Ep 4. Damned if You Don't

In the fourth episode of American Gothic season 1, titled "Damned if You Don't," the Hawthorne family is still reeling from the shock of discovering that one of their own is the infamous Silver Bells Killer. Tensions run high as they navigate the fallout from this revelation, with each family member struggling to come to terms with the truth.

As the investigation into the Silver Bells Killer continues, Detective Brady Ross focuses on suspecting the Hawthornes. Meanwhile, the family starts feeling threatened leading to an internal investigation about one of their own. During this time, Cam, the youngest son, is spotted with a dangerous drug dealer, leading his sister Tessa to take action to protect him. Meanwhile, Alison begins to suspect that her husband, Garrett, may know more about the Silver Bells Killer than he's letting on, and decides to launch her own investigation. She confronts him about the fact that he claims not to remember anything from the night his sister was murdered, but she begins to doubt his story.

Elsewhere, Madeline's campaign for mayor continues to gain momentum, but her past indiscretions threaten to derail her political ambitions. She hires Naomi Flynn to work as her assistant, but her political campaign sends Flynn on a perilous journey. Meanwhile, Jack pays a visit to his estranged wife, Christine, and their son, but his attempts to make amends are met with hostility.

As the episode progresses, the family is forced to confront their darkest secrets and deepest fears, as they struggle to maintain their façade of respectability and keep their family together in the face of mounting evidence against them. With tensions high and relationships strained, the episode ends on a shocking cliffhanger that leaves the audience wondering what will happen next.

"Damned if You Don't" is a tense and gripping episode that keeps the audience on the edge of their seat from start to finish. The Hawthornes are a fascinating and complex family, each with their own secrets and motivations, and the writing and acting in this episode does a great job of bringing these characters to life. With strong performances from the entire cast and a plot that leaves you guessing until the very end, American Gothic season 1 episode 4 is definitely worth watching.