Review: American Horror Story: Asylum "Nor'Easter"

Non Spoiler Review:

Briarcliff Asylum is about to be hit by a wicked nor'easter, prompting Jude to borrow a movie projector to keep the patients occupied during the night. Satan Sister Eunice is busy manipulating Jude and Arden while Lana enlists Dr. Thredson's help to get a message out to Wendy. Grace and Kit want to make good on their escape with the storm as cover. In both 1964 and the flashforward, Bloody Face's confusing identity grows more convoluted.

Some great performances this week, with Jessica Lange coming into her character with her best scene of the season (so far). Eunice is starting to shine now that she's got Satan on board, and watching her begin to manipulate everyone around her is pretty fun stuff. 

So much was thrown at the screen this week, it's a lot to digest, but Nor'Easter was definitely the best of the three so far—an even mix of fun, scares and disturbing moments.

Spoilers Now!

Bloody Face breaks into Teresa's cell, but Leo isn't finished off yet and manages to bring him down and allow her a moment to stab him multiple times with an awl. She tries to carry him out, finding her phone on the way. Then she runs into another Bloody Face who shoots them both in the head. There's two of them, and they take off their masks and appear to have been playing their own game in the asylum, and one named Cooper thinks has gone too far. They notice Leo's arm has been ripped off, just as the other Bloody Face appears and walks towards them.

In 1964, Satan Eunice brings the mail to Jude, warning her of a storm coming. The newspaper she brought is from 1949 and has an article about a missing girl (the one Jude hit with her car). Jude is unnerved and promptly has flashbacks to the night. Dr. Thredson comes in, suggesting she stop her corporal punishment policy. She dismisses his claims and explains she borrowed a movie projector to take the patients' minds off the storm. Thredson asks for Jed's autopsy report for his files and thinks it will say he died of natural causes. He also suggests her veneer is a defence to protect her own guilty conscience. She immediately asks if it was him who got the newspaper, but realizes he didn't. She wants him gone in two weeks.

Meanwhile, Kit and Grace continue to plot their escape, and he even forgives Lana for turning him in as he would have done the same if he weren't innocent. This time Shelley wants in on their next attempt. Eunice addresses the patients in the common room to advise them of the coming storm and Friday's movie night of Sign of the Cross. One of their charges, an old woman called the Mexican, seems to sense who she is and can see her demonic eyes.

Eunice returns to Jude with news someone has been drinking the communion wine and wants her to taste it, claiming it's been watered down. Jude is shocked to see her wearing lipstick and demands she hand it over and wash it off. Eunice adds Dr. Arden said red was Jude's favorite colour and she'll understand why he wants her to have it.

Arden is analyzing the alien implant, finding that it reassembles itself. He shows the device to Kit, and notices it appears to want to get back into him. Arden accuses Kit of working for someone, like the East Germans or KGB (as well as making an offhand comment about the Jews). He proceeds to start searching for more implants by cutting into him.

Eunice visits the Mexican in her room. The woman is terrified so Eunice demands she get on her knees and prey. She stabs her in the neck with scissors, then takes her into the woods as food for the creatures. Eunice then goes to see Arden, saying she's worried about how the creatures will survive the cold. They only need to get through the winter, he says. Then she proceeds to try to seduce him in a display of sexuality that shocks and outrages Arden. He slaps her and demands she leave. 

As Thredson oversees the set up of the theatre, Lana asks for a word in private. He's not authorized to discuss her treatment, he says, but she realizes he's not one of them. She needs to get a message to Wendy as she hasn't heard from her. If she could just see her she could straighten out her predicament. Thredson takes the message for her.

Jude comes to see Arden, who is sleeping in his office due to the storm. She wants to know about the lipstick Eunice gave her. Arden claims the asylum has corrupted Eunice, while Jude blames him for scheming to replace her. He suggests she take a leave of absence.

