Well… that was something I doubt anyone was expecting. We all knew of Edward Mordrake's plans to kill one "freak" before returning to the depths from which he came. However, what we didn't expect was the insane backstories that would come along with them. And while many characters had a very sad tale to tell, none could surpass Elsa Mars' history as a dominatrix. That's right… Jessica Lange's AHS: Freak Show character was into kinky S&M type stuff that makes Fifty Shades of Grey seem rather tame, believe it or not. In fact, I bet somewhere out there Christian Grey is blushing right now — either that or covering his eyes, while saying "whoa, too far."
Not only do we see Elsa chaining men up and selecting which paddles she should spank them with (Sister Jude would be proud/horrified at this collection), but she also walked her customers around on a leash like a dog… right before making them sit down on a nail-infused toilet. Umm… eat your heart out, Red Room of Pain? Seriously though, it's some pretty messed up stuff that extends far beyond a desire to be controlled and an affinity for a little pain. This was borderline torture. And yet, they loved Elsa for it. In fact, she even developed an audience because of it.
See what I mean? Crazy! But unfortunately, that was only the beginning, and rather pales in comparison to how Elsa lost her legs, which were sawed off while she was drugged as part of a snuff film. It seems she got the fame she always wanted… but at a terrible cost. What are you doing to us, Ryan Murphy?
Images: Michele K. Short/FX
