The world that American Horror Story creates in each of its seasons is a deadly and perilous one, full of monsters and murderers, peopled with characters who will often murder and slash their way toward their own goals and ambitions.
This is especially true for Freak Show, which goes to great lengths to show how low people will go in their own depravity. That being said, there are quite a few very brave characters in this season, men and women who rise to the challenge and, even if they don’t survive, are still profiles in courage.
10 Regina Ross
It takes a very special kind of person to dare to go against the Motts, both Dandy and his mother Gloria. Not only do they have a lot of wealth, they are also both ruthless in their own particular ways. Nevertheless, Regina, the daughter of their housekeeper, does just that, even going so far as to bring the cops to the house to find out what happened to her mother. Unfortunately, it does backfire, and Dandy bribes the cop into killing her.
9 Amazon Eve
Dandy Mott is one of the most frightening villains to emerge in the American Horror Story universe, because he is just so cold and relentless in his murdering. Thus, it’s all the more extraordinary that some of the freaks try to stand up to him when he comes after them, including Amazon Eve. Her bravery is all the more extraordinary considering the fact that she had to know that he would end up killing her, which is ultimately what ended up happening.
8 Paul
Each of the freaks that comprise the freak show have their own back stories that make them compelling characters, and that’s especially true of Paul, who tattooed his whole body in an effort to reclaim at least the handsomeness of his face. Throughout the season, he showed himself to be a very brave person, and it was especially courageous of him to pursue a relationship with Penny, even though it put him at a great deal of risk.
7 Dora Ross
The Motts, father and son, are deeply dysfunctional and menacing, and so Dora, their housekeeper, deserves a lot of credit for being willing to stand up to both of them. Unlike Gloria, who refuses to admit that her son is a monster, Dora sees him for what he really is.
As with her daughter, however, her bravery ends up costing her dearly, since she is first murdered by Dandy in a fit of rage and then buried in the backyard.
6 Penny
Even though she is a relatively minor star in this season, the character of Penny is another of those people who shows what true bravery looks like. For one thing, she engages in a romance with Paul, despite the fact that she knows that doing so will anger her father. Even after her father has her mutilated however, she continues to hold onto her fundamental dignity, and she is one the freaks who stands up to Dandy as he tries to kill all of them.
5 Bette and Dot Tattler
The Tattler twins are two of the more fascinating creations of this season, and they are two of Sarah Paulson's most likable characters. Even though they are conjoined, they are very distinct in their personalities. What unites them, however, is a fundamental courageousness. Despite the many things that they endure throughout the season, they somehow manage to hang onto their essential personalities and, even though they have witnessed the death of so many of their fellow members of the show, they still manage to find happiness in the end.
4 Desiree Dupree
Angela Bassett excels at creating strong and courageous characters in American Horror Story, and Desiree Dupree is one of those. As the season progresses, she shows time and time again that she has a powerful strength of character, and it’s this that allows her to survive when so many others are killed in one way or another. She ultimately becomes one of those that faces down Dandy and oversees his death and, given how deadly Dandy has already been, that shows an extraordinary amount of courage on her part.
3 Jimmy Darling
Evan Peters brings his own particular brand of charm to the character of Jimmy Darling, who as the derisively named “Lobster Boy,” has to endure quite a lot, including being made a fetish by the local women.
Like many of the other characters, however, he shows that he really does have a lot of courage, particularly in his willingness to always stand up for the less physically imposing members of the troupe. In that sense, he has a lot in common with his mother, who is also always willing to offer a helping hand.
2 Ethel Darling
Any time that Kathy Bates appears in American Horror Story, she manages to create indelible characters that leave an impression long after they perish (which they usually do). Ethel Darling is still something extraordinary though, for she shows a lot of courage throughout the season, not least by showing herself willing to stand up to Elsa, her boss and friend, when it becomes clear that Elsa has been lying to them. The fact that it ultimately ends up costing Ethel her life demonstrates just how much bravery it took to do such a thing, and it explains why she is one of Bates' most likable characters.
1 Elsa Mars
For its first four seasons, Jessica Lange was the star of American Horror Story and one of its best actors, and each of her characters are brave in one way or another. This includes Elsa Mars, a double amputee who makes a life for herself in the freak show and later in Hollywood. Considering her own troubled history - including her presence in a snuff film - it took a considerable amount of bravery to be willing to subject herself to the harsh light of stardom. She might be an antihero of this season, but she is a very courageous one nevertheless.
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September 23, 2021 at 12:00AM
