Ryan Murphy’s beloved anthology series is at it again with his new season of “American Horror Story.” Since 2011 when the first story, “Murder House,” premiered, the show has captured millions of viewers and only seemed to grow as the saga went on. However, last year’s “Freak Show” was such a disappointment for avid fans like myself. The plot was good and the characters were pretty interesting, but it just lacked in American Horror Story-ness. I forced myself to finish the show.
So, this time around, there was a lot of skepticism going around regarding whether this season would be worth the time. Well, if the first episode is any indication as to where this season is going, it’s definitely looking up!
The HotelFirst off, who doesn’t get just a little wigged out by hotels that are more than 30 years old? Ryan Murphy and his team prove to be horror-geniuses yet again by picking a superb backdrop. Hotels see a lot of stuff go on behind their doors. From murders to disappearances to fires, they are a cesspool for terrifying stories. Not to mention, the Hotel Cortez has a musty old feel to it, complete with a rude concierge (Kathy Bates) and creepy housekeeping.
Vampires?
Now, while Ryan Murphy has said in the past that this season would not feature actual bloodsuckers, we get to see what he meant by “ ancient blood virus… It’s really a form of hemophilia in a way.” The “virus” seems to have affected not only Donovan (Matt Bomer) and Countess Elizabeth (Lady Gaga), but two of their two silver haired children as well. Plus, the way the Countess hypnotized that unsuspecting couple at the movie in the cemetery right before the audience’s eyes was just further proof of their Dracula-like qualities.
GAGA
Speaking of Mother Monster, she blew all of her haters away! I have seen countless people in the comments section of Facebook posts and discussion sections doubt the assuredly brilliant Lady Gaga. Crazy, I know. Now, I may be a little, tiny bit, bias, but let me prove it to you. She showed off her acting skills quite nicely. She was gorgeous, yet somehow elusive in her opening sequence with Bomer. She was sensual when luring her prey to Hotel Cortez. But 5 minutes into meeting Elizabeth, you know that she is beyond murderous. And when she talks so coldly after slitting a tourist’s throat, I got chills!
Connections Already?
Ryan Murphy already confirmed a year ago that all the seasons of American Horror Story are intertwined, even if we weren’t paying attention. We saw the first of this last year with Pepper and Sister Mary Eunice showing up in Freak Show after already appearing in the second season, Asylum. And, in the beginning of tonight’s episode, we may have gotten another glimpse at that link. When Detective John Lowe (Wes Bentley) is investigating a crime involving the slaying of one half of an adulterous duo, the still living half has his eyes scooped out into a bowl and his tongue cut out. Now, where have we seen this before?
BUT WHERE IS EVAN?!?!
Evan Peter’s character Mr. March has yet to make an appearance on the show, but his room, number 64 has been getting a lot of deadly action so far. But still, my question stands; WHERE IS HE???
This first episode is far from a guarantee, but here’s to hoping that the rest of the season lives up to the memory of first 3.