Hotel Cortez has been unleashing a lot of layered, indulgent storytelling every episode and I LIKE IT. Two points for creepy storytelling.
It has also been unleashing a lot of deaths and characters who we cannot get enough of. Thankfully in this episode we get to see Alex Lowe’s history and painful life she has been living ever since Holden disappeared. We also get a look inside he warped and fallen relationship of Donovan and his mother, Iris. With the flashbacks in high gear this episode we get to meet Angela Bassett’s sassy character, Romana Royale.
We begin with an oh so nosey Tristan going back in search for the torture hungry billionaire, Mr. March. He tells Mr. March of his thrill for killing but the conversation is cut rather short due to overhearing Will Drake’s plan to remodel. Tristan assures Mr. March that he will take care of it. And by take care of it, he seduces Will Drake in intentions to kill him but is told by The Countess to stop it. She stops it for her own intentions and later tells Tristan she is broke from the Bernie Madoff schemes. In other words, she needs Will Drake for his money, though he is a flaming homosexual. Aside from when The Countess rubbed all over him and he got a boner. Guess her plan may work after all. Oh, and after the wedding, they are going to kill him. Duh.
Not only is Drake trying to remodel but Alex Lowe finally enters Hotel Cortez! With divorce papers.
Alex, Detective John, and Scarlett seek counseling and her we enter a past world of Alex as well as her present. Through a voice over narrative she describes her life and how much Holden meant to her. She attempted to commit suicide but failed thanks to John saving her. But the fact that Scarlett is won’t let the story of Holden being alive go, she decides divorce is ultimate for her and John. I think our Scarlett is past due for a hug…but not from Holden.
After serving the divorce papers and almost getting laid by the man she just served them to, Alex decides to leave. But leave she will not because alas, she sees Holden down the hallway. He doesn’t run. He doesn’t disappear. He stays. He doesn’t budge until Alex gets to him and speaks in his cold, dull voice, “Hi, Mommy.” Bye, Holden.
Speaking of moms, Donovan clearly has no liking for his and it is painful to watch. The old Countess favorite is ready to move out and momma Iris thinks she is going with him. She clearly sees that is next the case as Donovan wishes she would have let him die and that she should too. Ouch. Iris takes in her beloved son’s advice and finds help in Sally to send her to the light the same way her son was supposed to go out. Junkie style.
As Iris is on her death bed with the overjoyed Sally (I mean, she did get pushed out of a window…bye Iris), Donovan is out feeding on junkies and tries to creep up on a female. As a result, he gets shocked and we meet Ramona Royale who has some unfinished business to carry out with her ex, blood virus sharing lover, The Countess. I guess after decades on top of decades, The Countess got bored of Romana so they fell distant. Ramona fell in love with someone else, Mo. She changed Mo but The Countess went ape shit and killed everybody. Whoa. So now, Ramona Royale is out from some blood virus revenge. Donovan is told he can leave after she figures out The Countess cut ties with him already. Poor Donovan, no one wants you but the mother you keep shunning.
In other news, Claudia (Naomi Campbell) is killed by Gabriel because he mistakes her for Sally. Remember the guy who met the drill bit dildo guy? John Lowe gets to hear Gabriel say who he meant to kill before dying. John Lowe just also left another Ten Commandment killing where journalist’s tongues were nailed to their tables. Thou shall not bear false witness.
The episode ends on a good note as Donovan saves his other and turns her. Uh oh, The Countess is going to be pissed.
This episode is full of detail, superb acting, and left me absolutely wanting to see the next episode. Thank me later.
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