| “ | We are brothers, detectives of the NYPD, and strong believers of employing the scientific method in dissecting crime scenes. Due to our modern methods, we are sidelined by our colleagues and overlooked by the police force. But little do they know, our approach will soon be the driving force of our field, and us teaming up with Dr. Kreizler in catching this murderer will prove our technique to be effective. | ” |
| — Isaacson brothers[1] | ||
Lucius Isaacson is a Detective Sergeant of the New York City Police Department implementing proto–forensic investigations with his twin brother, Marcus Isaacson.
Lucius Isaacson is a major character in ‘The Alienistʼ and ‘Angel of Darknessʼ. He is portrayed by Matthew Shear.
Official Description[]
The Alienist
"DETECTIVE SGT. LUCIUS ISAACSON is an extremely intelligent, focused man whose medical studies have helped hone his expertise in criminal science. More serious and religious than his fraternal twin brother Marcus, he is nevertheless pleasantly likable with a passion for his work. He believes that bones provide the most accurate information when it comes to forensics. He joins Marcus in helping unravel a disturbing mystery."[2]
Angel of Darkness Detective Sgt. Lucius Isaacson is an extremely intelligent, focused man whose medical studies have helped hone his expertise in criminal science. More serious, religious, and slightly more anxious than his fraternal twin brother Marcus, he is nevertheless pleasantly likable with a passion for his work. He joins Marcus in helping unravel a new disturbing mystery.[3]
Character Overview[]
Detective Sergeant Lucius Isaacson is a man in his early thirties with a slightly tanned complexion, wavy brown hair, and cerulean eyes framed by round glasses. Lucius is a few inches shorter than his twin brother Marcus and a bit sturdier. Although he does not come from high society like Mr. Moore or Dr. Kreizler, he is always impeccable wearing suits, vests, cravats, pocket watch and shiny black shoes.
Lucius is a very intelligent man whose interests range from rising forensic science to psychology and investigative techniques, especially if innovative. His science-minded predisposition does not prevent Lucius to be a very devoted man who lives according to Jewish laws, such as Kashrut. As a Jewish person, he has been repeatedly harassed by fellow police officers, but Lucius seems to have developed an armor against prejudice, showing himself to be calmer than his twin brother when provoked. Although he was initially prevented in some respects when it comes to talking about gruesome details of the murders in front of Miss Howard, over time he has become more flexible in his beliefs, coming to recognize and respect the woman's talent as any of his fellow men.
Biography[]
The following contains plot details – read at your own risk.
Early Life
Born in New York City from a family of Jewish immigrants who fled persecution in Eastern Europe, Lucius was born two minutes before his twin brother, Marcus. Both children were baptized with English names taken from Shakespeare's works to mitigate anti-Semitism towards them.
In adulthood, the two brothers joined the police force and obtained the rank of detective sergeants. Despite their talent, they were often ostracised as Jewish police officers working in a place predominantly dominated by Irish Catholic policemen.
A Fruitful Partnership
Kreizler Institute, 1896. Detective Sergeants Lucius and Marcus Isaacson are sent by the newly appointed Chief Police Theodore Roosevelt to assist Dr. Laszlo Kreizler in his parallel investigation into brutal murders of child prostitutes in the Tenderloin. After being introduced by the alienist to his friend John Moore, the two scientists began an autopsy on the skeleton of Benjamin and Sofia Zweig, two children killed years before and which Dr. Kreizler believed were connected with the recent murder of Giorgio Santorelli. Lucius and Marcus discovered a series of cuts inflicted by stabs that matched the police report and the sketch drawn by Moore. [4]
The following day, Lucius and Marcus went to a butcher shop to find a knife capable of inflicting the same type of wounds. The two detectives made several attempts on one of the carcasses exhibited on the butcher's desk and it was during one of the experiments that Marcus noticed a girl delivering flyers on the street. Lucius made fun of him when they discovered they were advertising at a meeting of socialists and Marcus retorted, asking his brother if he knew the difference between Socialism and Capitalism.
After making sure that their mother was safe at home, the two brothers met with Dr. Kreizler at Delmonico's, a renowned and expensive restaurant. Before the alienist arrived in the company of Mr. Moore, the two made the acquaintance of Miss Sara Howard, Commissioner Roosevelt's secretary, in the room that Kreizler had booked exclusively for them.
