The Beauty’s Second Episode Dropped A ‘Gnarly’ Comic-Changing Twist, And I Got Rebecca Hall’s Thoughts

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Beware! The following contains spoilers for the first two episodes of The Beauty on FX, Hulu, or Disney+.

It’s easy to lose track of all the book and comic book adaptations coming out, but The Beauty is one you definitely shouldn’t miss. It’s a fantastical story with a strong message, impressive special effects, and a great cast—including some surprising guest appearances. Plus, it’s full of shocking twists, like the dramatic and unforgettable exit of co-star Rebecca Hall at the end of Episode 2.

Let’s explore what happened to FBI agent Jordan Hall (and her partner, Cooper, played by Evan Peters), why it differed from the original comic book by Jeremy Haun and Jason A. Hurley, and what Rebecca Hall shared with TopMob about her character’s quick departure, as shown in the video.

The Big Jordan Twist, And How It Changes Up The Comic Book Arc

Evan Peters’ Cooper and Rebecca Hall’s Jordan are inspired by the comic book characters Dets and Drew Foster, sharing similar personalities and a strong connection. However, Ryan Murphy’s series makes some key changes: Cooper isn’t married, and the two characters immediately begin a sexual relationship. This was an early indication to fans of the comics that the show would be significantly different.

I was really hooked on The Beauty early in its first story arc, which jumps forward two years after this crazy STD has gone global. It was a shock to find out Vaughn was infected, with no idea how long she had left. When I heard Hall was playing a version of Vaughn, I honestly thought we’d get a ‘gotcha!’ moment a couple of episodes in – that Jordan had been carrying the disease the whole time. But that steamy scene between her and Cooper in the first episode completely threw me for a loop and proved my prediction wrong!

After listening in on the surprisingly open, yet careful, conversation between those two agents about their… arrangement, I watched Jordan jump into a relationship with someone incredibly good-looking. She didn’t seem to realize how much that decision would change everything, not just her life, but the whole investigation. It led to a total physical transformation, and honestly, I’m worried it’s going to make things even messier with Cooper. It’s a really tough situation.

The film opens with a disturbing scene of Rebecca Hall’s character violently contorting on the bathroom floor. This quickly transforms into a grotesque, shapeless mass, from which a new and seemingly enhanced version of Jordan, played by Jessica Alexander of The Little Mermaid, emerges. It’s a blend of the body horror seen in The Substance and the unsettling transformation of The Fly, and it works incredibly well.

Rebecca Hall Reacts To Jordan’s Big Twist And That Transformation Sequence

I recently spoke with Evan Peters and Rebecca Hall about their experience working together on The Beauty. I was particularly curious about Rebecca’s reaction to her character’s surprising twist and what led her to accept the role. She explained:

From the start, the story included this surprising turn, which I found interesting. The show explores characters who desire the Beauty’s transformation, hoping to change themselves. Then you have characters like Jordan, who are content as they are and don’t seek major changes. But it quickly becomes problematic – even if you achieve physical perfection, you’re still ultimately looking at someone else in the mirror, and that’s not necessarily what anyone truly wants.

It’s true. Throughout her appearances, the original Jordan didn’t seem to lack self-confidence or need approval from others. That’s why it’s a surprising change in this version of the story that the main character has been infected, and it will be interesting to see how that affects everyone involved.

Hall explained that her character’s brief appearance and sudden departure reminded her of the iconic shower scene in Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho. She noted a similarity in how both involved a focus on someone’s appearance, and added, “

I found the unexpected twist really engaging – almost like a classic ‘bait and switch’ where the character you think is central turns out not to be, similar to Janet Leigh in ‘Psycho’. It’s a fun way to keep the audience guessing. I thoroughly enjoyed playing Jordan while I had the chance. She was a really fun character to embody, and it was nice to play someone humorous who even sounded a bit like me.

It really hit me during the third episode just how much the show lost when they didn’t include Rebecca Hall as much. It’s not that Jessica Alexander is doing a bad job at all, but Rebecca Hall just fit the role so perfectly, and it felt like she was really getting to be herself. I always felt like Jordan and Cooper were the most grounded characters, the ones who felt the most real, so seeing half of that dynamic disappear was honestly a little disappointing.

Rebecca Hall’s departure from the scene was particularly striking visually, and she described filming the shaky, uneven sequence to me, explaining how it felt.

It was a really tough experience, but I managed to get through it without hitting a breaking point. Honestly, the aftermath could have been much worse, and I was lucky to avoid a messy cleanup. It was physically demanding – lots of sweating, staying hydrated, and pushing myself, with a bit of stretching thrown in. But I actually enjoyed it! I love a good physical challenge, and this definitely delivered.

Although a stunt double likely handled the most dangerous parts of Jordan’s difficult transformation – particularly when her hair was covering her face – it appears Hall performed much of the scene herself. Fortunately, Alexander was the one who had to climb out of the messy, gooey cocoon.

Future episodes of The Beauty will reveal what happens next between Cooper and Jordan, when they next meet, and whether Cooper will also become infected with the disease. New episodes are released every Wednesday on FX and Hulu.

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2026-01-22 22:40