My Review of Ratched's 1x08: "Mildred And Edmund"

 

Written by Ian Brennan & Evan Romansky & Jennifer Salt

Directed by Daniel Minahan

Mildred (to Edmund): "Well, let me tell you something, little brother. You are the one who should be afraid because I am coming for you, Edmund."

Well, that escalated reasonably enough. This season might have started with Mildred wanting to do everything in her power to save Edmund but next season (which Netflix seem to have guaranteed) will clearly see her do everything in order to take out brother dearest as well. I'm also imagining there's going to be some casualties on both sides of this bloody sibling rivalry to boot.

With Mildred, she's gotten the happy (for now) ending with Gwendolyn, living it up in Mexico and in events that weren't predicted at the start of this series, a friend in Nurse Bucket. I really liked seeing the three of them working together initially to save Edmund before banding together at the end far away from Lucia State Hospital. 

Edmund was always going to make it out of the series alive but having Charlotte being the one to save him was a nice enough twist. Edmund having a team of both Charlotte (believing she's Hanover) and Louise (how did she make it out of this season alive?) to counter Mildred's own team will be very interesting to see unfold next season. I'm hoping Louise is an early season casualty of course.

Speaking of casualties, the only likable/not psychotic male character of course had to be killed off. Poor Huck. He finally got the promotion and respect he deserve, only to get shot in the head when trying to calm Charlotte. Huck deserved better but next season, the show needs to address it's issue with male characters. 

As for the Governor, at least he didn't get to fry Edmund but he definitely took too much pleasure in killing that other guy, especially when the electric chair backfire and set the guy alight. His comments when he realised that Mildred and Gwendolyn were a couple though did somewhat surprise. It was the only time during the series he displayed even the tiniest flicker of empathy. Saying that, I still wouldn't be sad if he doesn't return next season.

- Gwendolyn was losing her hair at the start of this episode but two years later in Mexico and something involving mistletoe and she's possibly cured.

- Louise joining up with Edmund and Charlotte really didn't shock. She's been off all season and that 'therapy' she was doing at the hospital was pretty disturbing.

- Standout music: The Andrew Sisters & Bing Crosby's Don't Fence Me In.

- Chronology: A month after the events of the previous episode before moving to 1950 for the last quarter of the episode.

Mildred And Edmund definitely set things up for what could be an interesting second season between the warring siblings. Overall, this show has been hit and miss and while I don't approve of trying to frame an iconic cinematic villain as some kind of feminist heroine (feels misguided), Sarah Paulson did carry this series rather well, so I'll stick around for some more.

Rating: 7 out of 10