With a rating of TV-MA (LV), this installment is intended for mature audiences only, due to its intense and disturbing content.
In this episode, the reason for Larry's (Denis O'Hare) burns are revealed, while Violet (Taissa Farmiga) learns a shocking truth.
Following the devastating loss of his family, Larry Harvey is left to grieve after his wife, Lorraine, takes her own life and that of their daughters.
On Thanksgiving Day, tensions simmer as Tate lashes out at Larry, holding him responsible for the death of Beau and criticizing his blind trust in Constance.
In a drug-fueled rage, Tate, under the influence of cocaine and crystal meth,[1] confronts Larry in his office and sets him ablaze.
They mention the district attorney intended to charge her with the murder of her husband Hugo and Moira, but could not find the bodies.
Taissa Farmiga, the actress who played Violet, had suspected her character's fate early on, picking up on subtle hints in the scripts.
[1] "Smoldering Children" received critical acclaim; Rotten Tomatoes reports a 100% approval rating, based on 8 reviews.
Club's Emily VanDerWerff said this about the episode, "I could make a number of complaints if pressed, since there were the usual dumb moments, character beats, and lines of dialogue, but... this was awesomely pulpy genre fun."
"[6] In its original American broadcast, "Smoldering Children" was seen by an estimated 2.54 million household viewers and gained a 1.6 rating share among adults aged 18–49, according to Nielsen Media Research.