The Alienist Season 1 Episode 3 Silver Smile

In episode 3 of The Alienist season 1, entitled "Silver Smile," the investigation into the mutilated bodies of boy prostitutes continues. The team of doctor Laszlo Kreizler, newspaper illustrator John Moore, and police captain Theodore Roosevelt is joined by newly hired detective Sara Howard, who faces misogyny and skepticism from her male colleagues.

The episode starts with the discovery of a new murder victim, a young boy with silver fillings in his teeth that have been removed. Dr. Kreizler theorizes that the perpetrator, whom he calls the “The Boy Killer,” is punishing the boys for some perceived fault.

Meanwhile, John Moore visits his friend, high-society Ark Society member, and suspected pederast Thomas Byrnes and asks for his help in finding a past victim of the murderer who might have lived. Byrnes refuses, claiming that he and his influential friends could never indulge in such deviance, and has Moore thrown out. Back at the investigations, the team realizes that one of their witnesses, a young boy who had seen the murderer with his latest victim, might be in grave danger. They race to save the boy, who manages to escape the killer’s lair through a tunnel and leads them to a brothel where many of the boys worked. There, they meet a young boy who knew the latest victim and reveals his pimp’s name.

The trail leads them to another boy prostitute who tells them that the pimp’s name is Giorgio Santorelli and that he lives with his mother, a famous psychic, who is currently hosting a séance. Dr. Kreizler, John, and Sara attend the séance, and after Dr. Kreizler exposes the fraud, they confront Mr. Santorelli, who maintains his innocence but becomes anxious when the team suggests they will search his home.

The episode ends with Dr. Kreizler, John, and Sara discovering a hidden room in Mr. Santorelli’s home filled with evidence of the murders, including a diary written in code. The team realizes that they are running out of time and need to decipher the diary to catch the killer before he strikes again. "Silver Smile" is an intense and suspenseful episode as the team ramps up their investigation and gets closer to their prey. The introduction of Sara Howard adds an interesting element to the dynamic of the group as she faces sexist treatment and struggles to prove herself. The episode also delves into the corrupt nature of high society, as John Moore attempts to crack through the walls of influential men who would rather ignore or cover up the murders than investigate them. Overall, "Silver Smile" keeps the momentum of the investigation moving forward and leaves the audience on the edge of their seat, eager for the next episode.