Jude then gets a phone call from her dead girl accusing her of leaving her on the road, and finds the girl's broken glasses on her desk. It proves too much for her so she indulges in the communion wine Eunice had left for her and stumbles out into the common room where everyone is assembled. She introduces the movie as Thredson sits down with Lana and implies he delivered her message. Jude proceeds to deliver a warm and erratic speech of encouragement that the storm will bring a golden sky in the morning, then breaks down. She gets a hold of herself and goes off to find the Mexican, who is now missing. 

Thredson explains he couldn't get a hold of Wendy, so went to check on her himself. When he let himself in to her house, he found similarities between her disappearance and other victims of Bloody Face, and something terrible might have happened. However, the police won't entertain the notion that they might have the wrong man, but Thredson isn't sure Kit is the killer.

Grace excuses herself to go to the bathroom. Lana notices and leaves, as well. She meets up with Grace, Kit and Shelley, but Grace is not about to take her with them. Lana admits she was wrong about him, and Kit believes her. Shelley opts to distract the guard and takes him away, allowing the others to make their escape and later wait for her to rejoin them at the door to the tunnels. Jude sees something is going on and goes after.

Arden takes the lipstick and paints up a statue of the Virgin Mary. He calls it a whore and pushes it over. Jude hears that and turns around to see an alien. After knocking out the guard, Shelley runs into Arden instead.

The others can't wait any longer for Shelley but Lana vows to expose the place and get her out. They run outside into the storm to find the road. Grace stumbles over the remains of the Mexican in the woods, and Kit sees one of the creatures who takes pursuit after them. They run into more of the man-creatures and have to flee back into the tunnels.

In the common room Thredson gets suspicious of the absences and asks the guard on the projector if he's noticed patients are missing. Arden takes Shelley to his lab to have his way with her, even though she doesn't want him. He proceeds to try to rape her but finds he can't and when she laughs at him he knocks her out.

Eunice finds Sister Jude passed out in her room. She wants to know if Eunice saw it too. Jude returns and berates the guard that three patients are missing. She shuts down the movie and declares no more privileges due to the three who abused her good will. But Kit, Grace and Lana are in their seats and Jude is actually referring to the Mexican, the pinhead (who got up to go to the bathroom) and Shelley.

Shelley wakes up on Arden's table, and he informs her they all think she's run away. She promises not to tell them anything but he explains he had to clip her wings so she wouldn't fly away. He's cut off her legs at the knee.

The Verdict:
Definitely the best and wildest of the season so far, with a drunk Sister Jude just the icing on the cake. I was laughing out loud at her speech to the patients before the movie. There was a lot to take in with Nor'Easter and it didn't let up until the end.

It seems obvious now that Arden is a Nazi, what with his paranoia about the KGB and his quip about the Jews, so that means we have an interesting mix of aliens, demonic possession and Nazis—quite a genre mash up going on. Poor Shelley seems to be on a path to becoming one of Dr. Arden's creations.

I'm glad that Kit is behaving in a sane manner (but that, too, could be a ruse). He forgives Lana for her betrayal and is quite the white knight when it comes to Grace. But I have a suspicion Grace is not as benign as she seems, either, and could be playing everyone.

As for Dr. Thredson—could he be Bloody Face? His Mr. Spock delivery of what he saw in Wendy's house was pretty stoic. He's my leading suspect at least as far as this week goes. In the present, Bloody Face's identity becomes even more confusing as we now have too psychopathic cosplayers facing down what could be the real serial killer, as well.

Of note is the radio report Arden is listening to during the storm referring to sightings of lights in the sky (with the implant in the jar jumping around). Did the alien do anything to Jude and does she remember the encounter? What is their interest in the asylum, or have they come for Kit?

Next week...Anne Frank!

Review: The Walking Dead "Walk With Me"

Non Spoiler Review:

The narrative shifts to Andrea and Michonne, who witness a military helicopter crash, and the subsequent arrival of a new group of survivors from the town of Woodbury. Can they be trusted, especially their strong leader known only as the Governor?

