User Reviews

It's time for Henry Thomas to shine, and shine he does. As Frederick "Froderick" Usher, yet another Usher going slowly insane, but he's taking a different route there to that of his on-screen siblings. That of a man who thinks it's everyone else who's losing touch rather than him, and is determined to keep going like nothing's wrong with him.

We also get a longer look at a young Roderick - as played by Zach Gilford - as he tries to get a break for his young family, and sister Madeline. We've seen bits and pieces of this early journey, but here we really get a good look at how and where everything started for the Usher Family. Zach, along with Willa Fitzgerald and Katie Parker as young Roderick, young Madeline, and Annabel Lee respectively are fantastic. And let's not forget Malcolm Goodwin playing a young Dupin to Carl Lumbly's older Dupin. Malcolm having more to chew on in the role is naturally 'better', but both are great nonetheless.

That ending though!! The little palaver between Mary McDonnell's Madeline and Carla Gugino's Verna, Freddie's death, Madeline talking Roderick into ending his own life...and then Verna coming in to reverse that...

I guess it's time to get ready for the big finale now...kinda sad, really. I wish there was FAR more.

So many great moments this episode, topped off by more excellent performances.

Past & present, everything is coming to a head. Madeline (young & current) was the true highlight to me. You see just how cruel & twisted she is, especially when speaking to Roderick's wife after the hearing. Roderick is no saint, but man never stood a chance living with her around.

Young Dupin's expressions of dismay, shock, & sadness realizing he was betrayed - ouch. It makes everything going on in the present feel that much more weighty. This episode showed how much the Usher family truly hurts those around them, especially those who put their faith & trust in them.

Dupin, Annabel (Rodderick's first wife), and Juno (new wife), all confronted with the kind of people Roderick & Madeline truly are, and the lengths they're willing to in order to obtain more money & power. Family, relationships, love, morals, values - none of it matters more than a chance to move up the social ladder.

Verna's face-to-face meeting with Madeline felt very satisfying. Maddy knowing she wasn't in control, having to accept it, and being presented with the realization that everything happening now is a direct consequence of choices she & Roderick made. "You are so small Madeline" - Annabel's last words, felt realized in this scene.

We also get to know more about Verna's role, powers, and actions through her dialogue with Madeline & Freddy. In this scene, we find out she sees "who you are, and were, and who you could've been."

The best stuff was easily Freddy's comeuppance, how we got there, and everything Carla Gugino (Verna). I don't want to spoil anything, but finding out Verna decides how people die, and even ammends plans based on the choices people make? Awesome!

It's funny how much my impressions of this show have changed since the first several episodes. You spend so much time with the Usher's, all detestable, spoiled jerks, that it wears on you. But as time goes on, you look forward to Verna & the justice she brings, Dupin finally getting closure, and other characters (like Juno) breaking out from the Usher hold.

So after another long-winded review, I'm giving this my first 10/10 of the season. Knowing what loose ends need to be tied up next episode, I have high expectations. Don't drop the ball now!

(S1. E7) My Live Reaction / Review for The Fall of the House of Usher Season 1 Episode 7 ''The Pit and the Pendulum''. The previous episode was good and I gave it a rating of 9/10. Let's see if this one is better or worse. Time for Frederick to die? What exactly is Frederick giving to his wife? Frederick is torturing his wife, the dude is a monster. Young Roderick betrayed Auguste? I didn't see that coming. Roderick wont let Juno stop using the drug, I kinda feel bad for her. Frederick's death was a bit disappointing, I expected something cooler. Roderick tried to kill himself by taking pills? Is he really dead? Nope he isnt. Overall this episode was good, excited to watch the last episode, my rating is 9/10.

Every episode is like a "this person's turn to die" episode, but it doesn't have any impact. The sad thing about Fall of the House of Usher is that it shows that Mike Flanagan has finally begun to make the same mistake as American Horror Story did when they thought several seasons meant they had to make the most QUIRKY and unrelatable characters ever. He fails to understand that Hill House and Bly Manor were great because the characters didn't behave like God damn sociopathic extreme far end of the spectrum personalities. They're all irredeemable psychos, and you don't relate to ANYONE. And the constant hallucinations and erratic behaviors annoyed me after episode 2. How stupid are these people? I won't be watching the season finale. This was a major disappointment to me. This episode in particular was 50% Frauderic sniffing exaggerated and constantly. It was the most annoying thing ever! The CONSTANT SNIFFING. Do better, Flanagan. You're capable of so much more..