During dinner, Lucius and Marcus took turns explaining their recent discoveries. The mysterious killer had experience and his weapon was a dagger known as Arkansas toothpick. The two also discovered bloodied fingerprints on a pocket watch in Benjamin Zweig's coffin. Most likely, the print had been left by the murderer. The Isaacson proceeded with more information, and Miss Howard mentioned that she had read something about Dactyloscopy — the science of a finger, palm, or foot leaving a chance impression. At the end of the dinner, the team was set up and everyone had a specific role in the investigation. [5]
At the Kreizler Institute, Lucius, Marcus and Dr. Kreizler used a projector to study the fingerprints found on the pocket watch and the alienist noticed signs that could be scars on the fingertips, narrowing the scope of their research.
At the NYPD Morgue, the two detectives wanted to examine Giorgio Santorelli's body after receiving permission from Commissioner Theodore Roosevelt, but the body had disappeared. When Mr. Tuthill referred to Roosevelt as “a bunch of hooey”, Lucius retorted claiming that Roosevelt was a revolutionary.
That same night a new murder was committed in Castle Garden, and the Isaacson brothers sneaked along with the rest of the team to the crime scene to be able to analyse the scene before the arrival of the police while Roosevelt delayed the spread of the news. From a brief investigation and photograph of the scene, the murder was committed by the same hand.[6]
The following day, Marcus and Lucius explored the area and discovered that the killer had climbed along the tower wall with pitons. In the evening, Lucius argued with Marcus about his affair with Esther and what their mother would think of that.
A couple of evenings later, the team received Dr. Kreizler's invitation to meet at a cabaret but once they met, they discovered that the meeting had been planned by the killer who had sent a letter full of insults and ramblings addressed to Mrs. Santorelli, and that Miss Sara Howard had with her.[7]
Proto-Forensic Science vs The Monster
At the Kreizler Institute, the team resorted to the help of graphologist Alexander to study the letter and find out whether or not it was a hoax. While Marcus and Lucius analysed enlargements of the letter in search of fingerprints or other useful clues, Dr. Kreizler and Miss Howard argued about the psychology behind the criminal mind and the possibility of the presence of a more or less authoritarian female figure in the killer's childhood.
At the Police Department, Marcus and Lucius had an appointment with Commissioner Roosevelt and they had a chance to converse with Miss Howard who asked for explanations about sex between two men. Marcus took the opportunity to tell a dirty story about a nurse and a soldier, much to Lucius disappointment.
In the evening, Esther was a dinner guest at the Isaacson home where Mrs. Isaacson did not seem very excited about her son's choice. [8]
In the days before the Feast of Ascension, the team set a trap for the killer after discovering that he killed according to the Christian calendar holidays. Lucius had a slight disagreement with Sara Howard when he stated that this task was not for the weaker sex, promptly angering the woman who took part in the plan anyway. The first attempt was, however, a fiasco when they failed to capture anyone.
The second attempt a few nights later was just as disastrous. At The Slide, Marcus and Moore kept an eye on Stevie — Dr. Kreizler's houseboy who served as bait whilst Lucius and Cyrus Montrose were posted on the roof. For a series of circumstances, the killer managed to separate the team and in the midst of the hustle and bustle, he managed to kidnap one of the child prostitutes, Rosie who was found dead at the foot of the Statue of Liberty.[9]
At the NYPD Morgue, Lucius did an autopsy on Rosie's corpse. The tortures inflicted on his body were by far the most heinous, a sign of an escalation in the modus operandi. Marcus barely managed to remain lucid during the autopsy. Commissioner Roosevelt stated that similar attacks reminded him of those carried out by some tribes of Indians in North Dakota.
The following days, Marcus, Lucius and Sara Howard spent their time analysing old files, records and annotations that could be a link between past and present crimes, thus tracing the culprit.[10]
At the market on Hester Street, Lucius saw Esther talking to an apothecary about a remedy for her child's toothache. Shocked by the discovery, Lucius went off meditating on how to tell his brother what he had discovered.
The team took separate paths to conduct large-scale investigations. The Isaacson brothers went to North Dakota. During the train journey, Lucius and Marcus had a chance to talk about Marcus' affair and Lucius acknowledged that Marcus was in love with Esther.
