Daniel Brühl hat es wohl geschafft – er ist auch endlich in New York angekommen. Zumindest in der Serie The Alienist geht er im Jahre 1896 als Seelenarzt auf die Suche nach einem Serienmörder. Die zehnteilige Serie wurde nach einem Roman von Caleb Carr adaptiert.

The evil twin of the Justice League

From the mass of average people populating the world of “The Boys,” a few stand out: the superheroes, called “Supes.” Blessed, they say, by God personally with supernatural powers, they use them to fight evil. In return, they are worshipped and celebrated by the public like stars, receiving merchandise, feature films, and effective public appearances. The main squad of heroes, “The Seven,” is a team of superheroes managed and marketed by the major concert company “Vaught.” The “Supes” concept is reminiscent of Aldi’s own brands, which are unashamedly similar to the original—in this case, well-known classics like Superman, Wonder Woman, and the like. For example, there’s Homelander, a blond hunk with a prominent chin, whose blue, white, and red outfit is a homage to the American flag. Or Queen Maeve, confident and bulletproof in a revealing costume that looks like a cross between a swimsuit and a breastplate. A new addition is the naive Starlight, who is determined to make a contribution to improving the world.

What’s it about?

Frontier tells the story of Declan Harp. As an unscrupulous fur trader in North America, he is hunted by the Hudson Bay Company, which holds a monopoly on Canadian furs. This isn’t just because Declan repeatedly steals furs that the company claims for itself, but because Lord Benton, a high-ranking and wicked member of the Hudson Bay Company , has a personal interest in capturing Declan Harp . The bond between the two main characters is an important part of the story, which I don’t want to spoil here.

Because Declan is the son of a Native American mother and an Irish father, the Native Americans of Canada view him as an ally, making it easier for him to trade furs with the indigenous peoples. In addition to the Hudson Bay Company, the English and French naturally also sense the big money that was being made in the fur trade at the end of the 18th century. This leads to a constant power struggle between various parties over ownership of the land and the furs. Plots are hatched, competitors are eliminated, and intrigues are spun. In short, every means is used to make the most money in the end. History has already shown that the Native Americans do not fare well in this power struggle.

Why did we like Frontier so much?

A large part of this is certainly the fresh setting and the landscape. Anyone who enjoyed watching men wandering through vast landscapes in Lord of the Rings will now get plenty of new inspiration with Frontier . The shots consistently depict the vastness and untouched nature of the Canadian landscape, something never seen before in a series. The power-hungry, money-hungry fur traders and hunters seem completely out of place, and this contrast clearly highlights the problems of the time. This alone makes you hate the members of the Hudson Bay Company throughout the series. Nevertheless, all the characters remain relatable, which is due not only to the well-written plot but also to the acting performances of the perfectly chosen cast. Jason Momoa , clad in bearskin , is immediately believable as the brutal hunter. Alun Armstrong is also perfectly cast as the treacherous Lord Benton . I have never seen such a sly and deceitful antagonist. You hate him from the first second. And that’s meant as a compliment.