We learned a lot of really interesting stuff in episode ten of American Horror Story: Freak Show. Appropriately titled “Orphans” we finally learned the back story on season two favorite and returning character, Pepper. So let’s dive right in and talk more about it.

Pepper’s back story: We learn about Pepper’s traumatic past while Elsa is discussing how she accumulated some of her troupe members with Desiree. “I went to the place were people throw other people away…an orphanage.” This is where Elsa found Pepper, her first freak. Pepper never knew her father, her mother died, and her sister couldn’t handle the burden of caring for her, so even though Pepper was over eighteen she ended up at an orphanage since she had the mind of a child. Elsa befriended Pepper and wanted to adopt her, but since she was technically an adult, she was allowed to just walk out the door with Elsa. “I loved her. She was my first monster.” Pepper became a member of Elsa’s freak show troupe, where she was a hit after just one performance. Pepper was developing, and there were clear maternal needs that she was displaying that needed fulfilled. This desire was answered thanks to the arrival of Indian royalty, Ma Petite, who Elsa traded three cases of Dr. Pepper pop to get. “Sweet irony, no?” Shortly after the arrival of the tiny princess, Elsa could tell that Pepper wanted a life companion. She wrote to orphanages all over the country when finally a home for wayward boys in Cincinnati replied back. Salty was then introduced to the troupe. A lovely montage of the soulmate’s wedding was shown, and everyone looked so happy. “They raised Ma Petite as their own child and I was their fairy godmother,” Elsa said. All was going fine and dandy until tragedy continued to strike in Pepper’s life. First the murder of Ma Petite, and in tonight’s episode her partner, Salty died in his sleep. Elsa knew that the wise decision would be to get Pepper to live with her sister, because she didn’t know if she could handle another loss when she becomes a TV star in Hollywood and leaves the troupe. Unfortunately, living with her sister is the beginning of the end for sweet Pepper. Flash forward a few months later, and we see Pepper’s sister talking with Sister Mary Eunice of Briarcliffe asylum, the location of season two. We then learn a disgusting tale of how Pepper’s sister and husband framed her for the murder of their disabled son. A picture of Pepper being obsessed with her brother in law and slipping alcohol to the baby is painted for Sister Mary Eunice. However, this is far from true. Pepper’s sister wanted to have children, but she claims that her tubes were clogged. Then, surprise! At almost fifty years old, she goes into labor to deliver a baby boy, who you can assume has Down Syndrome thanks to her husbands use of the sickening term “mongoloid”. Both of them grow to hate their son and Pepper, who usually takes care of him. “It’s like living in a freak show,” spits the husband. So they concoct a plan to get rid of Pepper and the baby. The sister claims that she asked Pepper to give baby Lucas a bath after an afternoon of playing in the park, happily Pepper obliges. The husband then comes into the room yielding a knife and pushes Pepper out. Sister Mary Eunice states that the baby had his ears snipped off and was drowned in the bath tub, which was ultimately blamed on Pepper. And that is how Pepper ended up in the care of Elsa and the eventual care of Sister Mary Eunice at Briarcliffe. There were SO many scenes tonight with Pepper that made me cry hysterically, especially when Elsa left her to the care of her sister while Pepper begged her to stay. Lil Red was bawlin!!

Tonight’s episode was mainly about Pepper and her story, but a few more interesting twists took place that are worth noting.

Jimmy’s jail time: So Jimmy is still in jail for the murders of five housewives that he didn’t commit. He gets an unexpected visitor while he’s locked up, Mr. Spencer. When Jimmy is asked if he murdered those women, he can’t answer the question, because he was black out drunk when it happened. “I didn’t kill them, did I?” He asks. Spencer believes that Jimmy is innocent, and offers to get him a damn good lawyer, who happens to have a very hefty retainer. Jimmy tells Mr. Spencer that he has no money or valuables to give….but Spencer tells him that he’ll think of something. DUN DUN DUUUUUUN.

Mr. Spencer’s new addition to the American Morbidity Museum: After Salty’s passing, Mr. Spencer urges Elsa to let him handle the cremation of his body. He insists that Elsa needs her rest before she goes off to Hollywood. Reluctantly, Elsa agrees even though she knew Pepper would want a proper burial for her partner. We then see Mr. Spencer hacking away at Salty’s head with an axe, while ashing a cigarette into an urn. In case you can’t put two and two together, Salty’s sweet pin head is one of the newest displays at the museum.

Speaking of the American Morbidity Museum, it had some surprise guests in tonight’s episode…Maggie and Desiree. After a fake psychic reading gone wrong to Desi and her new beau Angus, a drunken Maggie confesses that her and Mr. Spencer are business partners, claiming that after the performances they pick the audience members’ pockets. Desi instantly calls bullshit, and threatens Maggie’s life if any of the murders that recently happened amongst the troupe had something to do with her. Guilt ridden, Maggie tells Desi that she has a plan to save Jimmy and the troupe from the real villain, Mr. Spencer. To prove her point, the gals head off to the museum to see the recent displays of Ma Petite and Salty. They came at just the right time, because right as they walked in, a new display is revealed to the public….lobster hands.

What did you guys think about tonight’s episode? How did you feel about Pepper’s back story? Are you excited for Neil Patrick Harris’ American Horror Story debut on the next episode on January seventh?! Leave me a comment and let’s chat! -Sarah