American Horror Story: Freak Show – “Test of Strength”

First Aired November 19th, 2014.

This episode of Freak Show largely centers on Dell (played by Michael Chiklis), the strongman with the explosive temper. He finds himself reluctantly involved in Stanley’s (played by Denis O’Hare) scheme to kill and collect freaks.

Stanley blackmails Dell with the knowledge that he saw him at a bar for homosexuals and demands Dell kill someone from the show for Stanley to sell to the morbidity museum. Dell sneaks into Amazon Eve’s (played by Erika Ervin) trailer and attacks her, but Eve beats the hell out of him and tosses him out on his ass. Eve tells everyone what happened and the women, led by Dell’s ex-wife Ethel (played by Kathy Bates), are ready to kill him in retaliation. Ethel and his other ex-wife, Desiree (played by Angela Bassett), are already on edge after learning Dell assaulted their doctor last episode (which led to his suicide). Jimmy (played by Evan Peters) is against murder and instead tries to convince Dell to leave the show. They end up at a bar where, after several drinks, start to bond. Jimmy gets sick but when the time comes Dell is unable to kill him, and after Jimmy tearfully asks, he admits to being his father. They stumble into camp the next morning drunk loudly letting everyone know they are related. However, Stanley still wants a freak, so Dell sneaks into the tent of Ma Petite (played by Jyoti Amge) and snaps her neck. Her body is later shown on display in the morbidity museum advertised as the world’s smallest woman.

That’s right everyone, it’s not another dream sequence. Stanley finally landed his first exhibit for the museum. Stanley might have the upper hand for now, but Dell is not the kind of person you’d want to antagonize, and sooner or later he’ll turn against Stanley. This episode showed that, despite his short temper and tendency for violence Dell has a softer side, he finally decided to do right by his son by not killing him and selling off his carcass. However, since he spent the rest of his time assaulting other people it’s clear he won’t be turning over a completely new leaf. I was practically cheering when Eve beat the crap out of Dell. It was very satisfying to see him get some payback for everything he’s done. But while Jimmy might have forgiven his new father, the women won’t let him get away with assaulting Eve. I was kind of sad that Ma Petite was killed off because she was so small and innocent. However, since she escaped death in the last episode, killing her off now was much more of a surprise, which was good. Now that the first victim has been claimed, the question is who Stanley will be sending to the museum next.

Jimmy also brought Bette and Dot (played by Sarah Paulson) back to the show after removing them from the Mott mansion. Jimmy recognized Dandy (played by Finn Wittrock) was the second clown murderer and urged the twins to leave with him. Dandy proclaimed his love for Bette but Dot distrusted Dandy too much and they left with Jimmy. However, instead of revealing to everyone that Elsa (played by Jessica Lange) had sold them to the Motts, the twins blackmail her for a lead role in the show and much of the profits. Bette relishes in getting a makeover and fulfilling a dream to be a comedian but Elsa notices Dot is not very happy. Dot writes Elsa a note stating that her demand is funding for the surgery to separate herself from her sister. Later, while having a late dinner with Stanley, Elsa asks him to take the twins to a doctor in Chicago to separate them. Stanley instead proposes killing Bette and Dot, which Elsa more than happily agrees with. Unfortunately, Ethel was nearby listening in.

I was glad Jimmy and the twins got out of Dandy’s clutches without some long drawn out captivity plot, which was played out earlier in the season. If Dandy has half a brain, he’ll have figured out that Jimmy is onto him, which should bring Dandy to the freak show to silence him. He can also get revenge for being passed up as a performer in the show (anyone remember that random plot from way back in the beginning of the season?). Dot’s dream of being separated from Bette is still impossible in my opinion, but I can see why she would want some distance. Since getting a makeover and getting her own comedy act, Bette has turned into an insufferable diva and put down Dot more than once. Elsa probably suggested that Stanley take the twins for the operation in the hopes that they would most likely not survive. Elsa and Stanley’s days at the freak show are limited now that Ethel is also hip to their schemes. Stanley should start getting more vigilant in collecting freaks while Elsa will need to find a new career, I doubt her big break is going to come in this lifetime.

Meanwhile, Paul (played by Mat Fraser) is recovering well from getting knifed by Elsa and has Penny, the candy striper (played by Grace Gummer), at his side. Penny goes home to pack and leave forever but is confronted by her father Vince (played by Lee Tergesen) who refuses to let her ruin the family reputation. Before she can leave Vince introduces her to his friend, Morris, described as an artist. They knock Penny unconscious and Morris goes to work on Penny’s face. When she wakes up her face is tattooed, tongue forked and part of her head shaved. Penny stumbles back to the camp ground and is comforted by Paul when he sees her new appearance.

Penny was a minor character at first but now she’s burst into the spotlight with a pretty interesting story. Her father’s actions have essentially transformed her into a “freak” and guaranteed that she can’t ever leave the confines of the freak show. Most (if not all) of the performers in the show were born with their afflictions. I would love to see someone like Penny adjust to a newfound life as a freak after being “normal” her whole life. On the bright side, now she and Paul are a matching couple with all of their ink.

Quotes & Thoughts

“You’re stuck on the rosy notion that the world operates on goodness, decency. Truth is, only thing goodness guarantees you is an early grave.”

I was glad the episode was so Dandy-lite. With all the drama going on at the camp, I didn’t need to see the tantrum that surely followed the twins leaving him.

“You want me to kill one of my own?” “I weep from your sudden sentimentality.”

Amazon Eve has real potential to be a wrestler. She already has the perfect name for it.

If you enjoyed Manny’s review, you can find the rest of his work right HERE on Sci-Fi Bloggers. You can also follow him on Twitter @KN_Manny.

Possibly Related Posts:

• Friday Fiction: Snowfall In The Living Room
• “It Came From The Archives” Doctor Who Special Reviews: The Church on Ruby Road
• Review: Lucky Girl, How I Became A Horror Writer by M. Rickert
• Friday Fiction: Frozen Army
• Foundations: The 5 Best Artifact Cards