AHS: Freak Show summoned the Victorian past with a melody from the far future on Wednesday’s episode, “Edward Mordrake: Part 1.” Relive the performance here!
Jessica Lange’s Elsa Mars may be trying to steal the spotlight from her competition under the tent, but she is not the only one making waves on American Horror Story. In addition to her musical performance, the first Halloween episode of the Freak Show installment saw incredible performances from Kathy Bates, Evan Peters, and newcomer to the troupe, Emma Roberts.
Watch the full performance of Lana Del Rey’s ‘Gods and Monsters’
Related: AHS: Freak Show episode 3 recap: ‘Superstition ain’t the way
Beyond Murphy’s Musical Influence:
Kathy Bates’ Ethel Darling confronted her demons through the one that Elsa’s performance conjured. At the start of the episode, Ethel finds out that she has cirrhosis of the liver and less than a year to live. Struggling with the news and witnessing her son’s downward spiral into oblivion, it is Edward Mordrake’s ghostly appearance that brings out the best non-musical performance of the episode.
In a bout of confession the audience learns of Ethel’s fall from stardom. At the height of her career she kept control of her act, filling the room with laughs and taking in the applause. Her control over the crowd began to slip through the cracks as she trusted her heart and her livelihood to Dell. He stripped her of control, dignity, and self-respect. In the end her greatest regret was the exploitation of her son from birth.
Ethel’s past sheds more light on her present situation as part of Elsa’s troupe. Kathy Bates’ performance in what she believes are the final moments of her character’s time on Earth remind audiences that there are deeper stories to be explored behind all of the characters on the show.
With any luck, the musical performances will cease to steal the spotlight from the extraordinary performances the cast is capable of delivering in their shadow.
“Gods and Monsters” is available for download on iTunes along with the other songs featured on AHS this season!
Watch AHS: Freak Show episode 4, “Edward Mordrake: Part 2,” Wednesday, October 29 at 10:00 p.m. ET on FX.