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AMERICAN HORROR STORY FREAK SHOW Recap: I Wanna Be Loved By You

Here we are, about half way through the fourth season of American Horror Story. Rumors are running rampant about what season five will told for the AHS players but as far as I’m concerned we’ve still got a ways to go on Freak Show. I want to start by asking you: If you’re reading this, are you still on board with this season? I am still enjoying the series, but casually, you could say, as I find that for as much as the series enjoys having large and exciting casts, it rarely knows what to do with them.

There really are no supporting cast members on American Horror Story any more, and this is a big problem. It began during Asylum where the storytelling was uneven due to its lack of focus on a central character or a focused plot. In Coven, they narrowed things down a little bit which felt like an improvement, even if audiences didn’t love the season overall. Now, in the sixth episode of Freak Show titled “Bullseye,” I find myself confused about who and what this season is actually about.

Jessica Lange’s Elsa Mars is clearly intended to be the main character but as the season progresses, I find her to be continually one note and very difficult to feel sympathy for. In tonight’s episode, Elsa is supposed to be celebrating her birthday, surrounded by her “monsters” (is she the Lady Gaga of Jupiter, FL?). She flies off the handle when they begin to question her in the disappearance of Dot and Bette, whom she has delivered to Dandy and Gloria Mott, thus solving her problem of the young stars who are stealing her spotlight. Dandy reveals to Gloria how much he cares for the girls and that he might actually be in love with them. Bette feels strongly for Dandy as well but Dot isn’t having it and her rejection sends Dandy into a rage and his spineless mother watches helplessly, trying to make him feel better.

Here’s my question: do the writers behind American Horror Story actually think that their audience could be capable for sympathy for Dandy? Are they trying to shine a light on the entitled young mass murders who have filled the news over the last ten years? I would imagine the answer to be “yes,” as AHS has spent a lot of the first half of this season trying to explain Dandy to us. He’s a failed actor, he has cold, sociopathic tendencies, he’s a product of inbreeding but, unfortunately, that’s just not enough. I’m tired of this storyline, I think it’s incredibly shallow and find my mind wandering towards wondering where other characters, like Del and Desiree — who were absent during this episode after being a big part of the focus in “Pink Cupcakes” — are while Dandy is on screen.

American Horror Story: Freak Show

Meanwhile, back at the camp, we learn that Paul is in love with a “normal” girl in the town and she loves him back. When Elsa gets a hint of this she flies off the handle again and guilt tricks her “monsters” into proving their trust for her by strapping into her spinning bullseye and letting her throw the knives. I understand a bit of camp here and there but as far as I’m concerned, this was the most hammy event we’ve seen on the series in a while. Jimmy volunteers but Paul steps in and on her third throw, Elsa “misses” and strikes him in the gut. We see in the tease for next week that he has reunited with his lady love so are obviously led to believe that he survives.

Also happening at the grounds is Esmerelda being pushed by Stanley to murder one of the freaks so he can sell the corpse to the museum and receive a big payday. Of course he wants Jimmy but Esmerelda talks him down from the Lobster Boy and suggests Ma Petite instead but ultimately, can’t bring herself to kill her. Finally, Ethel is the only one left to celebrate Elsa’s birthday with her and while she pledges her loyalty to Mars, she threatens her in the exact same breath, telling her if she ever finds out Elsa did something to the Tattler Sisters, she’ll kill her. I’ll say it before and I’ll say it again and goofy accents be damned: I love Kathy Bates on this season of AHS.

And there you have it. A pretty flat episode of American Horror Story. I will continue to watch because I like the small, thoughtful moments of the series a lot, but the further in that we get, they appear to be few and far between. But, once again, I ask you: what are your thoughts on Freak Show? Am I being too hard on the series? Am I the only one who misses Twisty the Clown? Let’s hear your take in the comments below!

American Horror Story airs Wednesday nights on FX.

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Comments

  1. Sandra S. says:

    I agree with you! In the episode where they kill off Twisty the clown, they started to lose me. I did not like the back story they gave for Twisty as it just did not fit the evil clown that he became. It was like the writers decided he was TOO evil, (which is what made him such a great character!) and tried to make him seem like a sad story instead. It just didn’t work! And since that episode the writing just seems to be going all over the place. They better be careful….they are starting to lose my interest and if the dis-jointed writing continues this season may just fizzle out instead of ending with a bang.

  2. David M says:

    It was a mistake to kill Twisty so soon. I enjoy Dandy, though I guess I didn’t realize they were trying to garner sympathy for him. I just thought they were exhibiting more of his bi-polar mood swings. 
    I disagree about Asylum though. The central story was the bloody face killer which spanned decades, and I think it could be argued Lana was the central character. It completely builds her arc from victim (of society, and later the bloody face killer) to empowered survivor. That was my favorite season of AHS. 

  3. Vince Bonacci says:

    AHS has dropped off a little every season since the first. I haven’t even started Freak show and am content to watch on Netflix next year. What made season one so good was the new ghost story each week that set a tone for the episode. I think the series is innovative for the horror genre and still relearn but yes there continues to be notable decline every season. 

  4. wendy says:

    I miss Twisty! !! He really made this season creepy and it is not the same without him….

  5. Melissa says:

    I’m really disappointed with this season. 

  6. rica says:

    I feel the exact same way. Kat episode had me wondering what the premise of this season really is? It’s losing me even though I’ve been a dedicated fan. Of course I will continue to watch but it will probably be with a phone in my hand or a computer in my lap. I miss twisty! They took him away right as they made us feel side sense of sympathy for him.

  7. kerrell says:

    You’re not being too hard at all,spot on is more like it. This episode was very flat. I’m having a hard time finding the whole point of this season story wise. Elsa is very one note and getting a bit boring. But I’ll hang in there with hope that the rest of the episodes improve. Also you’re not alone,I miss Twisty too.

  8. smartbunny says:

    I’m loving this season so far, but I do wish I felt more like I was following a plot than just seeing a bunch of scenes.

  9. IMHO AHS gets better every season. Love the theme song.

  10. Stephanie Haynes says:

    Nah, you’re actually spot-the-fuck on about it. I’m not really even excited about the next episodes anymore, it’s just a part of my nightly routine, as something i enjoy comes on between 8-11 every night from Sunday-Friday. I started it, so out of obligation, I’ll finish it. But so far, I haven’t really seen anything end well on this season.

  11. I completely agree with you.  Every episode I’ve watched I get the feeling I must have missed an episode.  There’s just not focus, the plot seems to fall into a hole and crawl out something completely different.  I just can’t connect with this season and it leaves me a little sad.  Freak Show had a lot of promise to be the best so far at the starting gate, but it went lame.