Summary
- Mike Flanagan’s The Fall of the House of Usher explores the tragic history and secrets of the wealthy Usher family as they face horrifying consequences in the present.
- The show features a large and complex family tree, making it challenging to keep track of the connections between characters as the terrifying events unfold.
- The story revolves around the deaths of Roderick and Madeline Usher’s heirs, and understanding the family’s relationships is crucial to unraveling the horror story.
Mike Flanagan’s The Fall of the House of Usher explores the tragedies and dynamics of the wealthy Usher family, whose actions in the past and present face horrific reckonings. Loosely based on Edgar Allan Poe’s short story of the same name and various other works by the author, Netflix’s The Fall of the House of Usher cast tackles the story of a family that meets terrible ends as the patriarch, the CEO of a corrupt pharmaceutical company, confronts his dubious past. When Roderick Usher’s children begin dying in mysterious and cruel ways, various generations of the Usher family gather as they uncover secrets, face their mortalities, and attempt to hold onto their crumbling family dynasty.
Returning to themes similar to The Haunting of Hill House, Mike Flanagan’s 2023 horror series sees a family haunted by their past, facing their mistakes and betrayals in the present, and finally being reunited by unbearable tragedies. However, The Fall of the House of Usher’s titular family tree is far bigger than those of the Crains, Wingraves, and Flynns of Flanagan’s past Netflix horror shows, making their connections more difficult to keep track of as the frightening events unfold. With The Fall of the House of Usher’s story surrounding the sequential deaths of Roderick and Madeline Usher’s heirs, the family connections become crucial to understanding the narrative.
Roderick Usher
Portrayed by returning Mike Flanagan actor Bruce Greenwood, The Fall of the House of Usher’s Roderick Usher is the titular family’s patriarch. Also the CEO of the corrupt Fortunato Pharmaceuticals, Roderick built his wealth and empire alongside his twin sister Madeline Usher. Decades after forming their dynasty, Roderick is haunted by a woman from his past while his children and heirs begin dying one by one. Roderick is married to Juno and is the ex-husband of Annabel Lee, the mother of two of his children. Roderick is the father of six children in The Fall of the House of Usher, including Frederick, Tamerlane, Victorine, Leo, and Perry. Young Roderick Usher is played by Midnight Mass actor Zach Gilford in the Netflix series.
Madeline Usher
Making her debut in the Flanaverse, Mary McDonnell plays Madeline Usher in The Fall of the House of Usher’s cast. Madeline is the twin sister of Roderick, with whom she runs Fortunato after the two made a deal with Carla Gugino’s shape-shifting demon Verna when they were younger. However, while Roderick is the face of the operation, Madeline is the brains and ambition of the company, with a ruthlessness that would mean betraying her brother if it came to it. Madeline is also the aunt of Frederick, Tamerlane, Victorine, Leo, and Perry in The Fall of the House of Usher. Young Madeline Usher is played by Willa Fitzgerald.
Frederick Usher
Played by frequent Mike Flanagan collaborator Henry Thomas, Frederick Usher is the eldest child of Roderick Usher and his first wife Annabel Lee. As the oldest child, Frederick is the first heir to the Fortunato dynasty, though his siblings are considered to be more adept at running the empire. Frederick is sent down a shocking path due to his jealousy and insecurity, which is worsened by the fact that his siblings often pick on him. In addition to his sister Tamerlane, Frederick’s half-siblings include Victorine, Leo, and Perry. Frederick is also married to former actress and model Morelle “Morrie” Usher, with whom he shares a teenage daughter, Lenore.
Tamerlane Usher
Samantha Sloyan returns to the Flanaverse in The Fall of the House of Usher as Tamerlane Usher, the daughter of Roderick Usher and Annabel Lee. Since Fortunato is expected to fall into the hands of her elder brother, Tamerlane tries to escape her father’s shadow by entering the health and wellness industry instead. Tamerlane is married to fitness influencer Bill T. Wilson, though character descriptions and The Fall of the House of Usher trailer hint their marriage isn’t as strong as it appears. Outside of her brother Frederick, Tamerlane’s half-siblings in the Usher family tree include Leo, Perry, and Victorine.
Victorine Lafourcade
Usher family member Victorine Lafourcade is played by T’Nia Miller, who previously starred in Flanagan’s The Haunting of Bly Manor as Hannah. Victorine is the eldest of Roderick Usher’s children born out of wedlock, and while she and her extramarital half-siblings are described as the “bastards” of the family, Roderick believes that anyone with his blood deserves a stake in the family dynasty. Victorine’s desire for her father’s approval conflicts with her altruistic pursuits, leading her to unethically test a new heart mesh on human subjects in clinical trials.
Napoleon “Leo” Usher
Also known as Leo, Napoleon Usher is played by frequent Mike Flanagan TV show actor Rahul Kohli. Another extramarital son of Roderick Usher, the character is a socialite playboy who also has a notable drug habit. Leo’s Usher half-siblings include Frederick, Tamerlane, Victorine, and Perry, with his storyline also being greatly connected to his boyfriend Julius.
Prospero “Perry” Usher
Prospero “Perry” Usher, who is played in The Fall of the House of Usher by The Midnight Club actor Sauriyan Sapkota, is the youngest of Roderick Usher’s children. Perry is new to the Usher family dynamic and hopes to use his father’s considerable wealth to “make life one big party” (EW). Perry doesn’t have ambitions to take over Fortunato’s business in the future, but that won’t stop him from being targeted alongside Roderick’s other sons and daughters.
Lenore Usher
Doctor Sleep actress Kyliegh Curran stars in The Fall of the House of Usher as Lenore Usher. The youngest generation in the Usher family tree is represented by Lenore, the daughter of Frederick and Morelle. Lenore is described as the Ushers’ best member by her grandfather Roderick, though her compassion and empathy mean she may look out for the better interest of society at large rather than what directly benefits her family. Considering her father is expected to take over Fortunato after Roderick, Lenore is the future of the Usher family empire.
Juno Usher
Also a member of the Usher family tree in The Fall of the House of Usher is Juno, played by The Midnight Club’s standout actress Ruth Codd. Juno is Roderick Usher’s second wife, who is considerably younger than the pharmaceutical company CEO. Codd’s character also formerly had a drug habit, making her marriage to Roderick more puzzling to his heirs. However, while Juno is Roderick’s new wife in Mike Flanagan’s The Fall of the House of Usher, his first wife Annabel is still considered the Usher family patriarch’s one true love.
Entertainment Weekly
