The Origins of Monstrosity
Believe it or not, the honeymooners are back! We finally get another time travel sequence in episode 6 of FX’s American Horror Story: Asylum. The Origins of Monstrosity (a VERY apt title for this episode, that’s for sure!) opens with a 911 call in the present day at the derelict Briarcliff. Police find the Bloody Face copy cat killers and poor Leo (Adam Levine) strung up. After finding a mobile phone in Leo’s detached arm and speaking to Bloody Face, we then discover Leo’s bride (Jenna Dewan-Tatum) is still alive and about to be tortured by Bloody Face – time is ticking!
Now, since it is obviously the voice of Dr. Thredson (Zachary Quinto) on the phone to the cops, we can assume he is still alive. Or – and this will possibly make sense if #2 below is correct – maybe he has a son who is now following in his footsteps! This means one of two things for Lana (Sarah Paulson):
- She’s long dead and her attempt to be a mother to Dr Thredson didn’t work
- She’s alive and now batting for Team Crazy (ie. Dr. Thredson’s 2IC)
We are also introduced to a new character this week. She’s so sweet, so young, and really, just quietly, I think she’s the most dangerous of the lot! Her name is Jenny and her mum dumps her at Briarcliff even though Sister Jude (Jessica Lange) makes it quite clear they don’t take in children. But that’s okay, Sister Eunice (Lily Rabe) quickly takes the child under her wing – this can only end badly.
Speaking of Sister Eunice, we get some of her back story as well as one of those gratuitous scenes that turned out to be more than just dancing around in red lingerie and yelling at Jesus on his cross. While it was damn HOT to see this, we now discover just how evil Sister Eunice really is. And boy, is she horny! The masturbating man discovers this when he spies her through a hole in the wall! Sex and religion – we get you FX!
Actually, this whole episode is filled with back story. We find out why the Monsignor (Joseph Fiennes) is on board with Dr Arden (James Cromwell). (And, on a side note FX – what was the point of Shelley (Chloe Sevigny) escaping in one episode, just to be strangled by the Monsignor is the next?) Then we get all of Dr. Thredson’s mummy issues. And boy, oh boy, is he f*cked in the head!
You know, the thing about this show, is that there is no line the writers won’t cross. They see a boundary and instead of being all polite (such is the American way), they toss a bomb at that line rather than step back and do the proper thing. This point is perfectly made by the (now famous) line spoken by Dr. Thredson when Lana attempts to save her own life by pretending to be the mummy that the doc so obviously craves. That line? “Baby needs colostrum.” Now that line is hideous as a stand alone, but oh no, FX makes the audience witness a grown man suckling on a grown woman’s breast as if it is his mother’s. Just when you thought the aversion therapy scene was too much…..
That pretty much sums up this week’s episode, but, I want to know: Where is Pepper???
(Photo Credits: FX)
Rachel Tsoumbakos 
I share your pain… Where the hell is Pepper and why aren’t people in the Asylum even mentioning her?
I read somewhere that the Bloody Face voice coming out of the phone was clearly Dylan McDermott’s, but that makes no sense to me, first because it sounds like Thredson’s voice and second because the “present” Bloody Face needs to work out for about 1.5 years or 2 to get Dylan’s body (*insert blissful smile here*).
I have my theory in my blog and it’s pretty similar to yours. Could it even be Thredson’s son? Ew.
I agree (and double checked by re-watching it this morning), that is DEFINITELY Dr. Thredson’s voice on the phone! Dylan Dermott is supposed to make a return to this season – perhaps he will be the son?
And as for Pepper, she must be hiding in the wings ready to save the day in the last episode, is my theory as to why she missing. But seriously, shouldn’t someone be at least a little concerned? Other patients would notice and say something surely???
I;m heading over to your blog now to check out your theory ;-D
Hah, just realised you had the same son idea… Make’s me wonder who the mother is.
Oh poor Lana :S
Personally, I think Lana might now (in the present time) be a sick and twisted victim/mother/wife to Dr. Thredson. Would that make her a sufferer of the Stockholm syndrome if she is still with Dr. Thredson?
That would fit in perfectly to the story. Dylan as the son fits age wise, he’d be about 40 or heading there now in the present, but there is still the issue that Bloody Face in the present is not as strong as Dylan.
Agreed. That body is definitely Quinto’s!
One more thing, the Monsignor/Arden discussion on ethics lead me to believe there is even more to the reason why the man of God puts up with this. It definately sounded like Arden has some dirt on the Monsignor, from back in the days when he was still just a priest.
I DEFINITELY agree with this!