The Scream Queens: Thanksgiving episode should have been titled Bring Me the Head of Gigi Caldwell. While the whole Thanksgiving Agatha Christie reveal scene at the Kappa Kappa Tau meal felt like one long buildup for the diners to see that Gigi lost her head to the remaining red devil killer.
It has to be said that only this series could blend the kid’s game Duck, Duck Goose into a Miss Marple/Hercule Poirot “the killer is” dinner scene so seamlessly. After Dean Munsch (Jamie Lee Curtis) delivers her evidence to prove the Chanel # 3 (Billie Lourd) is her prime suspect, the dean pats the sorority sister on the head saying “Goose.” Then, following the rules of the children’s game, # 3 gives her evidence (being “it”) that Munsch is the killer.
The Thanksgiving scream queens, plus one, at the house then do a round robin as various protagonists point the accusatory finger at their choice suspect. Note: The idea of naming the killer was Dean Munsch’s brainchild. Episode 110 of Scream Queens has the various sorority sisters heading out to attend celebrations away from the house only to return. The girls then partake in the “mystery dinner party” reveal game suggested by the dean.
Hester (Lea Michele) pops up alive and well at the Radwell family feast, after being pushed down the stairs last week by Chanel Oberlin in the sorority house. The Radwell family tree is chock full of various versions of Chad, in other words the entire clan turn out to be snobby, snotty and downright nasty.
*Sidenote* Did anyone else notice that Julia Duffy (Newhart, Shameless) who played mommy Radwell, looked an awful lot like Brit entertainer Jennifer Saunders‘ character in Shrek 2?
Standout moment:
Grace’s dad Wes (Oliver Hudson) confessing that he was in the meat locker because of his new diet.
“Paleo diet. It works.”
“Paleo.”
Standout Moment Deux:
The brilliantly vicious and tacky Pictionary game at Chateau Radwell:
“Snore, uh, uh, um, um, whore! Neck brace whore! ”
(Radwell family cheers)
“Neck brace whore!”
Of course the episode’s crowning moment (See what we did there?), which allows all the participants at the Kappa Kappa Tau Thanksgiving dinner to scream in horror, is the appearance of Gigi Caldwell’s decapitated head in place of the “pardoned’ Tiburon.
Missed Opportunity:
Pete’s list of evidence, which actually revealed that Grace’s dad, is the father of the recently deceased Boone, was not done in his “Matthew McConaughey” voice. Would have been perfect guys, and you missed the chance to bring Diego Boneta all the way home.
Coulda, shoulda, woulda…eh fellas?
Near Miss:
Chanel # 3 and her Thanksgiving meal of Swinson’s TV dinners. This gag was a “close but no cigar” joke that did not quite work. There was the sound of gears meshing in thin air as the whole thing felt like a near miss instead of the spot on humor this series is known for.
Scream Queens: Thanksgiving was, overall, humorous well paced and a little annoying. If felt like that long, and massively irritating, “Little Bunny Foo Foo” joke. All build up and too long a wait for the punch line.
At the start of the episode, where Gigi hands the electric carving knife to the remaining red devil killer, the audience know that this grown up sorority sister has goofed. It was, from the moment that the costumed serial killer “revved” the blade, fait accompli that Caldwell’s severed head was going to turn up.
Unfortunately, by the time that Gigi’s “John the Baptist” entrance is made the viewer has almost forgotten the buzzing carving knife.
Scream Queens does still deliver in the comedy department though. Curtis’ vitriolic and acid tongued college kid hating dean is still brilliant and continues to amuse:
Chanel # 3: “Then Dean Munsch.”
Munsch: “Than. Not then… Than. Have you ever even cracked open a book? Or attended a class? (snorting) God. I hate you people.”
As the list of suspects dwindles; both Gigi and Boone are now dead, the last red devil killer is still at large. However, as the late Ms Caldwell stated in an earlier episode, her team of serial killers are not the only homicidal maniacs haunting the college grounds and eliminating sorority sisters.
Scream Queens airs Tuesdays on FOX. Tune in to see who the next victim will be.
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