What happened?
The missing Violet had actually just ventured out with Tate on a date, and a desire to lose her virginity. Tate seemed unable to complete the act, however, and then a gang of ghoulish teenagers arrived with a bone to pick with Tate – talking of how he had shot them years ago. Tate got angry and denied it, but flashes of some disturbing memory returned to him.
Constance had to cope with the death of Addy and told Violet stated that Tate was her son. Meanwhile Ben and Vivien had to contend with Hayden who took a turn for the violent until the home security officer arrived and took her away. She disappeared as the sun rose. And whilst the Burns Man’s fate was left unknown, other spirits returned to the house before the sun rose, all apparently trapped in that place. Ben and Vivien, still in disbelief at such supernatural possibilities, were not reconciled; Vivien demanded he was to leave and yet Ben was adamant he was not giving up on his family.
Thoughts
So. . . Tate’s definitely a ghost, right? I mean, those kids claimed he had killed them many years ago (fourteen, I think, or something like that) and since he hasn’t aged I have to figure he is a ghost just like them, only he is bound to the house. The revelation that Constance was his mother had occurred to me, but it did make me struggle to make sense of the phone call I thought Ben had had with one of Tate’s parents when he was discussing continuing treatment. Either I didn’t quite grasp who was on the other end of the phone or there’s something of an unclear issue there.
Constance being Tate’s mother wasn’t otherwise that troubling – she had mentioned there had been one good son so Tate was a natural fit. Quite what it means for Constance’s ghost status is another matter. I am still thinking that she is alive, as was Addy (I think). I believe the real tragedy of Addy’s death, for Constance, was that she died outside of the grounds of the house and so could not return as a spirit in the same way Tate and Moira have.
I did like the gang of teenage ghosts, though. Their make-up effects were disgusting, and their anger and appearance really menacing. The demand for answers was all they wanted, something Tate seemed unable to provide. Is he actually unaware of what he did? He really seemed shocked by the memories himself? I am guessing he is aware of his ‘spirit status’, considering he was aware of when he could leave the house.
The ending with all the spirits we currently know about returning to the house before sunrise produced mixed feelings in me. I liked the detail of the two nurses, for example. But it made me think that we really ought to have been seeing a lot more ghosts returning to the house because I am absolutely certain there are going to be more deaths and more ghouls showing up before this season is done. Indeed, if the episode tradition maintains as it has so far then I can expect them in the next episode!
So the continuity-freak in me would have preferred to have seen glimpses of other ghosts just to give a sense that there was more, but that was my only problem with it. In principle the underlining of the fact that these are people that once had lives that got stopped in the moment and now they are stuck, bound to the house in a limbo, is a nice one.
Interesting thought I’ve had: If Tate is unaware of what he is, then maybe that lack of awareness allows him to move more freely throughout the world. I only suggest that because perhaps even Ben, Vivien and Violet are already dead, too, and are unaware of it and that’s why they are free to move around, too. It’s pretty crazy, I know, but then this show is full on nuts.
Throwaway question: What the hell was that hand that reached out from under the bed for Violet?
Ben’s mistress was a nice turn up of craziness. The scenes of her apparently exploding the dog in the microwave (for a while I thought she really had and the dog we saw afterwards was a spirit dog!) and bathing in the bath, choking up her own rotting insides, they were just all great touches of grisly style. American Horror Story these past two episodes actually felt more like a film than it usually does. I can’t help but be impressed by how it just goes for it and manages to pull it off. What so easily could have been a total, tasteless mess is instead a riotous, demented joy.
We didn’t get to see what happened with Burns Man. Last we saw of him was when he was confronted by the gay guy, just when he looked set on striking a few pyromaniac matches. Maybe the scene was supposed to state that Burns Man got stopped in his tracks and so went on his way – or maybe the next episode will reveal what it was that actually occurred to him. I doubt he’s dead, though. Whilst Hayden may now be permanently gone (big question mark about that) Ben’s life isn’t going to free of the Burns Man that easily.
Of course, Vivien and Ben have some serious differences to sort out. I expect things won’t be rosy between them for a while, but since he is determined to stay and make things work then he’ll be around for the foreseeable. So they’ve all survived Halloween, except for poor Addy (again, question marks over whether we’ll see her again) and there’s been just a touch more clarification about the nature of the spirits in the house. It’s near impossible to guess where the show goes to next, but I am absolutely loving it so far. I am now entrenched with the mindset that each episode, when I start it, is going to be a cracker, as that has been the case so far. I can’t think of any new series, just this many shows in, that has had me thinking the same way.
Let’s hope the next one’s a cracker then!
What was the best part?
For me it was the scenes with the murdered kids returning to interrogate their murderer, Tate. From the image of the five of them striding towards the house to chasing Tate before they came to demanding why he had done it. It sets up further intrigue around his character, and what exactly he is and what he thinks he is. A whole episode could have been formed around this central plotline – but this show likes to move quicker and have more going on to allow that to be the case, which is both a good and bad thing for various reasons, but mostly a good thing.
What do I think will happen next?
Sheesh, honestly I don’t know! I mean how Ben and Vivien get along will be a backbone, but quite where the next ghost is coming from, or what crackerjack scheme Burns Man will present, or what Tate might do. . . These are all elements in the mix and I’ve not even touched on the doctor and his wife backstory of the house! No, there’s just too much madness to even attempt to make predictive sense of. Better to just strap in and enjoy the ride for now.
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