American Horror Story: Freak Show – "Orphans” Retrospective. Best of the Best

Not a monster or a freak, Pepper is truly one of the purest free spirits in Jupiter.

Season 4, Episode 10

Airdate: Wednesday, December 10, 2014, 9/8c on FX

Rating: ★★★★★

WARNING: SPOILERS

“A carnie’s life burns brighter than most, and extinguishes sooner.” – Elsa

Sitting down to write my reaction to and thoughts about American Horror Story: Freak Show’s (AHS: Freak Show) episode “Orphans” is a challenge, and I’m struggling to find the precise words to express my feelings about it—that’s how much food for thought it left me with. I always find the strength of an episode rests in how long it leaves an impression. It’s been more than 24 hours since I saw “Orphans,” and I can still feel the ache in my chest from how much it caught me off guard with its brilliant writing and amazing performances; not to mention some of the most heartbreaking, poignant, and memorable moments you’ll see in television this year.

For the American Horror Story (AHS) franchise, “Orphans” is a total game changer not just for the season itself but the series as a whole. When Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk, creators of the franchise, announced season four’s “Freak Show” theme, my primary concerns were about the approach. Could the producers and creators of the AHS franchise maintain the integrity of its story lines without resorting to exploitive and demeaning portrayals? The jury may still be out for some but for me, AHS: Freak Show is the series at its best. Hitting hard on the emotional scale, “Orphans” focuses on the “Freak Show” origins of Pepper (Naomi Grossman), a reoccurring character from season two, American Horror Story: Asylum (AHS: Asylum). Even though there is limited screen time surrounding the events of Jimmy’s (Evan Peters) arrest, Pepper’s story is so good you forget Jimmy is even in jail. Episode writer James Wong does such a good job of luring you into the episode with great dialogue and a heartfelt story for Pepper, all other plot points fade to the back.

We Are What We Are

For a while, the origins of Elsa’s (Jessica Lange) “Freak Show” have been vague at best. We know of her sordid past in Germany and her ambitions for fame. Yet, the questions surrounding the means and methods she used to entice her “monsters” to join her have not been answered—until now.

If “Tupperware Party Massacre” shows the lack of humanity through Dandy’s (Finn Wittrock) thrill kill and Jimmy’s drunk debauchery, then “Orphans” does the complete opposite by focusing on character development instead of its usual fare of blood and gore.

Sister Mary Eunice from Season 2 AHS: Asylum pays a visit to the “Freak Show.”

“Orphans” fades in on another death in Elsa’s “Freak Show.” As she narrates the death of Salty (Christopher Neiman), Pepper’s husband, you can’t help feeling as if the grim reaper is having a field day in Jupiter. Seriously, no beloved character is safe at this stage of the season. Salty’s unexpected death due to a stroke is another devastating blow to the troupe as the recent passing of Ma Petite (Jyoti Amge) and Ethel (Kathy Bates) still weigh heavily on the campgrounds .

Not since “Edward Mordrake (Part One)” has AHS: Freak Show taken advantage of elaborating on the backstories of its supporting characters. Sure, the story lines have to keep moving forward by keeping close to the Mott family madness and Jimmy’s lack of leadership. For a moment, there seems little focus on the core of the show’s main theme: humanity. Many of the people Elsa has in her troupe faced gruesome deaths, but Pepper’s sendoff in “Orphans” is bittersweet and moving. The whole episode feels like a tribute to her, and it is beautiful.

Desiree (Angela Bassett) is almost like an audience member when she sits to hear Elsa’s story about Pepper’s origins. Lange does an amazing job recounting her experience of meeting Pepper. Yet, the credit and main standout performance belongs entirely to Grossman, whose portrayal of Pepper steals every single scene, even when in the same room as Lange who is absolutely magnetic onscreen.

Elsa: “The idea was simple. They would come for the freaks, but stay for the star…but where to find my pets? Most people don’t see beauty in someone like Pepper…they see shame, they see human garbage. So, I went to the place where they throw people away…an orphanage.”

Elsa explains Pepper’s abandonment issues to Desiree, who, before leaving for a performance, sees Pepper throw what she thinks is merely a tantrum. I love how we see through Elsa’s eyes the beauty and kindness in Pepper. It’s interesting how Elsa goes on about providing Pepper with different life experiences and a family; yet, I feel like Elsa also did it for herself. I like how we learn about Ma Petite’s arrival too, that she was added to the “Freak Show” after Elsa haggled her way to obtaining her in exchange for three cases of Dr.Pepper.

But my favorite moment, the one that makes me feel like I’m watching an entirely different series, is the happy montage sequence of Pepper and Salty getting married; it makes the loss of the people in the troupe even more tragic.

“Theirs was a love story for the ages. They never hurt a soul, never sinned…pure spirits.” Elsa on Pepper and Salty.

Yet all good things come to an end, and as Elsa realizes she must pursue her dreams of television stardom, she agrees with Desiree that Pepper needs to go back to her birth sister, Rita Gayheart (Mare Winningham). A choice that has deadly consequences as it leads back to Pepper’s first appearance in AHS: Asylum. When a teary-eyed Elsa leaves Pepper in the care of Rita, she places a kiss in her hand, saying “whenever you get lonely, place it to your cheek,” and to think of her. It’s a comforting gesture as tears roll down Pepper’s face. If your eyes are not ready to shed some tears, then you might just have a heart of stone.

Tying Up Loose Ends

When you’re not busy fighting back the tears, we discover Stanley (Denis O’Hare) is still up to his nefarious schemes, going so low as to sell Salty’s head for another profit—an action that serves as a bitter reminder of the current threat at hand. If I felt any shred of sympathy for Stanley before, it definitely doesn’t exist now. In an episode full of so much sorrow, Stanley’s greed is disgusting to me.

Another brief vignette focuses on Maggie (Emma Roberts), albeit a drunk one, to Desiree—who seems to be hit with everyone’s backstory through flashbacks. I have to question Maggie’s motives, despite her inebriated state of mind. Is she feeling guilty or trying to beat Stanley at his own game? Even though Maggie and Stanley’s stories are not that interesting, they do show Maggie’s keen ability to hustle with the best of conmen. What I’m looking forward to is Stanley’s reaction when he learns of Maggie’s betrayal. Unfortunately, for Maggie, when that time comes, she will be as good as dead.

In a nice plot twist, one I did not expect to see, Maggie takes Desiree to the American Morbidity Museum in the event something might happen to her. Once inside the museum, Desiree is shocked to find Ma Petite’s body and shockingly Jimmy’s hands on display, causing Emma to faint. It appears Stanley’s schemes are picking up steam, but what exactly happened to Jimmy while incarcerated in Jupiter’s jail? It’s anybody’s guess.

Pepper’s story comes to an end in Briarwood Manor.

Bottom Line

I can’t say enough positive things about “Orphans.” In the span of an hour, we see the best and worst in humanity. Wong does an amazing job of capturing the strength of the show’s themes in the script without missing a beat. Episode director Bradley Buecker does a fantastic job of capturing the right expressions and precise performances of the actors. Lange and Grossman’s acting in their scenes together are heartbreaking and beautiful. The last scene of Pepper, and her reaction to seeing Elsa’s face on the magazine cover is such a powerful farewell, it’s going to be hard to beat down the line. Overall, best episode yet leading to the season finale, and at this point anything is possible.

What did you think of “Orphans?” Let me know in the comments below or on Twitter @conallen.