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As October approaches, the time to pull the curtain back on FX’s ongoing and newly themed anthology series, American Horror Story: Freak Show, has come.
Many cast regulars have returned. Show runners Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuck released multiple teaser trailers over the course of last week, setting the mood with some creepy tunes, including Melanie Martinez’s apropos ‘Carousel’.
These details are enough to forgive the show for its last finale that began less like a T.V. show, and more like a gratuitous Steve Nicks music video.
The fabulous Jessica Lange returns as fading beauty, and matronly leader Elsa Mars, a former German cabaret singer who strings together a band of misfits and outcasts in Jupiter, FL at a time when the stage show is losing its mass appeal.
“She truly cares for [these people] in her own selfish, narcissistic way. It’s not just exploitation,” said Lange in an interview with Entertainment Weekly.
Kathy Bates, now a sophomore to AHS, plays Ethel Darling a bearded lady and seasoned veteran to the circus performance scene.
While in her prime in the 30’s, Ethel fell off after the birth of her son Jimmy when she became an alcoholic. However, Elsa hands the bearded beauty a fresh start, making her manager and her right hand woman.
Even Peters (X –Men) is set to play Jimmy, a boy with a deformity that makes his hands look like lobster claws; and with those claws he lays down the law—okay, so maybe he doesn’t, but he is the only male of the troupe for a short time so that has to count for something.
Michael Chiklis (The Shield) arrives at the circus as strongman, Wendel del Toledo, Ethel’s ex-husband and baby daddy.
We will likely see a testosterone fueled power struggle between Jimmy and Wendel as he tries to muscle his way (no pun intended) into to the position of alpha male.
That’s all good and well, but these are a couple of independent freaks who don’t need no man.
Angela Bassett returns for a second season on AHS as a tri-breasted, Desiree Dupree ala Total Recall. On the scene to stir the pot, Dupree shows up alongside del Toro as his new wife, which makes her lobster-boy’s step mother of sorts.
Newcomer and welcome addition Patti Labelle plays a townie that will uncover some dark secrets about a killer clown.
As if there wasn’t enough drama and divas on the show. In addition, her daughter, played by Gabourey Sidibe, will come to Jupiter seeking answers about her mother’s disappearance.
Before the new information was revealed, it was not said in so many words whether Sidibe would return. I was mostly just crossing my fingers in hopes that she was not stuck in some eternal hell, working a shift at a chicken joint in New Orleans.
It is great to hear that she will be back for another season of insanity.
Also to return, Sarah Paulson will play conjoined twins. There is a Dragon Tales reference to be made here, but I will restrain myself. Zak and Wheezie—I mean Bette and Dot are apparently the hot ticket in the failing freak show business and Mars will do every thing she can to enlist them. Why have one freak when two heads are better than one?
Emma Roberts and Denis O’Hare will also make an appearance as conmen and robbers. Even fan favorite Pepper from Asylum is said to be returning.
Villains this season include a not so joyful clown whose name sounds as suspenseful as his behavior.
If you don’t think calling a clown Twisty is a self-fulfilling prophecy, you are lying to yourself.
It is also reported that Wes Bently (Hunger Games) will make his debut on the show as Edward Mordrake, the man with two faces.
That could mean that there is either more to love or more to hate about him.
Most likely, the face on the back of the head will whisper sinister things to him Voldemort style.
If the next season isn’t titled American Horror Story: Surreality, featuring the cast in a mockumentary behaving like reality TV stars; I will be thoroughly disappointed.
American Horror Story: Freakshow premieres October 8 on FX.
Zhana Johnson
Senior Features Editor