The last few minutes of episode 1 are our first glimpse at Isabella’s true nature. After Emma and Norman have returned to the house, the scene shifts suddenly and the music goes shrill as Isabella’s maddened expression in the night is shown. With Conny’s Little Bunny dangling at her side, Isabella’s crazy eyes leave no doubt that she is coming for whoever saw what happened at the gate.

Sister Krone’s arrival was seen by the children as a gambit by Isabella to have more eyes on them. While this initially works out, Krone’s own motives to discredit Isabella and take over as Mama of Grace Field end up furthering Isabella’s own agenda and show of power. Despite Krone’s maneuvering, Isabella never loses control of the situation, eventually making an example of Krone by showing the kids that even an adult that attempts to go against her can be disposed of.

Up until episode 8, Isabella plays along with the children in letting them think she doesn’t know who is involved in the escape plan. It’s the first time she drops her pretense and introduces herself to Emma and Norman in their respective roles of caretaker and livestock. While Emma and the group already knew their mama was unhinged, this overt declaration that they have no hope of escape is the true confirmation that their happy family life has been a lie from the start.

No matter how strong or smart the orphans are, Isabella shows them that they are still just children. She easily and cleanly snaps Emma’s leg and instantly slips back into her caring motherly persona as Emma writhes in pain. When Emma tries again to interfere with the shipment of Norman, Isabella plainly tells her: “If you cause another commotion, I’ll kill you.” It’s clear that she could easily end any of them if she so chose to.

Isabella plainly tells Emma to give up. Through all of her shows of power, Isabella feels that she has sufficiently demonstrated that she will break body and spirit without hesitation. The last weapon in her toolkit is Emma herself. She offers Emma the chance to survive, but only by becoming a future Mama who looks over her own orphanage. This is her own twisted way of showing empathy, by telling Emma to sacrifice everyone else to ensure her own survival.