Death, destruction, and “Hotline Bling”? Tonight AHS: Hotel episode 10 went off the rails just before a brief hiatus.

Just like the Hotel Cortez, AHS: Hotel‘s writing has surprises around every corner. And just like the Hotel Cortez, the writing is often a dead body you have to stumble over to get to the place you want or find an exit. Tonight’s AHS: Hotel episode 10, “She Gets Revenge,” seemed less about revenge and more about poking the audience to laugh instead of pushing them into the mindset of the characters.

The announcement of the ensemble for each AHS installment raises a ton of eyebrows. Bates, Lange, Paulson, and Bassett are the power hitters whose resumes are nothing to shrug at. Finn Wittrock became one of the most fascinatingly terrifying characters to watch last season. Unlike AHS: Freak Show, Hotel held onto a captivating story that treads close to the line of absurdity, but never crossed it. Even tonight’s episode, “She Gets Revenge,” very nearly made it to the other side, but the Hotel Cortez has a tricky way of trapping people with unfinished business, and a few too many pop culture references forced into the plot were what trapped the series the tonight.

But that’s not to say some triumphant stories did not get paid their due diligence. Denis O’Hare was still present and accounted for (thank goodness), Lady Gaga killed a two minute scene in a power suit, and did we mention Liz Taylor and Miss Evers share a few moments on screen? Despite its triumphs, it was hard to ignore the truth in Sally’s final scream as John walked away, “I deserve more than this!”

Notable success and failure

John Lowe breaks free

Mr. March’s enthusiasm for the art of crafting a murderer is as admirable as it is repulsive, but the spark in his eye does not start a flame within John Lowe. March’s Ten Commandment protege is less resistant to Sally’s influences now that he is aware of what her little nudge leads to, but with only one more commandment to fulfill, John is looking for an exit, not a new career.

That ending includes a life with his entire family intact. Alex decides that reuniting John with Holden can only come after they take care of one minor problem. If you thought that problem was the daughter they abandoned, you were wrong. However, the duo is aware that they are the worst parents on the planet. Instead, they have to put an end to the gang of blood-sucking children.

After tricking the children into their care, John and Alex lock them on the seventh floor and re-consummate their marriage. But Sally is not as thrilled about the divorce papers leaving the realm of possibility. She clearly has some supernatural ability to lure John into her arms, but John finally has the will to get out of his downward spiral. With Holden on one arm and Alex in the other, he leaves the Cortez. Possibly to reunite with Scarlett, but probably not.

Miss Evers gets the job done

Iris and Liz are at the end of their rope. Gone are the glory days, gone is their will to live. Without love, what is the point of going on? But before the two can take their own lives in the Cortez, they must wrap up a few items on their to-do list. For Iris that means gathering an armory and preparing a video for her three Instagram followers. For Liz that means reaching out to her son.

The reunion between Liz and Douglas was beautifully executed with the two connecting over a few drinks at the bar. Liz, however, was none the wiser that Douglas knew not only who he was talking to, but how to gear the conversation to reveal more than enough information about where he was in his life and how well he turned out despite his father’s abandonment.

At this point we know that Liz Taylor is not going to pull the trigger on herself and she must convince Iris to to have the same change of heart. Liz now has a future with her son to keep her going. Why can’t the oppressed inherit the world? In order to do that, the duo bust through the doors of The Countess’ quarters and turn a few guns on the guilty ones.

The top is a lonely place

The Countess has no husband, no boyfriend, and as of Donovan’s opening scene, no true love. As The Countess killed Natacha to have Valentino to herself, Donovan ran an errand of his own to put a bullet through his model’s face. That’s the end of their happy ending.

But first, a moment of silence for the Drake plug.

We saw you in Magic Mike, Matt Bomer. Why did you disappoint us like this? Pushing past Bomer’s subpar dance moves, the scene took a turn for the better as The Countess and Donovan air their grievances. Donovan killed Valentino to push his one and only love to The Countess, who tried her best to mold Donovan into Valentino, but he could never take his place in her heart. He can, however, die by her hand.

As she admires his sacrifice, we see a slow motion walk from Liz Taylor and Iris, guns blazing, to “Hotline Bling.” Seriously, all that was missing from this scene was Melissa McCarthy bringing up the rear.

We’ll have to wait until 2016 to see what exactly went down after the final shell casing hit the floor, but odds are The Countess is down, but not out. Congratulations are in order for Miss Evers! We know she will have a long, happy relationship with her new washer/dryer combo.

Watch AHS: Hotel episode 11, “Battle Royale,” Wednesday, January 6 at 10:00 p.m. ET on FX.