Flicker (American Horror Story)

"Flicker" is the seventh episode of the fifth season of the anthology television series American Horror Story. It aired on November 18, 2015 on the cable network FX. This episode was written by Crystal Liu and directed by Michael Goi.

Plot

Whilst renovating Hotel Cortez, two workmen find a sealed corridor. On Will Drake's (Cheyenne Jackson) orders, they break through the seal and discover two ghoulish creatures who attack and bite out their throats. John Lowe (Wes Bentley) is undergoing evaluation at the West Los Angeles Health Center. Secretly he came there after seeing the hospital's name in one of the Ten Commandments Killer's case files. Elizabeth (Lady Gaga) and Iris (Kathy Bates) remark on the unsealed corridor, and Iris notices how scared the former is. Marcy (Christine Estabrook) checks in. In room, she opens the door thinking it to be room service when the two ghouls attack and kill her.

In 1925 Hollywood, Elizabeth admires the actor Rudolph Valentino (Finn Wittrock). He invites her for dinner which is interrupted by his wife Natacha Rambova (Alexandra Daddario). They explain that their divorce was a "show" and seduce Elizabeth. Hotel Cortez opens for business with James March (Evan Peters) hosting a party. There, Elizabeth comes to know that Valentino has died, then she tries to commit suicide but March saves her. Since his death, Elizabeth continues visiting Valentino's tomb. One day, after she and March marry, she finds him alive there with Natacha. Valentino relates a story during his The Son of the Sheik press tour. He met F. W. Murnau, director of the vampire film, Nosferatu, who offered him immortality, but on condition of public death. Valentino and Natacha turn Elizabeth her while March watches from afar.

John wanders near the criminally insane ward, overhearing the security guard talking about a killer within. Later, he overpowers the guard and breaks into the restricted room 153, finding a young girl called Wren (Jessica Belkin). She tells him she helped the Ten Commandments Killer during the murders, and John tells her that it was not her fault. In 1986, her father abandoned her in front of Hotel Cortez, and Elizabeth turned her. She says if John finds a way to get her out, she would take him to the killer.

Valentino and Natacha are revealed to be the trapped ghouls, and they bicker while they recover. March and Hazel (Mare Winningham) prepare a dinner for Elizabeth, who has agreed to dine with him at least once per month. She tells him her plans to marry Drake. She reveals Drake as her new love, but March clarifies that Elizabeth was never in love with him, hence he trapped Valentino and Natacha inside the sealed hallway. Regenerated, Valentino and Natacha checks out the Hotel. Elsewhere, Wren and John escape the hospital. She asks if he intends to kill the killer, receiving a positive answer. She responds by saying that she likes him, then she runs into traffic and is run over.

Reception

"Flicker" was watched by 2.64 million people during its original broadcast, and gained a 1.4 ratings share among adults aged 18–49.^[1] It also ranked second in the Nielsen Social ratings, with 115,000 tweets seen by over 1.12 million people.^[2]

Finn Wittrock portrayed actor Rudolph Valentino (pictured in 1919).

The episode received positive reviews, earning a 100% approval rating, with an average score of 8.4/10, on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. The critical consensus reads, ""Flicker'"is an especially enjoyable and tightly scripted episode of Hotel, presenting an intriguing backstory for Lady Gaga's Countess character."^[3] Alex Stedman from Variety complimented "Flicker" for revealing more backstory about Gaga's character, as well as secrets hidden in the titular hotel. He added, "Most importantly, though, we learn even more about the Countess' backstory and, for the first time, see her pre-ancient blood virus. And, in a rare occasion, we see her genuinely, truly scared."^[4] Another positive review came from Matt Fowler of IGN who rated the episode 7.6 on 10, and believed that the "strongest" plots of Hotel were surrounding those of Evan Peters' James March character. He also complimented that the Countess' story line was expanded and the connections were established. However Fowler believed Gaga's acting needed improvement with her dialogue delivery.^[5]

Michael Calia from The Wall Street Journal described the episode as "[conjuring] a version of Hollywood history soaked in blood, sex and treachery. You know, like actual Hollywood history, except involving the undead".^[6] Emily L. Stephens from The A.V. Club gave it a rating of A–, giving positive review for the plotline, the time utilization and the "tight narrative", complimenting Gaga, Bates and Peters' acting. She ended the review with her observation saying, "The characters of "Flicker" are seduced by the allure of immortality. They strive to become gods, if not through the flicker of film and the adoration of the masses, then by sacrificing their humanity."^[7]

Writing for Entertainment Weekly, Darren Franch complimented one line spoken by Bates, "I couldn't pick my butthole out of a lineup", in reference to the character Will Drake getting his anus waxed, and wrote, "What a line! I would take a whole episode of American Horror Story that was just every member of the cast stepping into the spotlight on a darkened stage, clearing their throat, and intoning."^[8] The line was also commended by Lacy Baugher from The Baltimore Sun, but she felt that Denis O'Hare and Angela Bassett were under utilized.^[9] Ryan Sandoval from TV.com commended the backstory of the characters in the episode, adding that the "episode was essentially showing us the bare-bones theme of the whole season like a corpse dunked in an acid bath: the cost of fame".^[10] Danielle Henderson from Cosmopolitan gave a positive review to the portrayal of Valentino and the fan reactions surrounding his death in the episode, as well as his fictional portrayal as a vampire. However, Henderson criticized Gaga's emotionless delivery and her makeup in the scene with Peters.^[11]

References

External links

• "Flicker" at the Internet Movie Database
• "Flicker" at TV.com