With a longer season, it's refreshing to be able to leave Rick and the crew to focus on Andrea and the still mysterious Michonne, who, even after this episode, doesn't get a lot of new insight. The arrival of the Governor to the cast is a geekout moment for fans of the comic, but also a very ominous and interesting one for those just watching the series. There are other additional characters, the return of an old face, as well, including one background character that is sure to raise some suspicions as to his identity (or at least it did with me!). 

Walk With Me was an intriguing episode for the mysteries it's set in motion, as well as the focus on two of my favs—Andrea and Michonne. Lots of revelations no doubt are to come.

Spoilers Now!

A military helicopter with three men on some sort of patrol malfunctions and crashes in the Georgia wilderness. Andrea and Michonne witness the impact and go to investigate. Andrea is still battling the flu, so Michonne checks out the wreckage and finds one dead body. But they're suddenly alerted to vehicles pulling up and they watch from the woods as men take a look for themselves.

They appear organized and well-versed in the proper way to dispatch with the walkers without making a ruckus. They watch them pull a man out of the helicopter while the dead one begins to animate as a zombie and the leader kills it. Michonne's walkers start to get antsy and threaten to alert them of their position, so Michonne has to kill them both. It looks like they've gone unnoticed but one of the men (with a very familiar voice) comes up behind them and tells them to put down their weapons. Andrea lays eyes on Merle (with suitable zombie killing prosthesis). Andrea faints.

Delirious and blindfolded as they're driven away, she hears the leader talking on the radio with his home base. A soldier was found alive and is being brought back, too. Through her blindfold she gets a glimpse of Merle.

They arrive at a walled town. The doctor treats Andrea but gives them little information before being ordered to see to the soldier. Merle comes in to explain how he survived—he was bleeding out when they found him. Andrea informs him she hasn't seen Daryl in a long time and that he and Rick went back for him. He seems to show some sympathy when he hears about Amy's death. But she doesn't know what happened to everyone given they were separated for seven months. She knows what it feels like to be left behind.

Merle would like a thank you, so Andrea says as much, but Michonne just watches in suspicious silence. The leader comes in, whispers to Merle, then asks how they are. He tells them they're being cared for, not locked up. They're under guard to protect his people. Andrea then asks why he drove a knife into the skulls of dead men, and he reveals that they all turn however they die, and he put them out of their misery. They're welcome to leave, but he suggests Andrea get some rest, and to come by in the morning to get their weapons and be sent on their way. 

They walk outside to the peaceful town of Woodbury. He shows them the walls and she asks if they're military. They're mostly self-trained but they have heavy artillery scavenged over time. Merle calls him the Governor. He takes them to some comfortable quarters. Andrea asks about the pilot and he just says the doctor is working on him.

In the morning they're escorted around by a woman who explains they have 73 people in their community and there have been few casualties in a long time. The Governor has enforced a strict curfew but it works to maintain order and keep everyone safe.

The pilot is conscious and tells the Governor that their camp was over run when one got infected and his team abandoned their post and escaped. Ten in their group are on the highway in a convoy. He took the helicopter up to scout ahead. The Governor explains he'll go and find his men.

He then goes to visit Merle and a man named Milton and asks about the girl, Andrea. Merle explains she's from the group in Atlanta. He wants him to find out more from her. Milton, the brains in the group, shows the Governor the two zombies Michonne had—their arms and jaws were removed to take away their ability to eat—which made them become docile. They also acted as repellent from other walkers...walk with the biters, they think you're a biter. The zombies are also starving, but they're doing it slower than humans. Milton wants to talk to the women to learn more. 

He takes Milton's advice and has the girls over for breakfast with them. Milton has a theory that there might be a trace of the person lingering in the zombies. He asks Michonne who her walkers were, which makes things awkward. The Governor goes on to explain the secret of his success is restoring a sense of community and he plans to retake civilization. Michonne wants to leave. He says they can leave whenever they like but he urges them to take a look around and rest first.

