The second part of the episode deals with the backstories of several characters including Twisty the Clown (John Carroll Lynch).
His failed attempts to kill the face drove him insane, and his family sent him to Bethlem Royal Hospital.
A woman named Maggie Esmeralda arrives joins the freak show claiming to be a fortune teller in need of a job.
As they rehearse, Edward Mordrake emerges in a green mist on the freak show grounds and enters the tent to watch Elsa.
Part I's critical consensus reads: "Though stagnant at times, "Edward Mordrake, Pt.
Club gave the first part a B− rating, writing: "The love of a good shock often stands in for American Horror Story's inability to scare: It's much easier to fleetingly startle than suggest that any of the primary characters are in mortal danger.
"[1] He gave the second part a C+ rating, criticising the idea to make Twisty the Clown into an origin story for Dandy, however he did praise the acting, particularly Finn Wittrock's.
[2] Matt Fowler of IGN gave "Edward Mordrake (Part 2)" a positive review, writing: "Freak Show, by dropping a few characters (like Dot/Bette, Dell, and Ethel), losing the obligatory song, and tightening its belt, got good this week.
"[3] "Edward Mordrake (Part 1)" was watched by 4.44 million viewers and was the highest rated cable broadcast of the night.