears to surrender to a copper, she eventually ends up killing him in cold blood as she escapes with the Vanderbilt baby.
Meanwhile, Moore and Sara's untold but obvious feelings for each other cause friction between the two and that forms the second major storyline in the episode. While it ends with a cliffhanger, there is a lump in the throat as Libby and Sara have a stand-off with the former ready to slit Moore's throat. At this stage, the theories of whether he is one of Libby's victims is a question that we don't have to wait long for as the finale premieres right after the episode, but it is sure to set Twitter abuzz with discussions and prayers.
It will be a shame if Moore dies as the New York Times journalist has been an integral character in the series. While we do hope for a miracle, considering the violence and the dark themes the series has explored, tragedy is a factor that cannot be ruled out. Surprisingly, the emphasis on Kreizler has been rather less as the plotline deals with the aftermath of his temporarily suspended license. The Moore-Sara relationship drama takes center stage in the final minutes.
Libby is to be lauded for playing the role of a psychotic villain to perfection. There's a sense of coldness and pure evil in her and that makes her a more credible threat rather than a woman who has lost her mind. 'Last Exit to Brooklyn' is impressive and sets the platform for the compelling ending. And to be honest, it looks like Libby will be the focal point for a major portion of the finale, even more so than Moore, assuming he makes it out of the dire straits alive.
'The Alienist: Angel of Darkness' airs on Sundays 9 pm ET on TNT.