American Horror Story — Series 4: Freak Show — Episodes 12 & 13: Show Stoppers & Curtain Call.

12th November, 2017.

You know, I really don’t have money to spend.

I don’t.

So it’s not that often I turn on my heating of an evening.

My flat’s warm enough, as it is.

But to and from the office, today?

Wasn’t necessarily that cold.

But was chilly enough that — right now? — turning on the heating for a bit seemed a good idea.

Especially as the chair in front of my TV?   Has it’s back to the door to the living room: and the incredible draft the vents at the top of the window generate.

One day, I’ll remember how to close them … !

~≈§≈~

At any rate?

At any rate, I have the day off, tomorrow.

Which means, theoretically, I get to sleep in.

So … ?

As far as I’m concerned, it means I can catch up with some more TV.

You’re right, as ever.

I’ve been watching American Horror Story’s fourth series.

Given it was the last two episodes?

I wasn’t going to walk away from series 4.

~≈§≈~

American Horror Story — Series 4: Freak Show — Episode 11: Magical Thinking

11th November, 2017

It’s official.

I’ve done dafter things: but staying up late isn’t one of them.

Or possibly is.

At any rate?

I’m up comparatively late: after a five o’clock start.

Working days: you have to love it.

Frankly?   I’ve another early start, tomorrow.

With, of course, another five o’clock start on the cards.

Foolishly, and if I mistime things?

That means a couple of things.

Either I’m a fool.

OR I’ve had time for just one episode of American Horror Story’s fourth season.

Freak Show.

Yes … magical thinking seems an apt title.

Or possibly not

~≈§≈~

American Horror Story — Series 4: Freak Show — Episode 9 and 10: Tupperware Party Massacre & Orphans

7th November, 2017

You know, I’ve had to admit, I’ve not had that much time off, this year.

Really.

I should, obviously, take more of it.

But, when I’ve not been sleeping like a log?

I’ve been sleeping like … something that’s not a log, to be perfectly frank.

But there we go.

At any rate?

I’ve found out, today, what should be happening with any unused holiday pay I’ve accrued.

Let’s just say it’s interesting, and leave it there, shall we?

~≈Î≈~

At any rate … ?

At any rate, I’ve had today, off.

And, yes: feeling as tired as I have been for the past few days.

But not so tired that I couldn’t catch up with more TV box set.

Yep.

Monday is Star Trek Discovery night.

Tonight, on the other hand?

Is American Horror Story night … 

Is about series 4 … 

Is about … Freak Show.

~≈Î≈~

Episode 9 — Tupperware Party Massacre — shows us Jimmy Darling (Evan Peters) slowing turning into a drunk: as events catch up with him.

Because of that?   He’s seen off of a house where he’s been turning tricks at a tupperware party.

After bursting into tears on one clients lap.

And, before he gets there?   Having a confrontation with Dandy (Finn Wittrock) who’d gotten a psychic reading — ahem — from Maggie (Emma Roberts).

It’s only after Jimmy leaves the tupperware party?

That the real trouble starts.

With Jimmy’s arrest for massacring everyone at the Tupperware party. 

~≈Î≈~

Episode 10 — Orphans — opens with tragedy.   Salty (Christopher Neiman) his died in his sleep: and his partner and fellow pinhead, Pepper (Naomi Grossman), is overcome by grief.

Meanwhile?   Maggie gives Desiree (Angela Bassett) and her new love a reading.

And, once recovery from her hangover?   Visiting the Museum of Morbid Curiosities with Desiree.

Only to be shocked at what she finds there.

Jimmy’s hands … 

~≈Î≈~

I have to admit, Freak Show … ?

Freak Show is showing me something.

It’s showing that American Horror Story’s writers are on form.

Not only that.

I’ve felt, for some time, that the show’s changing, ensemble cast, is one of its strengths.

From the little I know?   Jessica Lange leaves the series after this series.

But is, as Madame Elsa, putting in the performance of a lifetime.

There’s something else.

Something American Horror Story shares with Star Trek: the Next Generation is that large ensemble cast.

What’s more, the former seems to have learnt as trick from the former.

Give each character a moment to shine: sometimes with an episode about them, sometimes a strong scene.

It’s the latter in the case of Tupperware Party Massacre: the scene where Ethel goads Dell into hanging himself had me on the edge of my seat.

And the sceen towards the end, where Dot admits how she feels to Jimmy, Betty admits she can be very tactful when needed, and where Jimmy breaks the twins hearts by admitting there’s someone else?

