American Horror Story: “Room 33” — Nov. 11, 2015
Photo courtesy of FX
On this week’s American Horror Story: Hotel, Ramona and Donovan are the dynamic duo set to take down the Countess; Liz Taylor falls in love for the first time; and what’s the deal with room 33? Special contributor Tracey M. takes you inside the madness in this recap. – David F.
The year is 1926. The Countess is at the door of the Murder House from Season 1 seeking the help of an underground doctor who lives and works there. She says she’s three weeks along, but her belly says six months. The nurse notes her temperature of only 75 degrees. She is put under anesthesia. When she awakes, the doctor hands her a bundle; it’s a boy.
Detective John Lowe is awakened by his giggling son, Holden. He chases the little tow-head down the hall, and down the stairs to the glass coffins. John finds Alex lying in one of them and loses consciousness.
This week’s props go to Denis O’Hare. He is beautiful and vulnerable as Liz Taylor and has breathed life into one of AHS’ most complex, compelling and memorable characters. Bravo, Denis!
Liz Taylor will henceforth be referred to as “she” because that’s the way she wants it. Liz is making love with Tristan, who is amazed at how incredible Liz makes him feel. She tells him it’s because he’s an orphan, and there’s a perverse thrill of having mommy and daddy in the room at the same time. Ewww, that’s a mood killer right there. The two snuggle and talk of their dreams. At his request, Liz gives Tristan books he might enjoy. He wants to learn more, to be more. They admit their love for each other, and bask in the afterglow. Liz thanks Tristan for loving her, and fully seeing and loving the woman she is, but is frightened of the Countess’ reaction when she eventually finds out.
The Countess is giving a bit of lip service to Will Drake, but his flag won’t fly. He says he can’t be aroused by a woman, so the Countess pages Tristan out of Liz’s arms. Liz begs Tristan not to say anything about their relationship. Tristan isn’t interested in any man-on-man action, but must do as he is told. He’s not looking too happy now.
Back at the front desk, Liz is all aglow in turquoise with sparkling earrings. Alex rushes over and asks Liz how John was allowed to see the sleeping chamber. She can’t risk any chance of losing Holden again. It would kill her. Wait, isn’t she dead already? Liz says she understands true love and feels that everyone should have at least one in their lifetime. Alex asks Liz for help. She has injected John with a sleeping agent for now, but she needs to cover her tracks. Liz agrees they should do something about the coffins. She takes a baseball bat and swings for the stars.
Now back in his room, Alex wakes John. He swears he just saw her in a coffin. Wasn’t me, says Alex. She tells John he called her and told her he’s been having visions of Holden. Alex suggests John get out of the hotel before he has a psychotic break. He swears he was awake and takes Alex downstairs to a now-empty room. Ok, now John thinks he might be cracking up.
The Countess floats down the hallway in a flowing gown. She almost looks like an angel and heads to room 33 and opens the door with an antique key. She approaches a black bassinet and takes out the tiny bundle inside. She coos that she has to leave for a bit to get some money, but promises to be home soon. The Countess was once fabulously wealthy. Taken advantage of by none other than Bernie Madoff (a very different kind of American Horror story), she is penniless and is hoping to lure Will Drake into her web and bleed him dry financially.
Ramona and Donovan enter the Cortez like a couple of thugs and brush past Iris. Ramona wants to kill the children of the Countess. Donovan begs off and heads to the room he used to share with the Countess. He enters her room and finds some panties to sniff. Ramona discovers the sleeping chamber is empty. Now ain’t that a bitch?! Iris arrives on the scene packing a pistol. They both have beef with the Countess, so why not join in. Ramona tells Iris to find the children—which the Countess treasures—and finish them off while she takes the one thing the Countess covets above all else. It’s in room 33; all Ramona needs is the key.
Ramona enters 33, calling out to “Bartholomew.” She searches the dark room by flashlight and finds her target, cornered under the dresser. Liz is on her way to 33 with a service tray and is alarmed to see the door ajar. Whatever was in room 33 is out, and Liz stresses to Ramona it must be found before the Countess returns. Ramona is holding an ice pack to the side of her face, I assume, courtesy of “Bartholomew”. She notices Liz‘ radiance. Liz tells Ramona she is in love, finally, for the first time in her life. A shocked Ramona warns Liz not to get caught with Tristan, suggesting that Liz be ready to run once the Countess finds out.
This week we see the return of our two Swedish tourists, Agnetha (Helena Mattson) and Vendela, (Kamilla Alnes) now stuck in the maze of the Cortez. They run into Donovan, who tells them how best to survive at the hotel. They lure an unsuspecting young man into a room for sex and a snack. Well, sex for him, a snack for them. Alex finds their door open and sees the young man’s body. The girls are upset at what they have done, and ask Alex if there’s any other way to exist. Alex teaches them that you can always break someone’s mind. John’s in particular.
Poor John heads back to the hotel after being chased from the scene of another possible Commandment murder by his partner. He sits in the hallway missing his family and drinking from the bottle. Agnetha and Vendela, seduce him, and while making love to him, begin to cut themselves, laughing and spurting blood all over him. John freaks out and runs naked down to the lobby. Liz shoos him back upstairs to “finish his breakdown.” As John continues to slip into insanity, he even gets a visit from James March, himself. Mr. March congratulates John on finally “checking in” to the hotel.
He leaves the Cortez, picking up a stranded and upset Scarlett from school; she hasn’t heard from her mother in more than two days. John tries to comfort her and plans to try talking to Alex. He sees a shadowy figure moving through the house, and draws his gun. He fires at phantoms, scaring the living daylights out of Scarlett.
Liz and the Countess are alone (you can just feel the tension). Liz decides she might as well ‘fess up. How could the Countess not understand falling in love? Poor Liz, wearing the rose-colored glasses of new love. She tells the Countess she couldn’t love Tristan the way she does. The Countess offers to let Liz have him once she’s done with him. Liz reminds her that her clock is ticking. She’s not immortal like the others, and wants to have love in her life before it’s too late! The Countess insists on talking to Tristan, too.
Tristan and Liz sit before the Countess. She slowly paces, talking about how she enjoys the taste of emotions. Love tastes like water, joy like strawberries, hate like ice chips in a martini. Betrayal has the taste of the char on burnt meat. Tristan is surprised and nervous that Liz has told the Countess about them. Tristan talks of how Liz makes him feel intelligent gives him books to read and makes him feel loved. He feels like just another toy for the Countess. She considers all that has been said and gives Tristan to Liz. Before the two have a chance to rejoice, she turns on her heel and slits Tristan’s throat. (Soooo cold!) Liz is destroyed watching her Tristan bleed out. Her love is dying, and she is broken.
Alex has found “Bartholomew” and brought him back to room 33. The Countess is grateful. She rocks her tiny bundle, and we finally see the horror that is his face. A pale, misshapen head, beady eyes and a mouth with a circle of crooked teeth. What fresh Hell is this?
American Horror Story airs Wednesdays at 10/9c on FX
