Today on American Horror Story we’re learning about Edward Mordrake – Ssh quiet down children. Now with the third installment of Freak Show, American Horror Story has brought us a two part Halloween treat with episodes three and four.
Episode three tells the tale of Edward Mordrake; a man with two faces. AHS is keeping with traditional Halloween spooky stories and in this episode we learn of the carnie superstition of the wealthy man who went crazy and ended up joining a Freak Show back in the 1800’s. Doesn’t sound too bad does it? Well let’s not forget to mention that Edward’s second face is demonic and likes to whisper things of a malevolent intent. This leads to Edward killing all of the carnies/freaks that he worked with before killing himself. The tale goes that no Freak Show performs on the night of Halloween or Edward Mordrake will come for you.
While this episode is named and related to Edward Mordrake, AHS brings a lot of other new elements to the series. We’re presented with Denis O’Hare and Emma Roberts con-artist characters; Stanley and Maggie Esmerelda. The Pair try to con a museum with a false fetus causing the two to make their way to Jupiter in hopes of making big bucks off of the Freaks body parts. We learn that Maggie is an attentive and manipulative woman as she makes her way into troupe of Freak by pretending to be a fortune teller. Through this con she brings Stanley in by telling Elsa how she shall cross paths with a dark and mysterious man who will bring her fame; and we all know by now that’s all Elsa really wants.
We see glimpses of sub plot with Twisty kidnapping yet another person, Dandy completely losing his mind and dressing up as a clown and attempting to kill his house keeper; luckily for her he’s not quite that twister – yet. We also learn that Ethel Darling is dying. She finally is treated like a normal person by her doctor and advised not to drink another drop; however she goes straight to the bottle. She pushes Jimmy away and asks Del to keep an eye on Jimmy but never to tell him that he’s his father; confirming he is the baby daddy – who didn’t see that one coming though? Speaking of Del we see trouble in paradise with him and Desiree but we also see a fierce persona with Desiree as she has no fear of Del.
Back to the other ladies of the Freak Show however; we see that Dot wants to separate from Bette and she doesn’t care if Bette dies because of it. We also see the beginnings of the first confrontation between Dot and Elsa as Dot demands for more; given that they are the headliners. In an attempt to better herself for the mysterious stranger she’ll encounter, Elsa rehearses on the night of Halloween and summons Edward Mordrake, who appears to her only briefly before going straight to Ethel.
Still drunk, Ethel is confronted by Edward Mordrake and his demonic second face and ask for Ethel to tell them about her darkest moment without lies, as the second face will know. This is where we find out how Ethel ended up in the place that she did, how bad of a man Del really was to her and what her biggest shame was and the way she betrayed Jimmy. Her remorse and honestly allow her to escape joining the Freak Show trapped with Mordrake but it’s not over; Mordrake does not leave without a victim.
Overall the episode is just as well laid out as its predecessor. The ending leaves suspense and a longing to know what will happen in Episode four. American Horror Story has really delved deep into the character depth and stories this season and you will be hungry to know how this season will all play out.
Review Score: THREE AND A HALF STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
American Horror Story: Freak Show screens in Australia on Channel Eleven, Mondays at 9:30pm.
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