American Horror Story: Freak Show/ Episode 11 “Magical Thinking” – Recap/ Review (with Spoilers)

Overview

Neil Patrick Harris’ character Chester comes to the show, and shows not all freaks can have what makes them so physically seen on the outside.

Topic 1: Poor Jimmy – Dell, Jimmy, and Amazon Eve

Topic 2: Meet Chester – Chester

Topic 3: Time To Get Your Hands Dirty – Dandy, Chester, and Elsa

Review (with Spoilers) – Below

Topic 1: Poor Jimmy – Dell, Jimmy, and Amazon Eve

As seen in the last episode, Jimmy has sold his hands in order to retain a lawyer. However, the original deal was just one hand being sold, not both. So upon Dell learning Stanley took his sons hands, needless to say he is pissed. Though, with his anger, comes a moment of sadness as he feeds his son. Realizing that this is the first time he has done so since he abandoned the boy.

However, being that Dell is still on the path to redemption with Jimmy, he plans to make things right. First by feeding into Jimmy’s dream of buying the freak show, and then by busting him out. Something Amazon Eve, despite their past interactions, says she wants to help with. Leading to use seeing Jimmy broken out of the van taking him from the hospital to prison [1]. Though the episode ends with us unable to say where he is now.

Commentary

Usually after a show takes a break I am energized and ready to see the conclusion, but honestly this season is just too dull to care about. For the mystique of the “freaks” is gone, and though Jimmy’s fate brings feign interest, at the same time I feel as if there won’t be a grand finale from him to make you glad Evan Peters remains stuck on this show.

Topic 2: Meet Chester – Chester (Neil Patrick Harris), Dot and Bette

Chester, a traveling salesman, magician, and would be ventriloquist, arrives to the freak show to sell lizards. Something which no one really wants, but no one more so than Elsa. However, his bookkeeping skills do intrigue her enough to let him stay and warm up the crowd. Though what Dot and Better wouldn’t mind him warming up is their body. For while the girls see the whole freak show enter sexual debauchery, they audition. However, once Chester walks into the show, they set their sights on him and he them. Leading to an eventual sex act. One which leads to two entities ready to destroy his life.

Commentary

If there is one thing this season has done, which is worth praising, is that it does try to give a jolt to the show by introducing characters across the season. And while I remain of the opinion that this show went downhill quick after Twisty’s fall and Dandy’s rise, at least they tried to introduce new characters to help supplement the weakness of this season’s character. Making it so quantity went against quality.

Those feelings aside, I find myself quite interested in Chester to the point I feel he may be a last minute save for the season. For his magic act aside, his situation with Marjorie (Jamie Brewer) is quite interesting. Though I do wonder if whether Marjorie is supposed to be a killer puppet, or if she is just the voice in his head. Much less, where did she come from?

Topic 3: Time To Get Your Hands Dirty – Dandy, Chester, and Elsa

Dandy doesn’t kill anyone this episode, and questionably may not kill again. For now all he wants are the twins, someone Chester stole from him. So now he has to steal Chester’s little bit of sanity. How? Well, by manipulating not only what he knows about Chester, allegedly, killing his wife and her lover, but also using Marjorie to mess with him.

Though, all things considered, Dandy may end up regretting not keeping Marjorie with him. If only because this doll, which seemingly wanted to participate in the 3-way Chester’s wife Lucy (Shauna Rappold) was having with Alice (Angela Sarafyan), now is upset she didn’t get to join Chester with Dot and Bette. So now the doll says that the twins have to go, and this time Marjorie isn’t going to be the one to get her hands dirty.

Leaving the topic of Elsa. In the episode she continues to prep to leave, and in the meanwhile sells the freak show to Chester for $1000. Something which angers the freaks since they would like to own themselves. Though what makes things interesting this episode is she learns the fate of Ma Petite and puts a bullet into Dell. Right in the head.

Commentary

I do feel that Chester may steal a lot of the thunder Dandy supposedly has on this show, and arguably any Elsa may have. For while Dandy remains one of the head villains, and likely will have a grand finale in which he gets what is coming to him, I still don’t see the big deal. Though I do believe NPH is just what this show needs for his charisma and personality helps bring it new life. For even with Elsa shooting Dell, and the issues that may cause for the now orphan Jimmy, I feel all eyes are on Chester and they won’t return to the rest of the cast unless something mesmerizing happens.

Things To Note

[1] Stanley gave Jimmy something to drink so he would need a hospital, and used one of his associates to quickly get him to the hospital, get the surgery, and then be on his way.