AHS Freak Show: Episode 10 Recap: Dr Pepper

Pepper Becomes Briarcliff's New Librarian

I missed reviewing the latest AHS episode due to the holidays but better late than never. "Orphans" is the Pepper-centric story we've been waiting for. Her husband Salty dies of a stroke in his sleep. Pepper is overcome with grief refuses to leave him.

Dont Ya Just Hate It When Couples Wear Matching Outfits?

Pepper always held a special place in Elsa's heart. She was her first "monster". Of course it is Elsa telling the story to Desiree (so I am suspicious of her true motives). Elsa has done some terrible things in the past.

Elsa found Pepper at an orphanage. Her sister could no longer take care of her so dropped her there. Pepper was already 18 but they let her stay anyway. Elsa arrives and they instantly have a connection. Elsa takes her back to the circus. The circus goers love Pepper (and so do I).

Pepper is lonely and wants a baby. Just then a wealthy Indian Maharaja happens by. He is keeping Ma Petite as a pet. Elsa asks if she can stay. He says no. She finally bribes him with three boxes of Dr Pepper (how appropriate). Ma is now Pepper's surrogate child (which is kinda freaky cause Ma is a grown woman).

But Pepper is still lonely. Elsa searches orphanages for a mate. She finally finds Salty. There is a wedding. "It was a simple affair. The bride and groom knew six words between them." Pepper and Salty lead a happy existence for many years.

Since Elsa plans to make it big in Hollywood (with Stanley's help) she decides Pepper would be better off with her sister. Of course she doesnt know that Rita (played by Mare Winningham) is an alcoholic with a loser husband. Rita has a baby but makes Pepper take care of the child (who is deformed). The husband hatches a plan to get rid of both Baby Lucas and Pepper. Side Note: I wonder if Mare is getting tired of playing dastardly mothers on this show? Remember she was Kyle's incestuous mother from "Coven" and now this.

Next we see Rita at Briarcliff with Sister Mary Satan (I mean Sister Mary Eunice). She recounts her version of the story. Pepper killed Lucas by cutting off his ears and drowning him. We of course know its not true but as Pepper says "It's hard for us freaks. We get blamed for everything".

Hug It Out Ladies

Sister Mary Eunice believes Pepper is repentant for what she has done. In fact, Pepper is morning the death of the child. It seems sister takes good care of Pepper (until of course the events of "Asylum" take place and she's possessed by a demon).

In Pepper's last scene she is sorting magazines in the hospital library. Who does she see on a cover on the July 6th, 1958 "Life" magazine but Elsa. She indeed made is big and is ruling Friday nights. Pepper holds her hand up to her face to comfort herself. How sad. Why must I cry over fictional characters? On a positive note, we know that Pepper becomes a genius years later when she's abducted by aliens. So take that jerks!

In Other Freak News:

There were no sightings of Dandy this week. I miss that crazy naked serial killer.

Stanley of course is still at it. He tells Elsa they have an appointment with a TV producer in several weeks. This is what prompts Elsa to take Pepper back to her sister.

Dot/Bette gives Maggie the money they were saving for their operation. They want her to get a lawyer for Jimmy.

Stanley visits Jimmy in jail. He will hire Clarence Darrow's son (Donald) as Jimmy's lawyer but he'll need a down payment. Stanley has a suggestion on how they can get the money.

Maggie confesses to some of her relationship with Stanley. They're at the freak show to pick pocket the guests. Desiree, who was not born yesterday, doesnt buy it. Maggie takes Desiree to the American Morbidity Museum. She's hatching a plan to bring Stanley to justice. They see the body of Ma Petite, the head of Salty.. and wait for it... the hands of Jimmy. Maggie faints to the floor.

Desiree Must Spend A Fortune On Pasties

Favorite Quotes:

"The death of a beloved monster is always a sorrow but never a surprise."- Elsa.
"When this strange little one (Pepper) looked at me, it was the first time I ever felt unconditional love."- Elsa.
"It was a simple affair. The bride and groom knew six words between them."- Elsa about Pepper and Salty's wedding.
"Go to hell triple tits"- Maggie to Desiree.
"Pepper is a gift. A soul so pure in this world is rare."- Elsa.
"It's hard for us freaks. We get blamed for everything".- Pepper.
“No matter how far away I am, I will always be your family”- Elsa to Pepper.

Grade: 5 Monsters (out of 5). The perfect Pepper episode. Naomi Grossman hit it out of the park with this one. Her conveying of emotion with just facial expressions and gestures should earn some awards this year. This episode also provides the one concrete connection we have between "Freak Show" and "Asylum". Ryan Murphy had hinted that all of the episodes were connected. See various theories here: http://www.vulture.com/2014/10/american-horror-story-theory-every-season-connected.html Good stuff!