Walking alone with Andrea, Michonne says she doesn't trust him, but Andrea wants to stay for a couple of days to fully recover. She also brings up that she feels she hardly knows Michonne even after seven months, and also wants to know who those two walkers were, especially since she took them out with no hesitation. Michonne refuses to answer and walks off.

On the road, the pilot's army buddies are camped out as the Governor arrives in a car bearing a white flag. He explains he found their man, Lt. Wells, who told him to bring them to him. They appear relieved but the Governor pulls a gun and begins shooting, as do his men in the woods, killing them all. Then they look over what Uncle Sam brought them.

The army convoy pulls into Woodbury to much curiosity. Andrea notices Milton seems a bit disconcerted. The Governor addresses the town, explaining the National Guard survivor had told them about his men, but they found them all dead. They had trucks with essential food and medicine, and he advises them not to take what they have for granted.

Afterwards, Andrea asks the Governor his real name. He makes it clear he will never tell her. As night falls, the Governor has a drink in his home. Andrea's female tourist guide is sleeping in his bed. He looks at the photo of his family, then heads into a dark room where he sits on a couch in front of an illuminated assortment of aquariums full of heads, one of whom is Lt. Wells. 

The Verdict:

This was an interesting diversion that really worked (and continues a string of great episodes). An extended season means we can have a whole hour without Rick and the crew and focus on introducing this major storyline and its characters. That gives the audience the reveal of the Governor before Rick even gets to meet him and sets up a lot of foreboding of what might be coming.

Michonne remains a mystery, so I'm anxious to see more of this character. I'm still a bit torn about this seven month gap and the fact that Andrea and her aren't besties yet? What did they talk about all this time? Even a few months with Lori and the others got them all pretty familiar with each other.

What I did overlook was that Andrea and Michonne would not be privy to the walking dead aspect of the virus, so that was an interesting addition, as well as Milton's explanation of why the two walkers were dismembered. I hope Milton turns out to be one of the good guys. The awkward glances he sometimes gives betray a bit of a conscience at what he knows about the Governor.

Merle's back! How will Daryl react at the inevitable reunion? Will he find himself changed so much that he won't see eye to eye with his brother anymore? Merle has already commented that he sees his younger brother as weaker than him.

Finally, David Morrissey presents a different Governor than we're used to in the graphic novels which I quite like. The literary version was obviously a crazy the moment we saw him, but Morrissey conveys a very subtle psychopath who has some attractive elements (that even Andrea might be taking a shine too?). Of course, the post-apocalyptic utopia is never what it seems to be.

Who is that large Tyrese-looking fellow in the Governor's entourage? Dare we hope that this character may be getting introduction via Woodbury?

Review: The Walking Dead 103

Non Spoiler Review:

This month takes care of some details of Rick's new arrangement—specficially handling Negan's arrival to take his due.

There are a variety of reactions among Rick and the survivors with this new normal, and particularly, this second appearance of Negan allows more insight into the man's psyche.

All in all a decent issue that kept a level of tension high given the unknown reactions of some of the characters around Negan (particularly Carl).

Spoilers Now!

Andrea's captured prisoner is set free, which does not sit well with her at all. But Jesus is secretly tailing him as he walks back to Negan's camp.

Andrea is about to move out on Rick but he reveals part of his plan to her—that he does have a scheme, and right now they're in a holding patter waiting for information. That makes her happy to hear.

Negan and his men show up for their first tribute, which creates a tense situation as he hands off his bat to Rick to hold the hole time, while confidently moving from place to place to take medical supplies—which creates another stand off with Denise that Rick must defuse. He's gracious enough to leave them all their food. Carl is the only one that steps in to say they're going to kill him, which creates a brief stand off between Negan and the boy before Rick forces him to go inside.

The Verdict:

For a relatively quiet issue, there was a lot of apprehension as Negan made his way through the community and interacted with the survivors. Carl's outburst especially brought a tense few panels as we wonder what Negan will do (and if anyone will stand up to Negan, it's him).

