Caution, spoilers for the finale of Scream Queens
On Tuesday, Ryan Murphy’s latest anthology series, Scream Queens ended its first season with 2 back-to-back episodes finally revealing the last Red Devil killer. In addition to Kappa adviser Gigi (Nasim Pedrad) and Boone (Nick Jonas) – with an assist from Pete (Diego Boneta) – it was revealed that the neck-braced Hester (Lea Michele) was the other baby in the bathtub and sent the Chanels to the same insane asylum she grew up in after accusing them all of taking part in the grisly murders.
Lea Michele was excited to take on the role of the seemingly off-balance, slightly creepy Hester after her 7 seasons as the perky Rachel Berry on Ryan Murphy’s previous effort, Glee. Entertainment Weekly had a chance to talk to the 29-year-old actress about this very different role.
On discovering she was the killer: I was really shocked. I was so grateful that Ryan brought this incredible opportunity to me. I never thought that he had thought out that I was the killer. I thought he was like “Oh, I’m doing this new show, and [will] write a really cool, new role for Lea Michele,” but the fact that he went into it thinking that I was the killer is so awesome [and] cool.
On playing a baddie: It was really fun to play. I got to do so many different things with Hester. I got to be funny, weird, a little sexual, vulnerable — like in that Chad Radwell (Glen Powell) episode with the family — calculated, villainous, and then, at the end, happy and relieved. I really just got to do so much with this character.
On next season: I know that next year Ryan wants to have a completely different killer, so I think that might have been a dream. Maybe it’s Hester letting them out of the institution? Who knows? I don’t know, but I wouldn’t put anything past Ryan Murphy.
[From Entertainment Weekly]
FOX has yet to officially announce the return of the second season of Scream Queens and the first season was mysteriously cut from 15 episodes to 13. The critics have called the show out for its uneven plotting and crazy-pants story lines and fans have not really raved about the season finale.
If there is a season 2, Ryan Murphy has said that some of the actors (or possibly characters) from this season will return in a completely new story set in a new location. Emma Roberts (Chanel #1) has made it clear she’s like to come back and Lea has already proven herself to be one of Ryan’s favorites, so you know she’ll be back.
My wish didn’t come true and Abagail Breslin’s Chanel #5 didn’t get killed off – but, I did get to see Oliver Hudson’s Dad bod in a comedic love scene with show MVP Jamie Lee Curtis. I also thought Niecy Nash turned in a hilarious performance on the series. I’d love to see these 2 back if there’s a season 2. I almost bailed on the show mid-season, but had to find out who was the killer. Did you watch, and will you be back for season 2?
photos courtesy of Fox
I was really into this at first, but it got too confusing and gory for me. I may check out the second season if they revamp the show.
Ryan Murphy has an issue with that. Especially when it comes to American Horror Story. The first couple of episodes will start out really strong, and then by mid season you’re just angry and upset and you have to finish the show to find out if he ever ties together the 6.4 million plot points he’s created.
Every single season of every single show he’s done has had that problem. I think he’s good at coming up with ideas, but has zero follow through or ability to craft a decent season. Considering most shows have gone from 20+ episodes to 13, there’s really no excuse for it.
Lucy, you’re 100% spot on.
I don’t know why people keep giving him a platform and/or watching his shows. I felt like a total masochist by the time I finished AHS: Freak Show, because I felt as if I was utterly torturing myself just to find out how this clusterf*ck was going to end. So that’s the only answer I can come up with– the man keeps getting the opportunity to make these crap shows for an audience of masochists who want to torture themselves with crap.
He’s good at hype and bringing in an initial audience, so the networks keep buying his shows.
I do think it’s kind of funny he’s making this show stand alone seasons too, it’s like he’s given up on trying to maintain a narrative at all.
That’s how I felt about Glee, minus the gore. I was so into it at first and then it just fell apart for me pretty quickly.
Murphy should just come up with the ideas and let someone else do the writing. He’s inconsistent in his plotting, characters, etc. That’s why most of his shows seem to fall apart halfway through.
The Dean (JLC), Denise (Niecy Nash), Chanel #1 and Hester we’re the standout performances for me. So if any of them come back that would be good. The rest were pretty flat although Chanel #3 wasn’t bad plus the nod to her mom all season was clever.
The show has pacing problems. The best eps were the ones that gave info, had deaths and witty dialogue. Somewhere in the middle of the season it really was slow.
Chad Radwell was the next part of that show for me
Yeah, Chad Radwell was the best. Just saying the name cracks me up.
He was AMAZING!
So hilarious
I loved the dynamic between him and Chanel.
I loved this show, it was packed with laugh after laugh.