Once they arrived at an Indian reservation, the two detectives met Captain Miller. The man told them about Corporal John Beecham's military past — a troubled and bloodthirsty young man who was sent to St. Elizabeth's Hospital after he was caught violating bodies during Haymaket riots. The man corresponded to the profiling.[11]
Closer to the Darkness
When they returned from their respective journeys, the team discovered that Mary Palmer — Dr. Kreizler's housekeeper and lover — had been killed. After attending the funeral, the two detectives questioned Sergeant Doyle on charges of complicity in the murder committed by the former Captain Connor.
With Kreizler out of the investigation, Sara Howard had found a new headquarters, 808-Broadway. From here, the team now headed by Miss Howard set out to search for John Beecham in the city records. After discovering that he had worked as an enumerator, the team tracked down his old addresses where they found cat corpses in one of the rooms he had rented years before and, in his most recent abode in the Tenement District, a series of horrifying trophies taken from the victims — human eyes in a jar, half-cooked human organs, photos of mutilated bodies and even the calcified heart of his mother in a heart-shaped box.[12]
The discovery of John Beecham's apartment brought Dr. Laszlo Kreizler back into the team and, after yet another murder at the Bath House and the kidnapping of the child that John Moore had befriended at the Golden Rule, Joseph, the team was even more sensible than ever to put an end to the series of murders.
At the Kreizler Institute, the Isaacson brothers conducted a post-mortem on Beecham's body after Connor shot him. Dr. Kreizler and John Moore had managed to intercept Beecham and save Joseph but Connor had followed them and killed the man before Dr. Kreizler could question him — Sara Howard fortunately shot Connor before he could've killed Kreizler and Moore too. However, the three scientists found nothing abnormal in the murderer's brain.
At Delmonico's, the team celebrated the success and end of their investigation, as well as the deep friendship and loyalty developed in the meantime.[13]
Poison Analysis
Lucius and Marcus began their investigation into the mysterious case of the baby at Siegel-Cooper. They discovered that the child had toxic abrasions in the mouth. They invited Sara and John inside. The child had only just recently died. Sara noticed the markings on the eyes, similar to that of the doll at the Linares’, but fortunately, the dead child was not baby Ana. Lucius and Marcus suspected the child was poisoned.
Lucius and Marcus are joined by Laszlo at the lab for the autopsy. He asked if they had identified the child yet, which they hadn’t. Martha Napp mentioned her child had an identifying contusion; a benign hemangioma under her left axilla. Laszlo was able to use that to identify the dead baby as Martha Napp’s child.[14]
Lucius and Marcus experimented with poison dosage on lab rabbits to determine just how Martha Napp’s baby died. Afterward, they informed Sara, John, and Laszlo that Nightshade, most likely Hyoscine, was one component from the poison. While it may be available at most apothecaries, medical training was required to be able to administer the proper dose. They also found powdered carbon in the black substance from the Napp child’s mouth. Which was sometimes used as an antidote to poison. The amount of poison ingested by the infant was only enough to render it unconscious. The official cause of death was asphyxiation. From what they gathered, someone poisoned the baby, changed their mind, and then gave the baby powdered charcoal. Only to eventually smother the child.
Byrne paid Lucius a visit in his lab. He inquired about the nature of his relationship with Sara Howard and the Napp case. And he threatened to go after Marcus if Lucius didn’t give him what he wanted.
Lucius and Marcus are called to the docks after two male torsos are recovered from the river. They suspected that the missing patches of skin was due to someone using a scalpel to remove the victims’ tattoos.[15]
They inquired about the motive behind their child abductor. They suspected that it was a woman who either lost a child or couldn’t bear one. And so she took what others had. However, she killed the child once it no longer fitted her fantasy.
Lucius and Marcus tested the contents of the Napp child’s stomach. They discover what they determined to be poison, powdered carbon, and breast milk.
Marcus figured out the exact chemical combination used by the killer to make the antidote. It initially seemed that it was only activated charcoal, but they added a tincture of iodine. Lucius then revealed that he told Byrne about the Linares case because he threatened to hurt Marcus. Lucius asked his brother to tell no one.
