TV Review: American Horror Story: Freak Show (Season 4, Episode 10)

Last Updated on August 5, 2021

EPISODE: "ORPHANS"

THE SCOOP: Elsa gives a tutorial on history of the Freak show. Pepper gets a chance to show her wicked ways after the death of a relative. Meanwhile, Desiree doesn't take to kindly to Maggie's dastardly ass.

The Following May Contain Minor-To-Major Spoilers. If You've Not Seen This Episode, It Might be Wisest To Stop Reading Here!

THE SKINNY: So here we are in the thick of the holiday season aptly adopting "Orphans", the 10th episode of American Horror Story: Freak Show. Seems a worthy cause, right? Well, I must admit, after two extremely brisk and action-packed episodes in a row, this one was a bit of a departure in every way. Not just in tone, which is far more dramatic if not downright dour, but also in terms of the spread out storylines with a lagging runtime fraught with expository flashbacks and a dearth of blood. What gives? The show kicked off with definitely its most interesting storyline, that being the one involving Pepper and her sad and sordid past as an exploited performer. Turns out she also had a twin brother, whom we see her murder in an insane asylum to start the show…or at least cut off his ears. Real shit, it was cool to see Naomi Grossman get a chance to shine in this episode, more than holding her own among an ensemble of good actors. It's about time we get meatier arcs from these so called non-pros that makes the cast so damn interesting, and appropriate, in the first place.

And contextualizing Pepper's past is Elsa. We go back to 1936, Where Elsa bands with the gypsies and carnie folk in Boston…where she ascended quickly. Pepper was her first recruit, a bond she instantly struck up and knew was paramount to the kind of Freakshow she wanted to run. She mothered the troupe, as she said, also landing Ma Petit to partake in the grand sideshow chicanery. We all know Ma Petit is toast, so to help makes amends, Elsa tracks down Pepper's estranged sister (Mare Winningham), who agrees to take her little sister in get to know and care for her. There's a somewhat touching scene, if overly maudlin, between Lange and Grossman that ties up what is essentially a solitary storyline. Even so, I think it was the strongest episode, largely because of the last ten minutes, with the completely out of left field return of Lily Rabe (Sister Mary from season 2). She records the testimony of Pepper's horrifying history of, with Winningham recounting the cruel and abusive behavior of her murderous husband. More, we learn she never really whacked her brother in the asylum like we saw in the opener. Took awhile to get there, but it was the most effective part of the episode.

Meanwhile, the main storyline back at camp involved Jimmy getting locked up in the hoosegow. Desiree is on to Maggie's snot-nose tomfoolery and threatens to kill her bony ass if she runs afoul. Then Bette and Dot offer to pay Maggie to go save Jimmy from legal trouble, but she refuses with bitter insolence. Bette fires the money in her lap and says, do right by Jimmy or else. Stanley then makes a visit to Jimmy in jail. Asks if he's guilty, Jimmy can't recall on the count of the bottle. After a whole lot of tough talk, Stan intimates he'll pay for a lawyer if Jimmy at the bare minimum sucks him off right there in the cell. Unfortunately, the last we see of Jimmy is of his excised flipper-claws proudly displayed in a case at the Morbidity Museum. Both Maggie and Desiree gasp in terror at such a sight, rightly so. I wonder how many motherf*cking freaks are gonna bite the dust before season's end? You think there will be any survivors?

All in all, a bit of a step backwards for me this week…the last episode until a January 2nd return. I just felt the tone, efficiency and overall fun of the last two frames were sorely off this week. That said, I really did appreciate the heartbreaking Pepper storyline and the opportunity Grossman got enjoy as a result. It's good to see a program called Freakshow not just relegate the real life stars as such to background extras, but instead get a chance, as in this episode, to go toe to toe with someone like Jessica Lange. With that said, there was too much of a weepy tone, as well as too many flashbacks and expository filler in the rest of the chapter for my liking. The Maggie storyline with Jimmy, the Stanley crossover, Elsa's history lesson…all rather tame and unfulfilling, especially right before a two week hiatus. Maybe I just miss Dandy!

KILL OF THE WEEK: Although offscreen, because it informed so much of the plotline I guess, you'd have to say the heinous murder of Pepper's niece was the worst. That asshole from THE WEDDING SINGER cold sawed off the infant's ears and flushed him down the toilet. All to get rid of Pepper for good. Now that's some father!

BLOOD & GORE:

• A pair of ears get lopped off, rather bloodlessly
• Stanley takes a large axe to the throat of Pepper's twin
• A bloody toilet with the ostensible remains of a baby

WTF CHARACTER MOMENT: Stanley proffering Jimmy for sexual favors, in a jail cell no less, in remuneration for a lawyer's services. Jesus, Stanley.

MOST BIZARRE SCENE: Most certainly has to be the reappearance of Lily Rabe as Sister Mary from American Horror Story: Asylum. Not sure if this will be the only crossover reference between seasons in what has been up to now a clean anthology series, but it was definitely bizarre and a bit cool.