AHS: Freak Show Series review (What they got right and where they went wrong)

For those of you who haven't followed this series, MAJOR SPOILERS FOLLOW. I suggest you binge watch what you can and come on back.

The basic premise of the show this season was about the last traveling freakshow circus in the 1950s (Elsa Mars' Cabinet of Curiosities) and its cache of freaks and how they try to survive the forces that try to do it harm from within and from outside. 

For those of you who have watched the new season, here are my thoughts of the series and its finale.

Last chance if you don't want spoilers.

This is a photo of me putting on a wig (Scary no?) Also copyright infringement laws got me scared!

In the season finale, practically everyone dies.  I had a feeling this was the direction this season was going just from the way certain characters were 'executed' (hehe) from the show. Just before any character had any bit of redemption, there was a knife through to the head or they were sawed in half. Granted this tactic made the show rather interesting to watch, because you had no idea who would make it, but at points it felt rather wasteful of the characters and the time spent on them.

Here are some themes I mentioned before to follow. Let's Review:

The Freaks: Save but a daring few, the rest were offed. Some of them even had happy endings. Jimmy Darling (Evan Peters) and Bette and Dot Tatler (Sarah Paulson) end up together and are expecting parents.  Desiree Dupree (Angela Bassett) is a mother of two with her husband played by Malcolm Jamal Warner (I always loved that name). While some had tear jerking moments like Pepper, the rest of the cast were truly inspiring. Amazon Eve,  Paul the Illustraed Seal, Legless Suzie, and the rest were great additions. They weren't just freaks. They were a family with heart. Though they died, they became less freakish because of their humanity. The greatest freak of them all was actually Dandy Mott (more on him later).

Elsa Mars (Jessica Lange): The story of an actress finally finding fame and redemption as she exits the stage. I'm actually talking about the character Jessica Lange played and not the actress herself. Although, it is unclear if Ms. Lange will return for season 5 (yes, it's been renewed), this seemed a fitting end of her. To be honest the character was rather dull and shined best when she was tormented or when interacting with her freaks. This could explain why ultimately she ended her life with them. She went to great lengths to achieve what she wanted. Very great lengths.

Dandy Mott (Finn Wittrock): The greatest freak of them all. Gloria Mott (Francis Conroy) couldn't contain her son's inner psychotic killer freakisgness. She fell victim to him quickly. He was impulsive, childish, and easily slighted. He was also a joy to watch. IMO, all the little touches Wittrock added to the character (bow-legged chidlish walk, the melodramatics) helped me to love to hate him. Even to the bitter end when the freaks got their revenge, he was insolent and aloof. He was a star in his own world.

Season Highlights: Amazon Eve played by Erica Ervin and Dandy (Wittrock) need to return next season. Erica and Wittrock were just stellar to watch. Eve knocking around Michael Chiklis like a doll and Wittrock knockout performance deserve repeats. It would be fascinating to see what else they could transform into.

There were so many death scenes this season and some pretty good ones. Stanley (Denis O'Hare) and Maggie (Emma Roberts) got their comeuppances in classic horror movie fashion. Dandy's inescapable magic act was well received by me.

Where they went wrong: Some of the promotional work promised things that never happened. I recall an episode trailer with  Gloria Mott handling a gun to actress Sidibe. That never happened, not even in flashback or dream sequence.  Speaking of Mrs Mott, Francis Conroy was woefully underused. After the genius of Myrtle Snow, Mrs. Mott felt rather pathetic. To that point, there were side stories that never really fleshed out.  Gloria Mott and Regina Ross (Sidibe) are victims of rushed endings. Patti Labelle (Dora Ross) never got justice, but the abusive father that mutilated his daughter was tarred and spared in an act of freak sisterhood. Twisty the clown left too early and may have been a better foil near the end. Lastly Maggie (Emma Roberts) never got her redemption. The entire time she was built with a conscience and she promises beau Jimmy Darling (Evan Peters, her beau in real life too) that she will make up for her part in Stanley's deeds. If you follow these two in real life, their relationship is tabloid trainwreck so I was hoping the two would actually have a happy ending (even in make believe). That side plot gets hacked to bits exactly have Maggie met her end. It was just wasteful story telling. Even Chiklis' character had a moment to repair relationships and come clean. What ever happened to the Bette and Dot love/hate relationship? As soon as Dot changed her hair color and plotted to kill her sister, the next episode they were harmonious. That side story was done before it even got traction.

Overall: This season was fun to watch. It wasn't the total let down like Coven and it had better focus than Asylum. However, it runs into the same trap both Season 2 and 3 fell into (a lack of follow through with ideas and missed thematic opportunities) I give it 4 out of 5, because I'm feeling generous. I hope next season invites several actors back and explore new territory, but fully release characters potential.