Summary
The horror aspects of the series are escalated in “Murder in the Rue Morgue.” Carla Gugino finally unleashes her terrifying performance as Verna, whilst the jump scares and visual horrors only intensify further. This is a scary installment that happily defies expectations once again.
Episode 3 of Netflix’s The Fall of the House of Usher, “Murder in the Rue Morgue,” follows Season 1’s unique format once again. We uncover more of Roderick’s past in 1979, and the children continue to unravel in the not-too-distant flashbacks. Another one of the heirs is killed in a horrific fashion. And Roderick hallucinates further in the present.
This recap contains major spoilers, as ever.
The Fall of the House of Usher Season 1 Episode 3 Recap
Continuing on from Perry’s horrifying death in Episode 2, the family attorney Arthur Pym (aka the Pym Reaper) enters the crime scene to inspect the aftermath of the masquerade ball. He finds the skeleton mask and Perry’s phone, whilst observing the many cameras on the walls. Arthur even finds a survivor among the rotting corpses.
What caused Perry’s death?
Roderick explains the reasoning behind this massacre in the present. His company had hidden medical byproducts in the tanks on the roof to avoid fines. These medical byproducts were highly acidic. Roderick wanted to remove the byproducts during a demolition, but he hadn’t gotten around to it yet. He blames Perry’s stupidity and calls it a horrible accident, refusing to take any responsibility at all.
Auggie comments on the wait staff, who all just got up and left. To him, it doesn’t add up. Roderick, Arthur, and Madeline (Mary McDonnell) have the exact same suspicions back in the flashback sequences. Arthur confirms that 78 people have died because of this event. Madeline worries about stock prices plummeting.
Who is the only survivor of the acid attack?
Freddie then rushes in. It’s his wife Morella who is the only remaining survivor.
The family gathers to discuss the fallout of this devastating tragedy. Camille is in charge of the company’s PR; she outlines her plans moving forward. Once again, Roderick blames others, arguing with Freddie about the condemned site.
Camille then meets with her assistants (Toby and Tina). She’s had them digging into Victorine’s clinical trials, looking for some dirt. The assistants have discovered that the numbers don’t quite add up, they are lying about the amount of animals that have died.
After this update, Camille heads over to Leo’s apartment. She wants to prep her brother for tomorrow’s interviews. Leo has already taken a handful of drugs though and is in no fit state to discuss strategies. He decides to get blackout wasted as a way of dealing with his grief.
What is Monty?
Auggie questions the drug scene in the present. He informs Roderick that drugs were found in Perry’s system, specifically Monty, a street-engineered derivative of Ligodone. Suddenly, Roderick feels hands gripping his shoulders and has visions of Camille’s ghost standing behind him. It looks like she’s the next to go.
Roderick is unnerved by this vision and smashes his glass in anger. He talks about his regrets with Ligodone. But again, he blames others, stating that it is not his fault, he didn’t invent the drug.
Flashbacks explore more of the history of Ligodone. In the 70s, Fortunato CEO Rufus Griswold steals Roderick’s idea and purchases the company that makes Ligodone. Madeline urges Roderick to make friends with Rufus and to play the long game with the CEO.
Back in 2023, Arthur has identified everyone at the party except for one mystery woman. This proves that Verna is in fact a real person or at least a living entity. Her image is captured on the CCTV cameras. Arthur reveals that the wait staff felt a need to leave the building, but don’t specifically recall being told to leave by Verna. Madeline is suspicious of Verna’s motives regardless.
Who does Verna impersonate?
Verna’s a busy woman, she takes on many identities in the third installment. She pretends to be a patient at the clinic, under the name Pamela Clemm. Victorine reads her file and offers her a place in the human trials. She then fills in as Bill and Tammy’s escort, calling herself Candy.
Elsewhere, Lenore goes to visit her mom in the hospital. Morella wakes and panics, removing the bandages from her face. Then Camille’s assistants Toby and Tina break up with their boss. Camille doesn’t take this well though and fires them on the spot.
The Fall of the House of Usher Episode 3 Ending Explained
The episode ends with Camille investigating the clinical trials for herself. She enters the RUE building, where she comes across Verna, now disguised as a security guard. Verna warns Camille not to enter the restricted area. Camille threatens Verna and barges her way inside anyway.
How does Camille die?
Camille photographs the monkeys that have been experimented upon as they move about in their cages. Verna then appears, inhabiting the body of an escaped chimpanzee. She divulges the secrets of the operation, how Victorine is lying about the successes of the trial. Then Verna attacks Camille, killing the next heir in another horrifying attack.
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