I'd say she's worse than August; he's ruthless, but at least he's professional about it. Kathleen literally gets off on making it personal to the people she torments. It's too soon to say definitively how she stacks up to Chuck, but since we've only heard rumors of his dark side (whereas Kat's is on full display) it's not surprising she gets singled out for criticism. (...)
August is a killer and a mobster (also a pimp and most likely a loan shark like Olly - at least he was), compared to him Kathleen is a harmless grandma. I disagree that she's making it personal to the people she torments. There's nothing personal here (well, besides her getting off on it), she's just making sure that patrons are entertained and customizes her methods so they would fit best to the person in question. Her intention isn't to harm the women that are there but to bring entertainment to patrons. I don't see any malice in her actions. And let me remind you that at any point carnations and whores can just quit (it might be a bit more difficult for some whores who have debts like Kimber but she could still quit and work 2 jobs to pay instead of selling her body).
And yes, Kathleen's a sadist but she has boundaries and she uses the carrot and stick method. If someone performs well they get a reward and if they do a half-ass job they get the stick. And as I've said, she's been very upfront what they might expect so I disagree that carnations didn't know what they were signing for. Of course they didn't know EXACT specifics but Felicia being debased
before the game even begun gave them a taste of what's to come. I mean, can you be more explicit than this:
Kat said:
"On this stage, you're not a person. You're club property. You belong to me."
"You exist only for our magnanimous patrons' viewing pleasure. That's what you signed up for."
"I've no doubt you're accustomed to a certain level of respect in your daily life, but you'll get none of that here."
(...)
I've no doubt the various girls were likewise given the drug without any suitable disclosures. (...)
I'm not so sure about it as you but it's definitely plausible. She might have injected some of them, although I'm not sure what the point would be if they were just whores who would be doing the same things even without a drug. But judging by Kat's surprise by the result, Edwin was her first guinea pig and she considered it as a reward to him and not something malicious. As far as Kat knew this stuff was harmless (after all she put that on her skin regularly and thus must have absorbed some of it in the process, same went for Sophia who was one of the creators of the drug).
Kat:
"It's already fully activated, I'll be damned! Van Doren really outdid himself with this one."
Edwin: "(She's SURPRISED?!)"
Kat:
"The science and the effects of that concoction is astounding, but I won't bore you with details. Quite simply, it makes you want to fuck. It gives you the energy to fuck. It makes your body capable of fucking."
(...)
And given what we know of Nicolette's backstory it's likely some or all of the house girls have been forced to work here under implied (or even direct) threats. (...)
lol
There is no indication of that, what makes you say that? Nico (or someone close to her) has probably have a debt but nothing stops her from working 12 hours a day or more to pay it in an honest manner.