After two weeks without our favorite freaks, "Blood Bath" was an excellent and thrilling episode. It really deserved its title. We lost two great characters, Ethel Darling and Gloria Mott during that hour. It was surprising, in a way. I thought they'd keep those major deaths for next week in the winter finale.
But, their deaths weren't that shocking, they were expected. We knew Ethel was dying since the start of the season, and it was certain Dandy and Gloria couldn't keep up with their twisty game for long. I'm very sad to see Frances Conroy go, I wish she could have been in all the episodes. But, it's American Horror Story after all, so there's still hope to see her back. (I'm putting my hopes on Dandy to dream about her).
Jessica Lange was once again absolutely divine in that episode, but I must admit I'm starting to get bored over Lange playing the same character since Sister Jude. I wish Elsa would been different, maybe more human and less manipulative.
She really touched me when Elsa learnt about Ma Petite's death. For once, I felt like Elsa was actually sincere, she has always been very fond of Ma Petite (who wouldn't ?) and her disappearance really affected her.
Ethel didn't believe in her, after everything that happened, especially with the twins. That led to one of the great scenes of the season, between Jessica Lange and Kathy Bates. We finally got to understand more Elsa and Ethel's relationship, what they are for each other. Ethel had always been devoted to Elsa. Elsa played the mother figure for most of the freaks.
Kathy Bates was exceptional in that scene, especially when she shot Elsa in her leg. I would never expected her to be strong enough to actually shoot Elsa. Ethel didn't know about Elsa's condition, that she was also a freak herself. I thought Elsa had told Ethel before, but it was the perfect time to reveal it. It had really shaken off Ethel, even if she was still on track on her mission to kill Elsa for what she’d done, she had a moment of weakness. And it led tragically to her death.
I didn't really expect her to die at the hands of Elsa, but she left her no choice. Elsa had to eliminate her to keep living. It’s kinda of funny, Ethel was right about Elsa’s jealousy but so wrong about her murdering Ma Petite… She should have shot Elsa in the head first instead of her fake leg.
I will miss you Ethel and your Baltimore accent. I still hope she'll be back to hunt Elsa as a ghost.
Elsa teamed up with her new partner in crime, Stanley, to hide the true nature of Ethel's murder and to make believe to the Freaks Ethel had decided to take her own life. It was a risky move, that could have been easily by the other freaks, but they were all shocked by Ethel's death, and she had talked about her terminal sickness to Desiree and Dell, so it made her suicide realistic for them. It was a nice throwback to have Kathy Bates’s head cut, like just last year in Coven.
Of course, Jimmy was the most affected by Ethel’s death. Poor boy had lost his mother. He tried to forget his grief with alcohol but it never works. And his girlfriend Maggie wasn’t much of an help either. She fell in love with Jimmy the town hero, not with Jimmy the sad drunk. It was a bit harsh from her, reminded me a little of Maddison. Emma Roberts is so good at pulling a bitch attitude. Anyways, I can’t wait to see the consequences of Ethel’s death on Jimmy. It will change him forever, I just hope he won’t turn to be like his dad.
We didn’t get to see much of Dell, I don’t mind it because I’m still hating that bastard for what he’s done to Ma Petite but we got to see more of Desiree. She’s definitely my favorite character of the season, she better not die in the next episode ! Angela Bassett is just amazing, I love her voice, the way she stands, she walks as Desiree. She’s perfect.
And I loved Desiree’ feminist speech. It was time for the show to deal with the woman’s conditions in that time. Penny is such a great example of the places the women were back then. She was the property of her father, until the day she would be the property of her husband. Desiree admired Ethel for being a strong and alone woman, so to honor her memory she decided, along with the other women of the show (Suzi and Eve), to get the revenge on Penny’s father for what he did to her. He deserved it, it’s horrible to treat his own children that way. But what the girls had in store for him was really shocking and awful, They decided to tar and feather him. But Penny finally did not kill him and let him live, thanks to Maggie. I’m not a big fan of Emma Roberts, but she was truly amazing in that scene. I could feel the complexity of Esmeralda’s feelings. I can’t to see how her storyline will end.