Lucius and Marcus attended John's bachelor party. They went to Cyrus' bar, where Joanna checked on Marcus and Lucius, who appeared to be drinking his guilt away.[16]
After realizing that the kidnapper was Libby Hatch, Sara, Laszlo, Lucius and Marcus raced to the Lying-In, where they found Bitsy unconscious on the floor. Sara and Lucius tended to Bitsy while Laszlo and Marcus chased Libby to the street, only to lose her trail. They returned to the drug closet, where Lucius managed to save Bitsy with the antidote.[17]
Lucius informed Sara that Matron didn’t show up for work and that Byrnes and Captain Doyle intended to speak with her. So they rushed to speak with her first. However, upon arriving at her apartment, they found her dead at her kitchen table. They were soon joined by John, Laszlo, and Marcus, who helped search the scene and collect evidence. Laszlo surmised that Libby sought out Matron specifically to kill her. Much like the Napp child, the eyelids had been painted on in blood. Marcus then found Acentanilde, poison, in Matron’s home, but no charcoal powder. Meaning that Libby was ingesting the poison and passing it to the child without anything to neutralize it.
They presumed that Libby had been trying to replace a lost child. In her mind, that child would be frozen in time. Any growth beyond that of her own baby would be greeted with skepticism, which meant the Linares baby could have already overstayed its welcome. John suggested running Libby’s likeness in the Times. Marcus joined them and shared that they found a photo of Libby in Byrnes’ mugshot book. She was in there as a known associate of the Dusters. After tracking Libby down to Hudson Street, they recovered the Linares baby and took her home.[18]
Lucius and Marcus examined and took photos of the nursery after Sara and John uncovered Libby's lair. They found memory boxes. Each containing mementos from the infant’s earliest days. Sara noticed a brush on top of the dressed with a family crest that not even John recognized, though they suspected this family could be Libby's next target.[19]
Lucius and Marcus brought Libby’s memory boxes to Sara and Laszlo at the institute. They started with the first memory box Libby constructed. They suspected that the first child was in fact Libby’s daughter, Clara.[20]
Lucius and Marcus were tasked with watching over Clara at the institute. Marcus shared with Lucius the dream he had about their mother. She asked him to meet her midday on Hester Street under the clock outside Mendel's. Marcus waited under the clock but she didn’t show up. He wondered what that meant. Lucius replied that he must miss her.
While checking on Clara, Marcus heard glass shattering. He alerted Lucius and began searching the institute.
Libby and Goo Goo broke into the Kreizler Institute in search of Clara. They crossed paths with Lucius, who raised his gun on them. However, Goo Goo wasn’t convinced that he would pull the trigger, and so he approached and knocked Lucius to the floor. He then turned his attention to Marcus and shot him in the stomach. Libby and Goo proceeded to search for Clara, going room-to-room until they found her.
Lucius awakened to find Marcus barely conscious and bleeding out just a few feet away. It was clear that he couldn’t be saved, and so Lucius simply comforted his brother in his final moments. Praying for Marcus in Hebrew. Later, Marcus' funeral is held. Lucius was surrounded by his friends and family, including Sara, John, Laszlo, and Bitsy. Lucius blamed himself for not pulling the trigger to stop Goo Goo, but Sara insisted that it wasn’t his fault.
Lucius followed Sara, John, and Laszlo to Libby's childhood home, where she was held up with Goo Goo and Clara. Sara, John, and Laszlo sneaked inside through the back door and were confronted by Goo Goo, who held them a gunpoint. Lucius arrived and shot Goo Goo in the chest twice.[21]
Memorable Quotes[]
- Lucius: “She means you stink like a 10-cent whore...”
- Marcus: “How would you know?”
- Lucius Isaacson: “The rich will always choose dead children over social scandal.”
- Lucius Isaacson: “Miss Howard, I am afraid this is no task for the weaker sex.”
- Lucius Isaacson: “I came into this world two minutes before you did. I know you better than anyone. I know you better than you know yourself. You're in love with Esther.”
Appearances[]
|
The Alienist
|
Angel of Darkness
|
Notes[]
- In the novel, Lucius attended medical school before becoming a detective, whilst Marcus trained as a lawyer. Before being recruited by Theodore Roosevelt as Sergeants Detectives for the New York City Police Department, they briefly worked for the Pinkerton Detective Agency.
- In the novel, Lucius and Marcus have a younger sister, Cordelia, named after a character in King Lear, a tragedy by William Shakespeare.
