When the season started, Scream Queens was a show many were looking forward to. The spoof on the horror genre was expected to be in the vein of Scream and Cabin in the Woods, both of which are far superior to this thirteen episode saga. Though Glee was a disaster in the later years, Ryan Murphy did manage one or two decent seasons of the show. And because of the accolades he gets for American Horror Story, I expected a better marriage of humor and horror.
Instead, we got the typical shock and awe that has become typical of Ryan Murphy’s work. Toxic language and imagery with a smattering of heavy handed social commentary. I don’t care for artists to stay PC, but if you’re not going to be, then at least be smart about it. Murphy and Co. have all the subtlety of a Donald Trump speech. But at least, they did reveal a killer.
Hester, to really no one’s surprise, was revealed to be the killer. Most viewers probably suspected her from the start since she was such an outcast. And I did enjoy the backstory of growing up in a mental institution. Poor Boon was always a little slow. But Hester, she had it all worked out. And she was determined to make it happen. I mean, stabbing yourself in the eye with a stiletto is a whole new level of conviction. But we didn’t find out about Hester until a few twists and turns.
We learn how Pete got pulled into the Red Devil campaign, saving himself by agreeing to kill Roger. Yes, he really is a murderer. (Vindicated! He also killed Boon.) He believes in the mission of killing off the Greek System after Chanel humiliated him the year before. But Pete really did it for Grace, to be one of the good guys. Grace doesn’t really see it that way, and Skyler Samuels gets a chance to really own a scene here when she tells off Pete. But Pete knows the identity of the other killer! Of course, the Red Devil stabs him before he can tell her. But for whatever reason, she has no interest in killing Grace and just knocks her unconcious.
The Chanel have their own problem as Chanel is on an apology tour after sending the “missive to end all missive”, which gets forwarded to everyone. (Emma Roberts’ really killed it during this monologue, despite all its toxicity.) Chanel’s ugliness is exposed and she has amends to make. Of course, during the course of her tour, she’s convinced herself that Melanie Dorkus, last year’s Kappa president and victim of an acid attack, is the real killer. Thankfully before she can stab her to death, Grace and Zayday have discovered Hester is the real killer.
But Hester’s two steps ahead. Setting up a rather elaborate frame job which includes bribing Chanel No. 5’s parents to lie, hiring actors to play her own partners, and convincing Chanel No. 3 she has a murderous split personality. Resulting in a rather hilarious scene of the Chanels running away from the police, former strippers of course, and scored by the under appreciated “Toy Soldiers”.
But as the Chanels get thrown into an asylum (I’m not even touching the ridiculous verdict changing scene), they discover they are much happier there. No one cares what anyone looks like or trying to stay on top. They’re able to really be themselves, and eat actual food. They find happiness. Or maybe not. As we cut out before we can see if the Red Devil finally kills Chanel.
Loose ends…
- After a seduction plot to distract the Dean, Wes realizes he actually likes the Dean. Even though she cares very little for Grace.
- Hester’s fake transcript said she lied on Sesame Street and went to Sweet Valley High.
- Denise, after her successful stint as Chief of Police, is off to Quantico. And given the calibre of the recruits there, no surprise she got recruited.
- Has Chanel No.3’s earmuff obsession been an homage to this the whole time? And how did I miss that?
- Future Kappa shows us Zayday is president, Grace is VP, and Hester is treasurer. The reason the other two were spared is because they were nice to Hester from day one.
- But the Dean knows who Hester really is because she remembers the bathtub babies clearly. Since both of them are murderers, they agree to keep quiet to avoid mutually assured destruction.
All in all, I didn’t love this show, but it was an easy watch. Meaning I didn’t have to invest too much into it nor was I challenged to ever really pay attention. The whole “turning a genre on its head” trope has been done a million times, and a million times better in certain instances. Though it was a fun watch, this will be a pretty forgettable series. But thanks for reading!
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