Negan appears to have his own sense of honor, allowing Alexandria to keep its food, yet taking what medical supplies he needs. But he's really just a saner version of the Joker. That makes him very dangerous given he has the intelligence to match his will to use violence.

Rick is in a tough predicament in his attempt to turn his people into sheep as a ruse to lure their new (and clever) enemy into a false sense of security. It's all quite tenuous given anyone could break ranks and take matters into their own hands and so get killed because of it. He's already been made to look very weak in front of his people.

Meanwhile, Jesus is on the road to hopefully bring us some details about Negan's home base. Given his comments to Rick about their houses, I'm curious where they're holed up that they don't enjoy the same luxuries. It will be interesting to see their conditions and if it shares any similarities to the Governor's stronghold.

Review: American Horror Story: Asylum "Tricks and Treats"

Non Spoiler Review:

As Lana attempts to plan an escape from her situation, Sister Jude has other ideas to keep what she's seen secret. Court psychiatrist Oliver Thredson has his own opinions of her management skills when he visits Kit to ascertain his sanity to stand trial. Dr. Arden reveals some of his own particular tastes in women. And the asylum gets a new patient in desperate need for an exorcism, just in time for Halloween.

Another full plate this week, offering some great insights into the assortment of characters, more questions about Bloody Face, and a decent take on the exorcism that serves to advance some other character story lines down the road. Zachary Quinto is a welcome addition (with his own set of secrets too, it seems), and he looks like he fits perfectly in the 1964 setting.

Spoilers Now!

Teresa flees Bloody Face back to Leo and attempts to drag him to safety, but he reaches her. She flees inside a cell while he proceeds to cut up Leo.

Back in 1964 Wendy is distraught and wants to recant her testimony, but that might be tough given it's a sworn statement. She vows to get Lana out of Briarcliff, so takes the evening to compose herself with a hot shower. When she emerges she comes face to face with Bloody Face.

At the asylum, the inmates are woken up in the middle of the night for a room search. Jude finds some of Lana's notes hidden in her cell. She claims she has an excellent memory, so doesn't need them. "We'll see about that," Jude muses.

The nun goes to see Arden, suggesting Lana's memories are what are impeding her repentance, so he could perhaps help to erase some of them with electro-shock therapy. She adds that she's prayed about it and come around to seeing it as another of the Lord's tools. Arden goes to work on Lana and he offers Jude the opportunity to assist. Jude does so, but appears to show a hint of sympathy when she sees her pain, though the procedure goes forward anyway.

In the common room, Kit is brought to Dr. Oliver Thredson, the psychiatrist sent from the court to see if he's crazy. Kit protests that he isn't crazy and killed no one. He's starting to remember what happened. Alma was alive when they took her. Oliver decides he's insane. He speaks with Jude and wishes to talk about the appalling conditions he's seen in the asylum. She suggests he do his job and she do hers. 

Arden finds Eunice in the woods, who asks what the creatures are. But he's more concerned she's said nothing to Sister Jude about her chores. So he gives her a candy apple as a token of his gratitude. Despite sweets leading to sin, she takes a bite. Shelley watches them from the window.

Lana tries to keep notes so she won't forget. She sees Kit come into the common room and sit with Grace and listens to their conversation as they discuss a way out of the asylum. 

Jude is visited by a couple who are having trouble with their son, but Thredson interrupts and introduces himself. They want his opinion as well, much to Jude's chagrin. Their son Jed is 17 and hears voices. They found him speaking a strange language and eating the heart of their cow. They go to see the boy, but not before Jude warns Thredson again not to wear out his welcome. Jed is doing his best Exorcist impression.

It's bath time for Lana and Grace. Grace warns her there is no way to escape, but Lana seems to think her knowledge of the tunnels might be a way, and needs her help. Grace wants to take Kit, but Lana is adamant that he doesn't get out, believing he's a killer. She has trust issues given what Wendy did to her.

Shelley attempts to seduce Arden so she can get outside in the sun, but he won't hear of it. She recounts her story of how she was thrown in the asylum because her husband found her in bed with some navy guys. He's disgusted by her and leaves her.

