The Lizzie Borden Chronicles
Episode 1.7 “The Sisters Grimke”
Directed by Constantine Makris
Written by Richard Blaney, Gregory Small
Starring Christina Ricci, Clea DuVall, Chris Bauer, Ronan Vilbert, Steven McCarthy, Gage Munroe, Robert B. Kennedy, Adrian G. Griffiths, Gianpaolo Venuta
Lifetime
Air Date: Sunday, May 17, 2015, 10pm ET

Last week was the unofficial finale of sorts for The Lizzie Borden Chronicles. We know, thanks to writers, Rich Blaney and Greg Small, that originally the plan was for 6 episodes. Then, when two more were ordered, after the arc was pretty set for those six, the last 2 episodes were really an “opportunity” to explore, leaving the 6th episode with a finale-like feel. And boy! They weren’t kidding!

So what did happen? It was pretty much a bloodbath. Charlie Siringo (Cole Hauser) went off the deep end, having no regard for law or life anymore. His sole purpose for existence was to annihilate Lizzie Borden (Christina Ricci). The farce of a trial found him guilty and sentenced to death in about three seconds. His love, Isabel was dead, thanks to Lizzie. He had nothing left to lose.

Lizzie, however, did lose Emma (Clea DuVall) briefly. Emma left her and Lizzie did cry with sadness and remorse (finally!), promising at her mother’s grave she would not kill more than the 27 (?!?!) she already did, if Emma would just come home. Surely Emma could forgive Lizzie for telling Leslie (Dylan Taylor) about the dead baby and then arranging for Skipjack (Bradley Stryker) to kill Leslie. She did kill Skipjack too, but I don’t think Emma cares about that part.

Emma does care about Lizzie, coming home just in time to put an ax through the head of Charlie Siringo, as he was choking Lizzie to death.

I guess now “Emma Borden took an ax.”

The Lizzie Borden Chronicles 1.7 “The Sisters Grimke” review: As the title indicates, Lizzie and Emma changed their names and relocated to Maine. Emma is in a home, for her murder of Siringo proved too much and she is practically catatonic. It is a few months after episode 6. As is expected for an asylum in the 1890s, the doctors are shady and experimental, and Emma is unable to say anything. God help all of them when she finally opens her mouth.

My question for Lizzie is: Do blondes have more fun?

Lizzie went back to teaching. And one of her student’s parents are murdered. Already Lizzie? A reporter recognizes her and sends her pic to his paper. He is so dead. Why did he do that?

Siringo’s Pinkerton friends are concerned (guest star alert! True Blood‘s Chris Bauer). They decide to snoop around Fall River to find him. They find a mess of a town and Lizzie Borden on everyone’s lips. Should I start building them caskets now?

This episode? In a word? Terrifying. According to my count there are nine deaths (over/under 1). I saw intestines too. Is this The Walking Dead?

I was frightened through most of it. The reason? While before we came to expect Lizzie as the unexpected villain, with the cutthroats as the expected ones, now all bets are off. The asylum doctor, the inmates, a kid… death is at every turn and everybody is doing it. We will discuss Emma’s transformation next week.

Adorable episode title, by the way. You think there’s a shot at season 2? I hope so!

The Lizzie Borden Chronicles finale airs Sunday, May 24th, at 10pm ET on Lifetime.

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The Lizzie Borden Chronicles: Touring the Asylum (S1, E7)

Emma’s doctor gives Lizzie a blackmail tour of his terrifying asylum in this scene from “The Sisters Grimke.”