American Horror Story: Freak Show/ Episode 12 “Show Stoppers” – Recap/ Review (with Spoilers)

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Overview

As the freak show comes upon its final performances, a lot of the members are forced to leave.

Topic 1: Massimo Dolcefino (A Tale of Love, Revenge, and Carpentry) – Elsa, Massimo, and Jimmy

Topic 2: Justice Before Dawn – Desiree

Topic 3: Constant Owner Turnaround – Chester, Dandy, and Elsa

Review (with Spoilers) – Below

Topic 1: Massimo Dolcefino (A Tale of Love, Revenge, and Carpentry) – Elsa, Massimo, and Jimmy

With Jimmy in need of hands, it leads to Massimo Dolcefino (Danny Huston) coming from the shadows to assist his beloved Elsa’s would-be son. Though, rather than focus on the design and making of Jimmy’s hands, instead we learn what Massimo and Elsa had, and what happened after the war for him. It begins with Massimo taking care of Elsa for two years, and then them separating. Which gave him time to seek revenge against the people who took her legs, well except the doctor, or leader, of the group. Someone who tortured all of Massimo’s humanity out of him. Leaving just an empty shell who may have longed for Elsa, but wasn’t capable of loving her.

However, while torture may have took his ability to love Elsa, it didn’t take away his mastery of carpentry. For while it was believed, for a moment, Jimmy may have Massimo make him normal hands, instead he ends up with wooden versions of his old ones. Since he doesn’t want to be normal, just whole again.

Commentary

Honestly, as I’ve probably said before, I’m really just waiting for this season to be over. For while the Massimo story was interesting, his random return didn’t do much for me. Plus, really when it comes to Jimmy, the long delay to him taking on Dandy again is excruciating. To the point this 13 episode season feels like your usual 24 episode one. Something I feel like I’ve been saying since Asylum.

Topic 2: Justice Before Dawn – Desiree

With Stanley being discovered, it leads to him losing his limbs and ending up looking like Meep. With Elsa being discovered, in terms of her participating in the murder of Ethel, it leads to a hunt for her. Then, to top things off, in a moment of madness, Chester kills Esmeralda, aka Maggie. Making it so 2/3 meet justice, with one remaining.

Commentary

As usual with American Horror Story, with the end of the show coming means killing off character quickly and dealing out justice. Though with this season, there doesn’t feel like there is a decent built at all. If anything, it is like when you go shopping with someone, and you are in the checkout line, and you forgot something so you run and quickly grab it. Except when it comes to this season, it is like they forgot Maggie and Stanley needed to pay for their crimes, like Dell, so they made it so Stanley had a slightly interesting verdict, while Maggie was fed to Chester’s mental collapse. Thus leading to my fingers really being crossed that Jimmy can really make the finale something.

Topic 3: Constant Owner Turnaround – Chester, Dandy, and Elsa

With Elsa on the run, and Chester killing Maggie, and then Marjorie, it leaves the Freak Show without an owner. Enter Dandy. Someone who, after a $10,000 payment, now owns the Freak Show. A frightening thing for not only are the freaks a bit frightened of him, but it is also apparent that Dandy still wants Dot and Bette, two people quite afraid of him. Though with Jimmy being the last witness to Dandy’s crimes, and on the run, perhaps this could lead to an interesting finale.

Commentary

With Dandy laying low since framing Jimmy, and Stanley not picking up the slack much, I must say this season felt like it perhaps had too many villains, or people who certainly couldn’t be considered full-fledged heroes. Though with the massive size of the cast, perhaps there lies the real issue. For while each freak got their moment in the sun, I honestly can’t say any of them really got the chance to become any sort of breakout star. Then, when it comes to those who we’ve seen in past seasons, arguably whatever talent they have shown they had, just isn’t visible. For with Jessica Lange trying to deal with a ridiculous accent, and her weakest character; Angela Bassett being demoted to a lady with three breasts, and basically being Ethel’s accessory; to Emma Roberts and Evan Peters again being some sort of twisted lovers, who aren’t destined for a happy ending; really, can this season be called anything but lazy? Making you wonder, in season 5, will we see the nail in the coffin, or will the dead reawaken and make season 4 just an off season.