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'NOS4A2' Season 2 Episode 7: Disturbing scenes from Manx's childhood leaves fans feeling sorry for the villain

Manx's childhood was traumatizing, yes, but the man has done nasty things as an adult himself — he killed his own wife and trapped his daughter Millie Manx in her childhood

Spoilers for 'NOS4A2' Season 2 Episode 7

This episode of 'NOS4A2' titled 'Cripple Creek' was a disturbing one to say in the least. Hard-hitting themes such as child molestation, sexual abuse, murder and gaslighting made the episode a gripping watch. After Bing Partridge (Ólafur Darri Ólafsson) kidnapped Charlie Manx (Zachary Quinto) in the last episode, leaving Wayne McQueen (Jason David)  in the Wraith, he proceeded to not only beat up Millie Manx (Mattea Conforti) but also get him to tell the truth. In the process of the present unfolding in the episode, we were also taken back to the time when Manx was a young boy. His past may not justify his cruel behavior in the present, but many fans of the show were shocked that Manx's back story had them feeling sorry for a very evil man.

"What does it say about me, that I want Vic to swoop in and save Manx right now? Nevermind her son out in the car.. I’m worrying about Manx. #NOS4A2," wrote one user with another adding, "When an episode makes you feel for Charlie Manx, you know it’s well done. #NOS4A2"

As the episode unravels Manx's abuse as a young child, we see how while his mother deemed him special and was doing her best, Manx lost his mind. As his mother worked as a prostitute, Manx took up a job with a bar owner that hired him to recruit young boys across town, and it wasn't until one Christmas that Manx was abused himself. As a young boy Manx had murdered the bar owner and also his mother later, after accusing her to push him to a point to the job he was working. Apparently, "everyone" knew that the bar owner abused children. 

"This is so f*ckin sad... am I feeling sympathy for Charlie Manx?  #NOS4A2," wrote one more fan. Another tweeted, "Despite Manx being a sociopathic/narcissistic vampire who teals children's souls, you can't help but fear for him reliving this trauma  #NOS4A2 @NOS4A2Fans @NOS4A2 @joe_hill @jami_obrien"

In the present Manx is trying to manipulate Bing speaking of how they both were special as they were both mistreated by the older people around them. Manx's childhood was traumatizing, yes, but the man has done nasty things as an adult himself - he killed his own wife and trapped his daughter Millie Manx in her childhood. He didn't want his daughter to become a woman, because of the trauma he suffered with his mother.

Many fans took to Twitter worried about Manx's life as Bing tried to crush both him and Manx in the Wraith using a smasher in the junkyard - but nay, Manx still survives and Bing tries to cling on to life. It was a wild episode with very strong themes, but yet excellently directed and fans enjoyed it. "Just wow...#NOS4A2 continues to get better and better each week. This was one phenomenal episode that got to the root of Manx as a character. Excellent writing, structure, directing," wrote a fan.

"Poor Manx. Never have I felt so bad for him #NOS4A2," wrote another disturbed fan. Another added, "I feel badly for young Charlie Manx. That’s it though #NOS4A2"

'NOS4A2' Season 2 episodes air on Sundays at 10 pm ET on AMC.