Trivia[]
- According to writer and executive producer Hossein Amini, the Isaacson brothers are "Jewish detectives being sidelines by the generally Irish Catholics police force of the time." Director and executive producer Jakob Verbruggen added: "Through the eyes of the Isaacsons, we witness the birth of forensics."[22]
- According to Matthew Shear, the Isaacson brothers are solely interested in employing scientific methods to crime scenes, which wasn't an accepted norm in the 19th century. [22]
- Matthew Shear and Douglas Smith became close friends while filming the TV series. They built their friendship by researching their characters, watching documentaries together, reading novels and manuals of the time to better understand the mindset of the Isaacson brothers. [23]
Gallery[]
References[]
- ↑ ‘The Alienist’: Lucius Isaacson Promotional Quote on TNT Instagram account.
- ↑ Official Overview for Matthew Shear's Lucius Isaacson — TNT Pressroom
- ↑ Angel of Darkness Character Bio: Lucius Isaacson - Warner Media Group
- ↑ Hossein Amini (writer) & Jakob Verbruggen (director); (January 22, 2018); "The Boy on the Bridge". Episode 1. The Alienist. TNT
- ↑ Hossein Amini & E. Max Frye (writers) & Jakob Verbruggen (director); (January 29, 2018); "A Fruitful Partnership". Episode 2.The Alienist. TNT
- ↑ Gina Gionfriddo (writer) & Jakob Verbruggen (director); (February 5, 2018); "Silver Smile". Episode 3.The Alienist. TNT
- ↑ Gina Gionfriddo & Cary Joji Fukunaga (writers) & James Hawes (director); (February 12, 2018); "These Bloody Thoughts". Episode 4.The Alienist. TNT
- ↑ E. Max Frye (writer) & James Hawes (director); (February 19, 2018); "Hildebrandt’s Starling". Episode 5.The Alienist. TNT
- ↑ E. Max Frye (writer) & Paco Cabezas (director); (February 26, 2018); "Ascension". Episode 6.The Alienist. TNT
- ↑ John Sayles (writer) & Paco Cabezas (director); (March 5, 2018); "Many Sainted Men". Episode 7.The Alienist. TNT
- ↑ John Sayles (writer) & David Petrarca (director); (March 12, 2018); "Psychopathia Sexualis". Episode 8.The Alienist. TNT
- ↑ Hossein Amini (writer) & Jamie Payne (director); (March 19, 2018); "Requiem". Episode 9.The Alienist. TNT
- ↑ Cary Joji Fukunaga, John Sayles & Chase Palmer (writer) & Jamie Payne (director); (March 26, 2018); "Castle in the Sky". Episode 10.The Alienist. TNT
- ↑ Stuart Carolan (writer); David Caffrey (director); (July 19, 2020); "Ex Ore Infantium". Episode 1. Angel of Darkness. TNT.
- ↑ Stuart Carolan (writer); David Caffrey (director); (July 19, 2020); "Something Wicked". Episode 2. Angel of Darkness. TNT.
- ↑ Gina Gionfriddo (writer); Clare Kilner (director); (July 26, 2020); "Labyrinth". Episode 3. Angel of Darkness. TNT.
- ↑ Alyson Feltes (writer); Clare Kilner (director); (July 26, 2020); "Gilded Cage". Episode 4. Angel of Darkness. TNT.
- ↑ Gina Gionfriddo & Karina Wolf (writer); Clare Kilner (director); (August 2, 2020); "Belly of the Beast". Episode 5. Angel of Darkness. TNT.
- ↑ Alyson Feltes (writer); David Caffrey (director); (August 2, 2020); "Memento Mori". Episode 6. Angel of Darkness. TNT.
- ↑ Tom Smuts & Amy Berg (writers); David Caffrey (director); (August 9, 2020); "Last Exit to Brooklyn". Episode 7. Angel of Darkness. TNT.
- ↑ Stuart Carolan & Karina Wolf (writers); David Caffrey (director); (August 9, 2020); "Better Angels". Episode 8. Angel of Darkness. TNT.
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 The Alienist Inside — Character Profiles
- ↑ Brieftake, INTERVIEW: THE ALIENIST’S DOUGLAS SMITH. written by Charles Trapunski January 21, 2018