I love how everyone was so awful and bitchy and stupid – it was satire gold.
I started it and liked the first few episodes. The dialogue and the whole campiness of it were fun. Eventually, I got bored with it because it felt like the same show each week. Maybe I’ll try it again if it comes back.
I think the network was expecting for it to be a hit a la pretty little liars. I had high hopes for the show, and while they were some great performances (Denisse!) the show fell flat. I would do homework with the show on the background and truly i did not need to pay attention. If it gets renewed, they need to revamp the format. Ryan Murphy, you are NOT Quentin Tarantino.
Oh my god. I didn’t even recognize Oliver in that photo. I kind of love the guy – but I really loved him as Adam on Rules of Engagement – he does such a likable dumb goofball.
This show was so bad that I couldn’t even watch it. I love horror and was down for the campiness, but the plot holes were ridiculous and the actions of the characters made NO sense to the point where it was utterly unwatchable for me. I couldn’t even watch it while mindlessly folding laundry, it was that bad.
I’m sad because I just love Niecy Nash. What a wonderful comedienne, actress and person in general. I was hoping for her sake it would be a good show. She was hilarious as usual but the rest was just so so awful. Cringe.
I love Niecy too, I remember her from Reno 911 and that clean up show she hosted for a while. Apparently she’s got another series on HBO I think? that’s doing well.
Clean House!! I watched that solely because of her presence on it. She is the best part of everything she does.
I almost bailed halfway through as well but stuck with it. Emma Roberts was surprisingly good as the morally bankrupt Chanel and there was a lot of dark humor throughout which was good. The love scene with Jamie Lee and Oliver was funny, but the second half of the finale was more WTF than anything. Was also hoping Chanel #5 would be bumped off, she was extremely irritating. Lea Michele surprised me as well, she was really good as Hester and gave the character campiness and dimension. The ending was confusing though. Is that really how it wound up or is it in fact a dream? It was so off the wall I’m leaning towards a dream. And Chad Radwell was everything.
Agreed on all points. Emma was especially rediculous, so good. I could honestly watch a show just with Chad Radwell.
Agree with you. Except – I so wanted Dean Munch to dump Oliver after “the most amazing sex of his life.” The sad part for me was that both Grace and Chanel #5 lived. Grace especially I could have killed myself.
I liked this show and I’m glad it’s getting a 2nd season. It’s absurd and unrealistic, kind of tragicomic, with idiotic characters but that’s why it’s funny/nice to see.
I knew the killer was Hester though, since Boone identity was revealed. Not surprising.
Season finale was awful. I stuck around for the whole series, and they even started to get me interested near the end, but that was just awful. I honestly don’t care what they do, because I’m not interested in watching it again.
Between this and the new season of AHS, I feel like Ryan Murphy needs to take some time away to re-learn story-telling, plot, and how to make things interesting.
Niecy Nash was so wasted on this show. (I mean waste of talent, not drunk, LOL.) If you watch “Getting On” you’ll be floored by what a brilliant actress she actually is.
I liked JLC and Niecy, who I thought was just a reporter for Access Hollywood or something similar before this. Emma was great and I surprisingly didn’t hate Lea. The ratings were super low though, so I doubt it’ll get renewed. It was my guilty pleasure.
I watched and I’d love for there to be a season 2. I actually like this show. I heard for season 2 the story will take place at a summer camp or something. I think the ladies will escape the mental institution and try to get revenge.
I was a little confused as to who cut off gigi’s head and served it for Thanksgiving? It wasn’t Boone or Hester right? Also, to prove the killer all they had to do was a court administered DNA test ! Lastly, why did no one question Hester once she stopped wearing her neck brace after the girls were “found guilty”?
Either way, this show is different and sometimes that’s all you want!
It was Hester, she took an anatomy course per her transcripts.
Lucy up on the top is right about ryan.
Emma Roberts, girl with earmuffs, ladycop & jamie lee curtis were the best part of the show! Everyone else was blah.
I did bail on this series after, I think, four episodes. Still, I’ve enjoyed the updates and might even go back and watch what I missed. Uneven is a very good description of the series, but it was pretty funny. Niecy Nash is a gem and could make anything funny. Keep giving this woman work!!!
I waited for this show. Was prepared to love it. Understood that it was crap after episode 1. Gave it chance and watched 4 episodes. But sadly it was still ridiculous crap. So I abandoned it.
Then watched season finale when read that it happened. Just to see how they will end. Finale was good. Lea was good. Jamie was good. Basically all actors were good. Its the script that was so painfully bad. I really wished they would hire better writers.
I liked the show until the last episode. I hated the ending. It seemed like the ending was redone.