Left me feeling quite emotional.

But not as emotional as Orphans.

Quite frankly, in showing us Pepper’s story, the writers have fed  us a story that ties Asylum and Freak Show together.

And shows us Naomi Grossman giving the emotional performance of a lifetime.

If you watch no other episode of Freak Show?

Go watch Orphans.

If you’re not wiping away tears by the end?

You’ve no heart.

American Horror Story — Series 4: Freak Show — Episode 7 & 8: Test of Strength & Bloodbath

2nd November, 2017

You know, I’ve literally just realised — by going an looking, so you know — that the overflow in my sink’s blocked.

And that I’m going to have to do something about that.

Had I realised, earlier?

I’d’ve unscrewed the thing, and got clearing it out.

But right now, as it’s not really that urgent?   I think I can wait until the morning: if nothing else, to at least get some drain cleaner.

And put my washing machine onto a empty hotwash.

With a bit of luck, and some crossed fingers?

That usually helps unblock stuff.

~≈†≈~

Of course the reason I hadn’t actually noticed the blockage?

Well, there’s possibly a lot of reasons why I didn’t notice the blockage: after All, I did try and make a point of getting some caustic soda, every-so-often, to keep my sink clean.

The reason, tonight?

Was that I was in a hurry … to catch more TV.

Yes.

You’d be right: I’m developing an addiction to series 4 of American Horror Story.

A 12-step group could be useful.

Although I don’t know if there’s a Freak Show Anonymous …

~≈†≈~

American Horror Story — Series 4: Freak Show — Episode 2: Massacres and Matinees

27th October, 2017.

Right … 

It’s … what … twenty past 8 on a Friday night, and frankly?

I … am … … considerably … … … 

Knackered.

To the point of wondering whether starting writing a post is a good idea.

After all, I’ve been up since four, this morning, so I could write the day’s Teaser, AND get into work.

Possibly not.

But?

I happen to have a copy of the seminal Dr Feelgood album, Down By the Jetty on in the background.

And somehow … ?

Wilko Johnson’s hammer headed, slice and dice guitar, over the top of the Big Figure’s drums, and John Sparks bass, combined with the late Lee Brilleaux’s singing?

Is pure Thames delta blues: and seems to be helping.

Or, at least, seems to be helping me concentrate on what I wanted to tell you.

Yes: I’ve been up since four.

Yes, I’m as tired as a goose on heroin.

But, yes … I’ve seen another of Freak Show, series 4.

That’s right … 

Freak Show … 

~≈Â≈~

Episode 2 — Massacres and Matinees — tells us what we already know: that there’s a killer on the loose in the town of Jupiter.

That’s there’s a curfew being imposed by the town’s police.

And that Madam Elsa (Jessica Lange) has hired Dell Toleda (Michael Chiklis) and his wife, Desiree.

And, given Dell’s temper?

Learns that she may well come to regret the decision.

In the back of all this?

Dandy (Finn Wittrock) and his mother, Gloria (Frances Conroy) have being trying to find a cure for Dandy’s boredom.

Gloria … ?

Hire’s Twisty the Clown.

The result?

Will be gruesome.

~≈Â≈~

Now … 

Good … ?

Yes, actually.

Something I know I’ve long enjoyed?   Is what I’ve come to Call Spot the Reference.

In other words, seeing if I can spot where I think a writer’s got an idea.

Part of the late Sir Terry Pratchett’s appeal — for me — was seeing I could figured out what he’s used as a source of inspiration.

The Discworld’s major city?   I always believed Ankh-Morpork was a mix of medieval London — I’d worked that out, before they published the map — and Lakhmar, the setting for many of Fritz Leiber’s Swords novel.

I think I’m seeing the same  in American Horror Story.

Murder used very few such ideas.

But Asylum?   Asylum Bloody Face was a variation on Leatherface, Zachary Quinto’s Dr Thredson, a take on Hannibal Lector, Lizzie Brochere as a Franco-Americaine version of Lizzie Borden …

I could go on.

And they’re doing it again: Michael Chiklis is almost the archetypal thug, Jessica Lange IS Marlene Dietrich … 

And Twisty the Clown?

Whilst Twisty is a version of John Wayne Gacy’s killer clown?

In terms of outfit, he’s more of a take on the Joker … 

Mixed with the late, great, Joey Grimaldi.

For me, so far, Freak Show is doing what the late Sir Terry did.

Throwing together some obvious ingredients.

And putting together a hellishly superb story.