American Horror Story: Freak Show/ Episode 13 “Curtain Call” [Season Finale] – Recap/ Review (with Spoilers)

Overview

The Freak Show comes to an end with massacres and happy endings, but is the end of the season a blessing, or does it leave you wanting more?

Topic 1: Freak Show Massacre – Dandy

Topic 2: A Happy Ending For Some – Jimmy, Desiree, Bette & Dot

Topic 3: A Bittersweet Ending For One – Elsa

Review (with Spoilers) – Below

Topic 1: Freak Show Massacre – Dandy

With Dandy in control, not a single freak is happy. In fact, they all quit as he tries to exert control over them. Leading to one final performance for the freak show. The opening act is Dandy killing Amazon Eve, Paul, Penny, Ima Wiggles, and the woman without legs, and the big performance is Dandy drowning in a water tank.

Commentary

Like most season finales on American Horror Story, a lot of characters die. This season though, honestly none of the people killed off were a surprise, or were frustrating. For whether it was Maggie, often referred to as Esmeralda, Ethel, or Paul, arguably there remains only one character whose death mattered: Twisty. Everyone else really didn’t leave the show with you feeling wronged, shocked, or what have you. They just died and it was ok since they didn’t really leave the type of impression which calls for any serious reaction.

Topic 2: A Happy Ending For Some – Jimmy, Desiree, Bette & Dot

At the end of the episode comes a short montage of us seeing Desiree with Angus, and their children; Jimmy alive and happy; and us learning Bette, Dot, and Jimmy have a kid on the way.

Commentary

Is it wrong a part of me, during the massacre sequence, really wanted Jimmy, Bette, and Dot to die and Desiree be the hero? If only because, after the way Angela Basset’s character was handled in Coven, much less how Gabourey Sidibe’s character was handled this season, I thought her being the last survivor, outside of Elsa, would have been excellent. Then, to really top things off, Desiree could have killed Elsa as retribution for Ethel. Though such stories are just what my dreams are made of.

Topic 3: A Bittersweet Ending For One – Elsa

Though Elsa’s arrival in Hollywood isn’t an instant hit, after 8 years she finds herself becoming a Friday night star with Emmy awards, a star on the Hollywood walk of fame, and a husband. All of which, sadly for her, doesn’t necessarily make her happy. For, at the end of the day, all Elsa wanted was to be loved, and pretty much all the people who loved her are dead, or are on their way out like Massimo. So, to end things on a high note, since the tape of her losing her legs is making rounds, as well as news on her running a freak show, she decides to work on Halloween. Thus leading to Edward Mondrake, with Twisty in tow, showing up and killing her. But, rather than her join his troupe, she is sent to join Ma Petite, Ethel, and the many others of her freak show. A place where the past may not have been forgotten, but it seemingly is forgiven. Especially since there is a packed house every night and they need their headliner: Elsa Mars.

Commentary

Unfortunately, I cannot say the ending of American Horror Story – Freak Show made up for all the lackluster episodes since Twisty left. For just in the scenes in which Jessica Lange’s character was the focus, you could see every word she spoke to her manager and the network was real. In the sense of, just like Elsa, arguably Lange is tired of the show, the premise, and what is being asked of her. And while I’m sure she is thankful to Ryan Murphy, and co., for increasing her star power, you can tell she knows it is time to move on.

Something I believe FX should possibly do as well. For with American Crime Story on the horizon, perhaps we should end the Horror Story equivalent before it ends up like many a Ryan Murphy project which long overstays its welcome. Because, at the moment, with talks of how drastically different the next season will be, you can see they know the product is becoming stale so they are going to try to treat this series like Frankenstein’s monster and see if one good jolt could revive things. Something I doubt will happen.