American Gothic Episodes 6-13 Reviews: Did You Successfully Predict The Killer? I Think Not.

We have reached the end of "American Gothic". While the show was not as good as I had hoped, it provided just enough intrigue to keep me coming back for more. "AG" focuses on the Hawthornes (a wealthy Boston family). They are somehow linked to the SBK murders that occurred 14 years ago and seem to have started again.

"SBK" stands for "Silver Bells Killer". Seriously, couldnt they find a more menacing name for a serial killer? The imagery is less than frightening. Was "Soup Spoon Killer" already taken? How about "Gravy Boat Killer"? Haaa, the possibilities are endless.

The premiere features Madeline (the matriarch of the family) offing her husband Mitch so he cant reveal what he knows about the killings. Madeline is powerful and cunning. She came from white trash and aint about to go back. We later meet her mother (which explains a lot about Maddie's approach to the world).

The following episodes focus on a member of the family and their possible guilt. Is it the creepy estranged older brother Garrett? Is it the drug addict younger brother Cam? Is it baby sister Tessa? Is it older sis Alison (who is currently running for mayor)? Is it someone on the periphery of this group such as one of the spouses? There's Tessa's detective hubby Brady and Alison's sneaky snake hubby Tom. Or possibly someone we havent even met yet? There are LOTS of secrets in this family-- including that Alison has a thing for her campaign manager Naomi. Those two have some good chemistry.

It is revealed that the person we saw in flashbacks being drug down the stairs was in fact SBK. He has come to kill the Hawthornes. A young and feverish Tess inadvertently pushed him down the stairs. Garrett was then guilted by his parents into burying the body in Maine. No one wants a scandal ya know. Garrett drug a grave in the woods. Oops, the guy's not really dead. They have a brutal fight. Now SBK is really dead.

Fast forward 14 years. Why is someone STILL trying to kill the Hawthornes? It turns out John Martin (AKA Silver Bells) was seeking revenge against wealthy donors to the hospital where his wife was allowed to die. OK, that's a pretty flimsy reason for revenge (but no one asked me).

John had a accomplice who is keen on finishing the job. And in the finale that person is revealed to be... wait for it... it's Dara (John's daughter). Dara turns out to be none other than Sophie. She used to go on killing trips with Daddy Dearest. Sophie played a long game by marrying Cam and having a child (Jack) with him. OK then. She finally gets her revenge and offs Madeline before Cam or the police can stop her. Cam tries to save his mother by riding a dead guy down the stairs but he's too late. That was bizarre.

In the finale scene we see the Hawthorne family a year later. Madeline is of course absent because she's D-E-A-D. Alison is now mayor (and back together with Naomi). I initially thought Naomi was the killer (or at least would be offed by SBK). Surprisingly the writers let those two have a happy ending. Yeah! Cam has hooked up with rehab nurse/counselor April. Tessa and Brady have their baby... as do Garrett and Christina (daughter of Morales). Jack is still his strange-child-self and hopefully hasnt offed neighbor Phyllis' cat yet. Everyone seems happy. Then we see what actually transpired when Sophie killed Madeline.

Alison figured out who the SBK killer was before everyone else. She told Sophie she would let her murder Maddie in exchange for the rest of the family's safety. Looks like Sophie kept her end of the bargain. She hasnt returned and is still on the lam. Talk about harsh! Mother Madeline would be proud of Alison's conniving ways.

Death Toll:

Madeline: 4-- Mitch (her husband), Jennifer (the nosy reporter), Gunther (the gardener who was terminally ill anyway and wanted his wife to have his insurance policy) and Morales (a business partner). There may be more we dont know of.
Tess: 0-- Tess didnt kill anyone (although we initially thought she killed SBK).
Garrett: 2-- killed SBK in self defense and his friend in the woods (it was a mercy killing though).
Alison: 0- didnt kill anyone but did let Sophie off her mother in exchange for her leaving the rest of the family alone.
Sophie: At least 1 (Madeline). I'm not sure how many more she offed with Daddy SBK.
Jack: 0 so far-- but he's still young.

Grade: 4 Monsters (out of 5). "American Gothic" was definitely a slow burn. I dont think it ever lived up to it's true potential but it was a nice summer distraction none the less. I did enjoy the actors (especially Virginia Madsen as Madeline and Juliet Rylance as Alison). That's also Stephanie Leonidas as Sophie. It's hard to recognize her without all that makeup from her time as Irisa on "Defiance". The story has some nice twists but the episodes could have been consolidated. I did not guess that Sophie was SBK's accomplice. Did you?

There were also some fun details that added to the overall enjoyment of the show. The dollhouse replica of the Hawthorne home (complete with their dead bodies in each room) was a hoot. Jack's annoyance at not having a replica of himself was also amusing. "Maybe next time bud."

I thought neighbor Phyllis and her cat were goners for sure. Madeline taking Mitch's ashes just to bury him in the back yard was weirdly enjoyable. Psycho son Jack was also entertaining. With both sides of his family being murderers, the poor kid doesnt have a chance of being normal.