American Horror Story - Orphans - Review

   “Orphans” was a particularly sad episode. I don’t think I’ve been ever that moved by an episode since the show has started 4 years ago. Pepper’s backstory was so touching and really sad. I admit I cried a lot watching and rewatching it.
   Luckily, my girl Desiree was there to put some joy and fun in that episode, Angela Bassett is totally killing it this year.

   Since Asylum, we all have waiting to find more about Pepper, played by the gorgeous Naomi Grossman. Pepper is a very intriguing and so lovable character, I liked instantly on Asylum, with her big smile. She was so pure. I was really shocked to finally know her story and to find out how depressing her life had been.
   Pepper basically has been abandoned by all the people she loved. Her sister left her at an orphanage after their died when they were little. Elsa found her when she was a young adult, and Pepper became her first freak.

   I was glad to also learn more about Elsa and her show through Pepper’s backstory. Elsa came to the US before the war, only to find a job at a carnivale. She quickly became a head liner (I loved Jessica Lange’s face when she hit the poor woman, it was damn funny), but of course, it wasn’t enough for Elsa. She had to rule the whole show. And when the war was declared and the men were gone, Elsa created her own show.
   Elsa took really care of Pepper, buying Ma Petite from an Maharadjah (with Dr Pepper WTF ?) to fulfill her mother insctinct and even found her a man : Salty. Elsa married them at the show, I love that very joyful and light scene, with the music and all. It was truely good and it put a big smile on my face. Pepper and Salty were so sweet together, so pure and innocent. But now, Salty has passed away, leaving Pepper alone again. Poor girl, she really didn’t deserve it. Naomi Grossman was absolutely amazing during the whole episode, especially how she played Pepper’s feelings toward Salty’s death. It was heartbreaking, the cracks in her voice, the tears in her eyes. It really moved me in a way AHS never had.
   The saddest part was Elsa and Pepper’s goodbye. They broke my heart during that scene. It was sad, watching Pepper, abandoned once again. I din’t really understand Elsa’s choice to put Pepper back at her sister. Of course, she couldn’t have known what was going to happen, but she was Pepper’s family.

   Pepper’s real family was way more messed up than the Freaks, as it’s the not so subtle theme of the season. I loved to see Mare Winningham back and always so crazy. She is amazing, less terrifying than last year as Kyle's mother, I hope she can have a bigger part next year. She knows how to be so frightening and cruel.
   Ten years after Elsa had left Pepper with them, Rita and her husband planned to kill their own deformed son and to accuse Pepper to get rid of her, what kind of people do that. It’s so horrible. Poor Pepper was sent to Briarcliff ! I was quite delightful to see Lily Rabe back, as Sister Mary Eunice. I missed watching pure and innocent Mary Eunice, even if she was so much funnier when she was evil.
   Anyways, I must admit I didn’t like that part of the episode and what it meant for the show. American Horror Story was supposed to be an anthology, now Murphy has decided to link the different seasons together. Honestly, I think it’s bad idea and for me it doesn’t feel right. It’s weird to think that Sister Jude, Kit and Lana Banana all had Doppelgängers living in a Freak Show with Pepper in Florida 10 years before. We will see how the link between the seasons will work, but for now it’s really not my thing.

    Learning about how Elsa created her show, tied to Pepper's backstory was very interesting and great, but what I enjoyed more about “Orphans” was things finally started to move forward at the show.
   Last week Jimmy was taken by the police, accused of the massacre committed by Dandy. It left poor Maggie sad and angry, drinking whiskey to forget everything. But she got closer to Desiree and oh god I can’t emphasize enough how much I love her. Angela Bassett brings so more to the screen with Desiree, it’s a real pleasure every time she appears. Desiree was perfect in every scenes : when she calmed down Pepper after Salty’s death, when she told Dell to be truely happy with someone else, even when she went away calmly after Maggie gave Angus and her a bad reading. That woman is amazing, so gorgeous and so funny, even when she cocks.

 

   Maggie finally opened up to Desiree, who totally caught her on her bullshit. And they both went to the museum of morbidity. Desiree’s face when she saw Ma Petite and then Salty’s head was so touching, I’m so glad Maggie finally decided to tell the truth (not the whole truth, but still) and now things can escalate back at the show. Can’t wait to see what they will do with Stanley.
    Of course, the best part at the museum was Maggie’s reaction to the lobster hands ! Oh God, are those really Jimmy’s ? Stanley visited him at the prison earlier with one of his evil plan. I don’t really see how Jimmy could cut his hands in his cell and give them to Stanley. Anyways, watching Maggie fainting was priceless.

    “Orphans” was an excellent episode of American Horror Story, Naomi Grossman and Angela Bassett were really amazing. They both carried the whole episode with such perfection, making “Orphans” the best episode of the season so far for me (despite the end which broke the very nature of the show- I’m still not over it)

   Did you enjoy "Orphans" ? What do you think of Freak Show so far ? Were you happy to see Lily Rabe back as Sister Mary Eunice ? Hit the comments !

Carnies Notes : 
- So, Elsa will really end up on TV ? That was a surprise, can’t wait to find out how she will manage to do it. 
- Finally we got see Desiree’s performance ! Too bad it was so short, I wanted to see more !
-  Which do you miss most Ethel or Gloria ?
- It was fun to watch how Stanley met with Maggie, I thought their partnership was more recent than that.
- No Dandy so no butt…. I will miss them over the winter break.

About the Author - Romain Ossust

I'm a 28 TV addict. Here is a non exhaustive list of my favorite shows : Orphan Black, True Blood, Dexter, Weeds, Person of Interest, Criminal Minds, The Strain, 24, Ab Fab, Carnivale, The Leftovers, Lost, The Americans, Transparent, Hannibal, American Horror Story, Once Upon A Time, Bates Motel, Desperate Housewives, Rectify, Ugly Betty, Scandal, Looking, Sleepy Hollow, Fargo, Banshee, The Walking Dead, Raising Hope, Orange is the New Black, Grey’s Anatomy, Reign, HIMYM, Girls, Game of Thrones, The Fall, Power, Black Sails, True Detective, ... For SpoilerTV, I'm reviewing The Walking Dead, American Horror Story, Looking, Sleepy Hollow, The Americans & Orphan Black

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