Doesn't it feel like it's been forever since the last episode of American Horror Story: Freak Show ? Our favorite spooky series took the night off last Wednesday because of this little holiday called Thanksgiving, but AHS is back this Wednesday with "Blood Bath." Still, it's been two weeks since we watched Dell Toledo squish the life out of poor adorable Ma Petite. (I know, you just got that image out of your head and I had to bring it up again. Sorry!) Who will get the AHS axe next?
Fraulein Elsa's Cabinet of Curiosities is once again open for business this Wednesday, so what can we expect from such an ominously titled hour? Here's the short synopsis:
Ethel becomes suspicious of Elsa after disappearances occur around camp. Meanwhile, Gloria tries to contain Dandy's bloodlust.
Sounds like someone is going to end up on the wrong side of Dandy Mott's murderous gaze... But who? Let's assume that the show's major players (Elsa, Jimmy, Bette/Dot) are safe... at least until the final few episodes. At this point — about halfway through the season — the carnival performers seem like the likeliest targets (a la Ma Petite, may she rest in tiny, tiny peace). So let's rank each one's chances of survival. Keep in mind that any number of the following characters could kick the bucket — one solitary death does not a blood bath make, after all.
Beware, there may be some spoilers ahead.
Amazon Eve
Dell already tried murdering the imposingly-framed woman, and ended up biting off more than he could chew. Eve proved more than a match for the strongman, beating Dell to a pulp and kicking him out of her trailer. It's hard to imagine anyone getting one-up on her at this point. Plus, it would be cruel to give her such a narrow escape in one episode only to off her in the next. Eve's chances seem pretty good, at least for a while.
Salty
Pepper's constant companion is almost certainly marked for death, considering she ends up alone in an asylum in New England sometime in the near future... but the writers are likely saving Salty's death for a bit. After all, the press release for Freak Show Episode 10, titled "Orphans," contains this spoiler-y nugget: "The death of a Freak sparks troubling behavior in Pepper." So Salty is almost certainly doomed, although it seems he will escape this week's impending blood bath.
Legless Suzi
If the AHS writers wanted to go with the safe option, they would kill another character who has fascinated viewers while remaining conspicuously dispensable when it comes to the season's storylines. Yes, Legless Suzi, that means it might be time to bid you adieu. (But, just to play devil's advocate with myself, when have the AHS writers ever gone with the safe option?)
Paul the Illustrated Seal
We're still uncertain whether or not Paul will recover from the dagger in the gut he received from Elsa during "Bullseye." He could very easily succumb to his injuries, which would create plenty of drama for Elsa, or he could even recover just in time to sacrifice himself to save his lover, Penny, from her psychotic father. Of all the real-life sideshow performers in the cast this season, Matt Fraser as Paul has certainly had the largest role — ergo, his death would have the largest impact.
Penny the Candy Striper
Of course, Paul swooping in like a dashing hero and laying down his life to save his damsel in distress is a little too cliché of a scenario for the typically surprising and progressive AHS. Perhaps Penny will be the one who dies saving Paul. After all, "Blood Bath" is the last episode of Freak Show listed on Grace Gummer's IMDb page...
Ethel Darling
I'm sorry to say that Kathy Bates seems poised to be the first big name to get voted off the island this season. The press release for Episode 9, "The Fat Lady Sings," begins with: "In the wake of a tragic loss, Jimmy sinks into a drunken despair." What loss would be more tragic for Jimmy than the death of his own loving mother? Ethel's death could come from many sources: her own liver cancer, her abusive ex-husband, the homicidal con man, the spoiled serial killer... even her own friend, Elsa. The description for "Blood Bath" does mention that "Ethel becomes suspicious of Elsa." Will Ethel's investigation into her boss's intentions result in the delusional expat regretfully bumping off her loyal confidante?
Regina/Gloria/Dandy
Of course, it is possible that "Blood Bath"s casualty won't be one of the freaks at all. Could Dandy's victim already be inside the Mott home? The promo for the episode shows Gloria pointing a gun at Regina (Gabourey Sidibe), seemingly at Dandy's behest. Will she shoot her maid's daughter? Will she turn the gun on herself? Or on her monstrous son? Killing off Dandy so early in the season would be the biggest shock of all — but then again, I don't think any of us expected Twisty the Clown to be taken from us so soon, either.
Dandy's portrayer, Finn Wittrock, wants us to prepare ourselves for something unexpected to occur in "Blood Bath." During an interview with Yahoo, the actor said, "In Episode 8, there's some really cool stuff I get to do with mom, with Frances [Conroy]. It is also where Gabourey Sidibe enters our world. There's a big, big twist in that one that I get to be a part of." Could he be referencing his own character's demise? If AHS has taught me one thing, it's to never assume I know what's about to happen.
Images: Michele K. Short/FX (7)
