Review: ‘American Horror Story: Freak Show – S4E4’ From The Editor

On the latest episode of “American Horror Story: Freak Show,” we finally got to see who was added to the coterie of ghostly freaks belonging to “Edward Mordrake,” and the answer was indeed a surprising one. But was it a wise one, on the behalf of the writers?

As Mordrake (Wes Bentley) continued to question everyone in the show, it became readily apparent that most of the denizens of the Freak Show were more sad than anything else, if not entirely innocent, save a few notable exceptions (looking at you two “pinheads,” Pepper and her pal). The decidedly less innocent and obvious choice seemed to have been- and sort of was- Elsa, of course, who told Mordrake her sordid tale, after first mistaking him as the stranger “Esmerelda” foresaw paying her a visit.

It seems Elsa was once a high-end dominatrix type back in the early 30’s in Germany in Berlin at a fetish house that made “Cabaret” look like a rest home. If you thought that stag film that Elsa made of the nurse’s shenanigans with the freaks was bad, the flashback we saw here certainly gave that a run for its money- not to mention pushed the boundaries of what was allowed on cable TV. We’re talking S&M, two men having sex with a pregnant woman, homosexuality (On a Ryan Murphy show? You don’t say!), and, most shockingly, some Golden Showers type action. We’re not talking R. Kelly levels of depravity, but that has to be the first time I’ve ever seen a woman urinate into a teacup in anything, cable or otherwise. Stay classy, “AHS.”

The most traumatic backstory of all comes when Elsa describes how she was drugged as a prostitute and her attacker sawed off her legs with a chainsaw, filmed her torture, and then left her to die. This scene has a French Grand Guignol film feel, only Elsa is brutally tortured for real. This has to be one of the grittiest scenes across “American Horror Story” history and is very difficult to watch. Jessica Lange stuns in this shocking sequence that sheds so much light on the person Elsa lived on to become.

Overall, these stories are woven together with cinematic splendor. Each of the characters’ pain is raw and palpable and it’s easy to draw parallels between what they endured and the myriad ways entire groups of people have suffered over time such as Jewish people and the Holocaust, African-Americans and slavery, and gay people and hate crimes, and those born with disorders and deformities being abandoned, institutionalized and publicly shunned.

We get a much longer look at the extent of Twisty’s injuries. John Carroll Lynch’s makeup transformation is extraordinary and his vulnerability in the sequence is heart-wrenching. The terrible thing is that Twisty was formerly benevolent, and then evolved into a mad murderer. There is a strong parallel between Twisty and season one’s Tate Langdon, played with fascinating complexity by Evan Peters.

We’re shocked and yet relieved when Edward claims Twisty’s soul. We can’t forget, whatever he once was, he became a murderer and kidnapper. AHS fans reacted strongly to Twisty’s departure on the show’s Facebook page. Some fans want to see Twisty return and when asked who was more terrifying, Twisty or Dandy, opinions varied in respect to a certain amount of sympathy they feel for Twisty.

After Twisty is dead, everyone escapes; the police extend gratitude and apologies to Jimmy and the troupe. But one dark fact remains: Donning Twisty’s mask after finding Twisty dead tips Dandy totally over the evil edge.

There is no choice but to grimace when Dandy returns home only to be taunted again by Dora. This time he won’t stand for it. He slits her throat and his first human victim is claimed. Once again, the question looms: Jimmy, what did you do?

Hopefully, the show will rebound from this somehow, but I wonder if Dandy will be able to fill the big old vacant clown shoes of good old Twisty. Or Stanley, for that matter. I guess we’ll have to wait and see. Until then, at least Twisty went out on a high note, adding another solid Halloween episode to the “AHS” vault in the process. He will be missed.

Anyway the demented clown’s cookie crumbles killing Dora is probably the tip of a murdering spree he’s been waiting to unleash. Can Jimmy and Maggie stop him before it’s too late? Or will they become his next innocent victims? Buckle up, because things will undoubtedly get much darker from here.

“American Horror Story: Freak Show” airs on FX on Wednesdays at 10 pm ET.