My favorite part of the episode, actualy I think it’s my favorite storyline of the season, was Dandy and Gloria’s. Frances Conroy and Finn Wittrock are extraordinary. Their last scene together was one of the most intense of the whole show. There was so much emotion sin their eyes, I absolutely loved it.
Gloria and Dandy’s relationship is the most interesting relationship of this season, IMO. It’s so complex and twisted. Gloria has shown since the beginning she deeply cared for her boy, despite understanding he was a murderer. She tried to send him to her therapist but Dandy quickly understood. He even tried to blackmail her into killing Regina, Dora’s daughter. Btw, Gabourey Sidibe is killing it with her costume. I love that look on her. Gloria didn't kill her and got shot by Dandy. I was shocked during that scene, I actually didn't want to see what was happening. I will miss Gloria Mott very much...
I’m still very upset about Gloria’s death. It’s such a great loss for the show. First, Frances Conroy is the second best actress on the show after Lange, she has the same wonderful ability to create and give life to her characters in a unique way and she always gets very different parts (I still adore her as the Angel of Death). But, mostly, the best part about Dandy was seeing him struggling him with his desire to kill and his overprotected mother trying to keep things normal on the surface. Now, Dandy is free, I hope he will get closer to the freaks otherwise I fear I might loose interest in his story.
“Blood Bath” was an intense and thrilling episode. It was sad to see both Kathy Bates and Frances Conroy’s characters getting murdered, it was what American Horror Story Freak Show needed. Usually, things evolve and change very fast in AHS, especially in the first episodes. This year, I’m missing a bit the big twists and surprises. Since the first episode, things didn’t really change at Elsa’ show. With five episodes left this season,I really hope Murphy and Falchuk are planning to change the pace of the season. I love the freaks, I just want to see more actions with them.
Carnies Notes :
* I really miss Sarah Paulson and her two heads. This season, we started off with an amazing and huge cast, but all the characters are never explored in the same episode. There’s always someone missing : (
* Who will be the next freak to bite the dust ? I don't know why but Im' not seeing the new freak Barbara to stay long :/
* I was glad to see Danny Huston back in the show, still in love with Mrs Lange.
* Why didn’t we see the therapist face ?
* No more Ethel and Desiree as BBF ! It's so sad, they were so good together. It broke my heart when Desiree said Ethel was her friend...
* How long do you think Regina will live ? I bet she will die in the winter finale next week : (
I really liked the episode.
ReplyDeleteThat was a "real" one. With deaths, blood,...
About the therapist... some people say that it's the mad doctor from Asylum? I think his name is James Crowell. It'd be a good twist.
I just have one question.. I was really excited when I saw the promo because we saw Frances Conroy point a gun at Gabby's head and... did I fall asleep when it happened? Because I don't remember seeing this scene.
Oh and.. I was so glad to see the axeman.
I was wondering that too. I wasn't sure If I missed it or something, but I think they must have changed it at the last minute.
ReplyDeleteGreat review as always, you're so cute.
ReplyDeleteBut i don't think Lange's characters are the same on the show, she has been amazing.
Its a shame they have cut off this part. But its like that happens before Dandy shot Gloria. She realized that she cannot kill Regina and put the gun back on her purse. We see that Gloria, after say that she has no more love to give to Dandy, go for the purse to get the gun and maybe try to kill Dandy or just protect herself, but the gun is missing (Dandy was faster). Thats why she turn around scared.
ReplyDeleteI thought the doctor that took care of Lange leggs was the psycho one from the murder house, but that actor portrayed the axe man only. It would've been a good twist :)
ReplyDeleteJust because she does a good job, doesn't mean that they aren't writing her characters pretty much the same way every year.
ReplyDelete