Retrospective: American Horror Story: Asylum, S2 Ep 8 – “Unholy Night”

Air date: Wednesday, December 5, 2012, 10pm ET/PT, on FX

Rating: ★★★★★

Sister Mary Eunice gives Leigh a Santa suit to don for the Christmas party

Of course the writers had to go there with a murderous Santa who hates the spirit of Christmas. There’s no way, in the hell that’s Briarcliff, there can’t be a dark side to this otherwise cheerful (for most) holiday. Santa, whose real name is Leigh Emerson (Ian McShane), turned evil during his first stint in jail for a petty crime. Can’t say I blame him with what he endured, but he’s gone to the extreme. It doesn’t appear counseling would’ve been much help for him. Considering he murdered 18 people? I don’t think so.

We haven’t seen the last of Sister Jude (Jessica Lange). Now that she knows the devil is burrowing inside Sister Mary Eunice (Lily Rabe), she returns for a face-off. It doesn’t work, of course, and once again, she’s banished from the asylum. There’s a terrible twist here that shows the true depravity—and cowardness—of Dr. Arden (James Cromwell). Siding with the devil isn’t surprising in itself, but reaching out to Sister Jude in a fake move for solidarity, is. I was right to be suspicious of his actions because he ends up betraying her in a rather cruel manner. She may literally be on her back at this point but take my word, she finds a way to fight back.

By the way, isn’t it sickening how much Monsignor Howard (Joseph Fiennes) fawns over Sister Mary Eunice? I was repulsed by the sweetness in his voice, and his admiration for how devoted she is to the hospital. And admiring her handiwork with the Christmas tree, adorned with the patients’ dentures and hair ribbons, gave me the heebie jeebies. Call the devil what you want, but it’s pretty creative!

The more Dr. Arden interacts with Sister Mary Eunice, the more he wishes the devil would let her out to play. See, he gifts her with a pair of beautiful ruby earrings, which the devil loves, even after the doctor tells her the story of where they came from. You would think her reaction would be one of utter disgust, considering the earrings were recovered from feces, but her facial expression doesn’t change. Furthermore, why he expected her to respond any differently is puzzling. Is he forgetting it’s not really the Sister who’s reacting, but the devil? I think he misses her purity and wishes for a way for the devil to be expelled but allying himself with the devil isn’t really the answer. The doctor appears to be at a crossroads right now.

Lana (Sarah Paulson) may be back at Briarcliff, but don’t count her out just yet. She finds her way to Kit (Evan Peters), and both of them manage to overpower Dr. Thredson (Zachary Quinto). It’s possible both will find freedom but will they let Dr. Thredson live? Letting him go would be a big mistake, but killing him would keep them at the asylum. You can see how this is a dilemma for both of them but believe Lana when she tells Dr. Thredson, “One day I’ll bury you.”

The death of Grace (Lizzie Brocheré) hasn’t been questioned by anyone. Such is the fate of the patients at the hospital. Frank the guard (Fredric Lehne) tries to do right by her but to no avail. But when Dr. Arden attempts to dispose of her body in the Death Chute, a bright light floods the tunnel and her body disappears. It’s the same light that flooded Kit’s home when his wife died. Coincidence? Methinks not. I could well be wrong but I think this will be a turning point for Dr. Arden, who’s a staunch atheist. As much as I despise him, I’m beginning to think there just might be a tiny bit of hope for redemption.

American Horror Story: Asylum airs Wednesdays, 10pm ET/PT, only on FX Networks.

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You might also like to follow co-creator Ryan Murphy @MrRPMurphy, Director/Producer Brad Falchuk @BFalchuk, Dr. Thredson @ZacharyQuinto, Lana Winters @MsSarahPaulson, Spivey @MarkConsuelos, and Kit Walker @tweetsonurface.

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