Alice Rush reviews episode two of American Horror Story: Freak Show….
This week on Freak Show saw some pretty horrifying scenes unfold as new characters were introduced and the heat was turned up. Alfonso Gomez-Rejon was back at the director’s helm and so we were treated to his signature stylised visual style as well as a mixture of disturbing music and sound effects. It felt like a return to the disconcerting setting of Murder House and Asylum but with its own almost child-like twist as the aesthetics of the circus theme are pulled apart and examined in a beautifully terrifying way.
The main drama this week was fitted in the arrival of Del and Desiree, Michael Chiklis and Angela Bassett respectively, as a classic circus strong man and his more unique triple breasted hermaphrodite wife. We were also treated to the first flashbacks of the season this episode, a signature of American Horror Story, which reveal that not only did Del kill someone at his and Desiree’s last show in Chicago, but that Del is also Jimmy’s father. Del’s arrival and subsequent semi-takeover of the show further muddles the dynamics of the characters. Last week saw an ‘us’ and ‘them’ mentality with regards to the “normal” townsfolk and the “abnormal” carnival folk, however Del’s arrival signals what we can only presume to be a future split in the camp.
In the same spirit there seems to be an even more intimate split happening within the show as Dot and Bette begin the perform for the new matinee shows Del puts in place. Bette, the would be star, takes a backseat this week to Dot (well, as much as she can when she’s attached to her) as Dot reveals a singing talent that makes the crowds go wild and Elsa jealously despise her. This is where Freak Show is going to get meaty, as the cracks within the camp and divisions between the performers are exhumed and pushed to breaking point. The outside world is no longer the biggest threat to freak show; instead the danger lies within their own tents.
And it’s not just the girls who are at loggerheads as this week there was an immediate divide between Del and Jimmy with their personalities clashing all over the shop. Del sees the freak show as a business and is emotionally detached, whereas Jimmy wants to break the stigma against the so called ‘freaks’, and he tries to by taking them to the local town diner. A misguided mistake, but his heart’s in the right place and I think the character of Jimmy is going to be one to watch as I can imagine his hopeful naivety turning sour as his anger leads him down darker paths. By the end of the episode he is in a tormented state of mind as Meep takes the blame for Jimmy’s cop murder and pays the ultimate price. Queue Hollywood-esque style screaming-and-crying-whilst-on-your-knees from Jimmy, but I must admit even I got a lump in my throat as the acts of the show all gathered round Meep’s body. We are only two episodes in and already the strong family ties between the characters are apparent, but for how long is the real question.
Outside of the insulted carnival antics we saw a different kind of freak show happen as Dandy, the spoilt socialite who wanted to buy Bette and Dot last week, team up with Twisty the clown, who is still walking around town and killing as and when he chooses. It was really amazing to see Dandy matched up with Twisty because not only was it hilarious to see the silent and deadly Twisty out of place in the posh, sanitized mansion, but it also brought up some interesting themes. Throughout the episode Dandy is shown to be much more sadistic than the killer clown himself, as it is hinted at that he likes killing animals for fun. Now I’m not trying to defend Twisty, he is after all a mass murderer, but his fascination with child like magic tricks and toys suggests a more innocent mind set, whereas Dandy is the one who is straight up twisted. His weird relationship with his mother and his messed up ideas of being a star begs the question of who are the ‘real’ freaks in this show?
‘Massacres and Matinees’ was definitely a strong episode that not only entertained visually but also succeeded in pushing the show in the right direction. The tensions within the camp will no doubt come to boiling point in the near future and the odd teaming up of Twisty and Dandy I’m sure will have further repercussions for the safety of both the townsfolk of Jupiter and the members of the freak show.
Alice Rush
Originally published October 18, 2014. Updated April 13, 2018.
