The Lizzie Borden Chronicles
Episode 1.4 “Welcome To Maplecroft”
Directed by Russell Mulcahy
Written by Jason Grote
Starring Christina Ricci, Clea Duvall, Cole Hauser, Bradley Stryker, Jeff Wincott, Olivia Llewellyn, Dylan Taylor, Jessy Schram, John Ralston
Lifetime
Air Date: Sunday, April 26th, 2015, 10pm ET

The Lizzie Borden Chronicles 1.4 “Welcome To Maplecroft” brings up to the halfway point in our bloody Lifetime series. Before that review, let’s recap last week’s episode.

“Flowers” centered on Lizzie’s (Christina Ricci) new business partner, Mr. Flowers (Jonathan Banks). He took care of that nasty little Spencer business for her. An unforeseen loose end is Skipjack (Bradley Stryker) taking the playwright’s ring. Mr. Flowers seems like a useful person for a rich serial killer to have around. Why… someone like that can get goons to beat up annoying Pinkerton detectives, and leave them/him on some train tracks like a damsel left by a twirly-mustached villain. I really enjoy Siringo (Cole Hauser) onscreen. I was hoping he would last til the end. He will, won’t he? Won’t he?

Good thing Emma (Clea Duvall) already fired Siringo (that was a surprise), otherwise she may have wondered where he went. Isabel (Olivia Llewellyn) is definitely going to worry.

I was way off base though. I thought Adele and Mr. Flowers were keepers, but she neatly dispatched both of them and aimed the weapons at each other. Adele’s throat sliced open was very graphic.

Emma and Officer Trotwood (Dylan Taylor) are flirting so harmlessly. So sweet.

Lizzie’s party was a hit! I was of Emma and the town’s persuasion that nobody would show up. We were wrong.

The Lizzie Borden Chronicles 1.4 “Welcome To Maplecroft” review: Whoa! Creepy much? Come on. Even if Lizzie wasn’t a rumored murderess whom you suspected of doing away with your brother, Nance (Jessy Schram) waking up to a sunshine filled room to a tiny black clad woman staring at you is friggin’ creepy. Nice touch with the contrast, btw.

Leslie and Emma could not be any cuter than the polite little buttons that they are. I really hope those two crazy kids make it. Lizzie doesn’t. She wants Emma to herself. I think a little manipulation is on the menu, don’t you?

Ok. I’m not so much worried about the dog anymore. I’m not worried about Mrs. Kenney either. She’s definitely going to die. That’s not a spoiler. That’s just a fact.

Christina Ricci makes me think she is going to kill me right through the screen. Nance cannot really believe the bull she’s saying about Lizzie not being dangerous. Skipjack is crazy too – stalking her. Does he really think he’s going to survive blackmailing Lizzie? He should just cut to the chase and go coffin shopping right now.

Nance goes to find out for herself. My heart cannot take much more of this. I’m convinced everyone is going to die at every commercial break. I’ve thought Mrs. Kenney dead twice already and she kept popping back up again. Nance though… she’s scrappier than she looks. Her actions were very unexpected. That last scene between her and Lizzie – crazy.

And then the very last scene of the episode – bananas!

Watch it and we’ll discuss next week.

The Lizzie Borden Chronicles airs Sunday nights at 10pm ET on Lifetime.

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The Lizzie Borden Chronicles: A Female Serial Killer (S1, E3)


Christina Ricci talks about how the Victorian age influences the ways in which Lizzie seeks justice in this web exclusive from “Flowers.”