Review: American Horror Story: Asylum, S2 Ep 11 – “Spilt Milk”

Air date: Wednesday, January 9, 2013, 10pm ET/PT, on FX

Rating: ★★★★★

*** Warning: Spoilers within ***

Johnny takes after his father, Dr. Thredson. Do you see any resemblance?

After the shocking ending of last week’s episode, the focus hones in on Lana (Sarah Paulson) and Sister Jude (Jessica Lange), and the fallout from Sister Mary Eunice’s death. Now that Dr. Arden is reduced to ashes, Dr. Thredson (Zachary Quinto) is taking care to keep his cover from being blown. Flash to the present, and we see the doctor’s adult son, Johnny Morgan (Dylan McDermott), suckling the nipple of Pandora (Jill Marie Jones), a prostitute who’s recently given birth. This fixation with breastfeeding stems from Lana’s hatred of her son. I refuse to blame her, but I don’t get why she doesn’t go through with the abortion, especially with that abomination growing in her belly. And she raised the little bugger, too. Just what we need—another serial killer with mommy issues! What a grotesque scene with Johnny and Pandora; I winced. Ms. Jones does a fine job of uttering cringe-worthy lines like “You don’t have to cry to be my baby” so brazenly. What a far cry from her role in Girlfriends.

I have to say, the camera work in “Spilt Milk” is commendable, especially when shifting from past to present, all within Dr. Thredson’s home. The two time periods involve the large mirror in the living room, through which we can see Lana holding a gun on the doctor and then the junior Thredson strangling Pandora. We knew the prostitute was going to die an untimely death (such is the fate of a dangerous job). And after all the gratification she gives Johnny, this is the thanks she gets. It’s not like she can spend the wad of money he gave her beforehand.

Lana visits Wendy’s ashes after her expose on Briarcliff is published

The matter of aliens being on planet Earth isn’t fully explained here but my guess is, they want to take over our planet. Aside from kidnapping and impregnating Grace (Lizzie Brocheré) and Alma (Britne Oldford), the common thread is Kit (Evan Peters). Have the aliens chosen him to guide their invasion of Earth? It’s all just a bit too convoluted, even for American Horror Story. There’s enough horror and some impossible situations without bringing a potential alien invasion into the picture and, truth be told, I’m not all that invested in it. It’s obvious we will not see the babies grow up.

Instead, I’m wrapped up in Sister Jude’s vindication. Monsignor Howard (Joseph Fiennes) may know what happened with Sister Mary Eunice (may she rest in peace) but that doesn’t necessarily mean the monsignor is interested in rectifying matters and releasing Sister Jude. He’s aware of the potential ramifications, and insists on maintaining the serene façade of the asylum. Refusing to listen to the Sister, he throws her in solitary. When Lana returns to take the Sister from Briarcliff, he tells her Sister Jude hanged herself, and shows the death certificate as proof. What a little sh*t! He’s become emboldened now that Dr. Arden is dead and there’s no threat of anyone finding out about the doctor’s monstrous experiments on the patients. The measly little monsignor should’ve died on that cross.

The monsignor continues to cover up what’s going on at the asylum

I already touched on this, but why does Lana keep her baby, the product of a violent rape? She’s been scarred by her experience in the asylum—she’s nuts for wanting to return there to gain access to a potential witness—so this might explain her inability to be rational but what sort of life does she expect to give her son, knowing she can’t love him as he deserves to be? Could it be that she sees the son as an extension of his father, and thus she will inflict some sort of lifelong punishment on him? Earlier in the episode, Johnny tells Pandora what a “cold bitch” his mother was, and he obviously harbors hatred toward her.

Next week, will Sister Jude be released from Briarcliff? I’m rooting for her all the way.

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

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Follow American Horror Story: Asylum on Twitter: @AHSFX.

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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