American Horror Story: Freak Show – "Edward Mordrake (Part 1)" Retrospective. The Ghost of You.

Season 4, Episode 3

Airdate: Wednesday, October 22, 2014, 9/8c on FX

Rating: ★★★★★

[warning] SPOILERS AHEAD [/warning]

It’s trick or treat time!

‘Tis the season of Halloween, and FX’s American Horror Story: Freak Show (AHS: Freak Show) takes every advantage of the ghostly holiday in its “Edward Mordrake (Part 1)” episode—an episode unexpectedly not as gory as it is more chilling in its depiction of violence. Plus, there is an homage to a horror classic as well as the introduction of additional new characters. In past seasons, American Horror Story (AHS) treated viewers to a large ensemble of characters within its stories, but AHS: Freak Show is probably the first season I noticed it. The trick about additional characters is the risk of making the core story lines convoluted to the point of confusion. Luckily, for AHS: Freak Show, that is not the case at all.

To the Faithfully Departed

In the aftermath of Meep’s (Ben Woolf) unfortunate passing in “Matinees and Massacres,” and Jimmy’s (Evan Peters) devastating response to the loss of one of their own, I didn’t expect to see life moving forward to business as usual in this subsequent episode. The first few scenes at the carnival show nearly everyone drinking and celebrating while Jimmy busies himself digging Meep’s grave. The contrasting actions are not only appalling but sad. It’s as if everyone in the carnival is desensitized by the cruelty and injustice in the world; they just accept it as a part of life. It’s no wonder Jimmy is desperate to be “normal.” Surprisingly, it is Siamese sisters Dot and Bette’s (Sarah Paulson) outburst at the other performers’ behavior that brings everything to a halt.

Dot: “Stop! Stop, what’s wrong with you all? Meep is dead! Don’t you care?You’re being disrespectful. Look at how much pain Jimmy is in! This is wrong, we should remember Meep by working even harder. Maybe dedicating the show today to his memory.”

Watching Dot and Bette’s reaction feels like a turning point in that it demonstrates their growing self-confidence, which is a nice change from Jimmy reprimanding everyone. That said, the situation is a great segue to the haunting story of the infamous Edward Mordrake (Wes Bentley).

Every culture has a bogeyman legend of some kind; in the carnival circuit, it’s the legend of Edward Mordrake, the man with two faces, literally. Superstition dictates no performer shall do their act on Halloween night because it will summon Mordrake’s ghost. Before he leaves, he will take someone’s life. Since this is AHS, bad life choices are the norm and Elsa (Jessica Lange) decides fame is more important than life, rehearsing a fabulous rendition of Lana Del Rey’s “Gods and Monsters.” All through her performance, an eerie man creeps from out of the shadows, setting the mood, making it one of the most memorable scenes of the episode.

The Odd Couple

In the opening of “Edward Mordrake (Part 1),” viewers meet Maggie Esmeralda (Emma Roberts) and Stanley (Denis O’Hare), a pair of grifters whose latest agenda is to profit from black market specimens—“freak” body parts, to be exact. Setting their sights on the town of Jupiter where one of the few remaining sideshow troupes reside, Maggie Esmeralda—or Esmeralda the Fortune Teller—makes the first move by surveying what the freak show has to offer but begins having doubts. Roberts is great as the scheming Esmeralda, a contrast to her previous portrayal of the goody-goody Nancy Drew. Roberts switches from charming to devious effortlessly. Jimmy takes a small shine to Esmeralda, which doesn’t sit well with Dot and Belle whose infatuation with Jimmy may prove deadly. For Esmeralda, it’s the “$5,000.00” ticket she and Stanley need to complete their latest scam.

You don’t have to be psychic to know Esmeralda’s scheme won’t end well.

Terror Tantrums

What’s Halloween without candy and crazy clowns? The continuing drama with the Mott family, primarily Dandy (Finn Wittrock), is becoming a little one note. Dandy doesn’t stray far from behaving selfishly, delusional, and psychotic. I understand this childish behavior defines Dandy, but I wish more sides to his personality had been displayed this week. However, episode director Michael Uppendahl and writer James Wong do insert a nice twist by recreating a scene from the 1978 movie Halloween, adding a bit of life to Dandy’s scenes. The main problem about Dandy and Twisty the Clown’s (John Carroll Lynch) story line is the way it feels separate from the others. It almost seems like there are two completely different shows within the episode. Whereas, the grifter plotline with Esmeralda flows with the main story surrounding the carnival, as does the suspense surrounding Mordrake. This isn’t to suggest Twisty the scary clown story is bad; it’s just the violence is so heavy-handed with Dandy and Twisty, it lacks depth and definition for their characters’ development.

Best Moment

Out of all the chaos happening in the town of Jupiter, far more interesting than the horrors Twisty inflicts upon his victims, it’s Ethel Darling’s (Kathy Bates) reflection on her life and death that steals the show. As AHS: Freak Show progresses, I find the smaller, less gruesome moments to be more impactful. Wong’s script weaves the moment Ethel learns of her dire medical condition to the moment she encounters Mordrake with great pacing and depth. Bates’ moving performance when revealing Ethel’s dark shame, especially when viewers learn the circumstance of Jimmy’s birth, hits hard.

Bottom Line

“Maybe all one can do is hope to end up with the right regrets.” ― Arthur Miller

For Dell and Ethel, Arthur Miller said it best, “Maybe all one can do is hope to end up with the right regrets.”

I can’t believe the difference an episode can make. In “Massacres and Matinees,” the season still felt as though it was establishing the boundaries for its main plot points. “Edward Mordrake (Part 1)” has a stronger build up, a greater risk at hand for all the core characters, leaving room for more fascinating ones to develop. The new actors in AHS: Freak Show, like Michael Chiklis as the dangerous Dell Toledo, up the ante in an already strong ensemble despite Bates being in the limelight.

“Edward Mordrake (Part 1)” is a nice step in the right direction, providing more insight while still keeping you on the edge of your seat. Since this episode is one of a two-part story line, I cannot wait see what Mordrake has in store for the people in Jupiter!

What did you think of “Edward Mordrake (Part 1)?” Let me know in the comments below or on Twitter @conallen.