Thredson thinks the county hospital is better equipped to help Jed, but the parents have already opted for an exorcism. Jude brings in Timothy, who listens to the doctor's concern, but asks him to assist. The church requires a licensed physician present. The exorcist, Father Malachi, is an old man in a wheelchair.

In the common room Grace wants to know where the tunnel is before Lana forgets. Kit takes the piece of paper she's written on just as the guards send everyone to bed (due to the exorcism). Kit reads it when he's in his cell.

Jed is strapped down. The exorcist gives Thredson the usual spiel about not listening to what it says, and sends Jude away. It's no place for a woman. The exorcism proves quite intense as Jed tosses Malachi across the room and seems to know things about Thredson being adopted. Timothy tells Jude he has to go deliver last rites, so gets Jude to watch him from the door. She goes in when he starts screaming and begging for help. Jed taunts her that she has no real power because she's a woman, and she became a whore because of it. 

She flashes back to when she was a singer during the war, entertaining the soldiers at her bar. Jed asks her about the girl in blue—the girl Jude hit with her car when she was driving home drunk. She never even got out of the car to see to her. Jed calls her a murderer so she proceeds to hit him. Timothy and Thredson run in. 

While Arden may find Shelley a whore, he isn't above hiring one...entertaining a girl in his office with a nice dinner. Though she's not as classy as he would hope and can't appreciate the wine or meal he's prepared. When he finds his fantasy date unfulfilled, he threatens her.

Timothy attempts to finish the exorcism but Thredson tries to sedate him. The lights go out in the asylum, waking up Lana who sees her door suddenly open up, along with everyone else's. She thinks it's her chance and grabs Grace.

Eunice runs to Jude to tell her about the problem in the ward while Jed goes into cardiac arrest. Kit catches up with Grace and Lana, but she forbids him to come. Kit says he's not a killer and Grace won't leave without him. She goes off with Kit and makes a run for the door, but Lana starts screaming that the killer is escaping, and the guards are on the two of them, beating on Kit. Grace shoots her a look.

Jed sits up in bed, staring at Eunice, then drops dead as Timothy gives last rites. The lights come back on. Eunice falls backward.

Back at Dr. Arden's office, his hooker is now dressing as a nun for him as he's instructed, but as she gets ready in his bedroom, she finds a box in his drawer full of pictures of women tied up and starts to freak out. He comes in and tells her she's not going anywhere and is about to rape her, but she bites his shoulder and flees.

In the morning Arden comes in to see Eunice as she's sleeping. He heard about her fainting spell and she had asked for him. He instructs her to rest and relax. Eunice is concerned about the creatures, but he's disturbed to see her out of her nun attire and tells her to get rest. After he leaves it's apparent that Eunice is possessed.

Lana is summoned to see Jude. Until last night, Jude had considered her an opportunist, and knows what it took to call the orderlies, so she deserves something special. She has Lana open the door and see her treat. Kit is brought in with Grace. Her reward is that she will not be punished while the two of them will, and she gets to chose which canes to use on each. Lana apologizes to Grace as Jude is about to begin, but Kit rises and tells her he's the only guilty one. That makes twice the lashes for him, Jude says, and proceeds to beat him.

The Verdict:

Asylum delivers an entertaining exorcism, one that allows us some insight into the past of Jude and Oliver, and sets up an exciting storyline for Eunice. I had been under the impression in early interviews for season two that there wouldn't be supernatural aspects to Asylum, but there was definitely something demonic going on with Jed.

It was good to see the various characters interact, and Lana's decision to ensure Kit doesn't escape at her expense was an interesting twist. She's certainly not the eager reporter willing to do anything to get what she wants. It's apparent Bloody Face is not Kit (now with killing Wendy and the appearance in the present day).

Zachary Quinto looks great in this setting. For the moment he seems to be the angel in the midst of the darkness of Briarcliff. But this is American Horror Story, and he's got to have some bad stuff in his past to muddy the waters.