'The Alienist: Angel Of Darkness' Season 2 Episode 8 Review: Heartbreak for John and Sara in bittersweet finale
A deranged Libby (Rosy McEwen) on the loose is as terrifying as it sounds. In the latest episode of 'The Alienist: Angel Of Darkness', Libby holds a knife at John Moore's (Luke Evans) throat, while a panicked Sara Howard (Dakota Fanning) tries to pacify her. Libby wants to know where her daughter Clara is, and fearing for John's life, Sara reveals the address. However, they're able to overpower Libby and she's taken to prison.
That's only the beginning, folks. What follows is an unusual series of twists and turns and a rather satisfying conclusion to the season. The beauty of the episode is actually the treatment of Libby. Rather than allowing her to be treated like an animal and be tortured, Sara breaks through to her emotional side, and sees the vulnerable, broken and traumatized woman she really is. Libby's dark past has engulfed her so completely that she can't distinguish the difference between right and wrong. Alas, Sara is compelled to deceive her to find out where Libby has hidden the other baby. And once again, hell breaks loose as Libby returns to her mission to find Clara. There are bloody murders, gunshots, riots and tears along the way, but finally, there is a calm resolution.
Despite being the main protagonist of the show, Laszlo (Daniel Bruhl) has somehow quietly receded into the background, with Sara and John taking the reins. He has his own story, that does seem secondary and perhaps even runs parallel to the main plot. This is perhaps the only unsettling part of the series, and hopefully if a Season 3 were to return, Laszlo deserves a more prominent role.
The personal dramas and turmoils meshed with the criminal investigation made the episode worth a watch, and reminds us exactly why 'The Alienist: Angel Of Darkness' is such an enticing show. The question of Sara and John hovers in the air as the two go back and forth and decide what the future of their relationship is. However, their time is seemingly up, as John's fiancee Violet has some news for him and it throws a spanner in the works. This is a very cliched twist, but the execution of this storyline was carried ou without much drama and tears. John and Sara stay well within the confines of their characters, though the heartbreak is visible in each and every glance and move of theirs. The restraint and lack of over-the-top drama is what sets this show apart. Sometimes, the quiet tears say enough.
But there's life beyond love and marriage for Sara, and she doesn't need a man to keep her happy. The episode ends with her giving an empowering speech to the rest of the women in her office. Oh wait, we forgot that Lazlo Kreizler (Daniel Bruhl) gets his happy ending... for now. At last. This was an exciting finale, though the die-hard romantics would be furious that their favorite ship still didn't make the cut. Yet, there is a promise of Season 3, and it would be interesting to see how that would pan out.
'The Alienist: Angel Of Darkness' is a TNT show.
