American Horror Story

[Honolulu_Blue]

I finally got around to watching this last episode. I had suspected the twist for a week or two but the reveal was great.

I think this show is fantastic. It's subtly creepy and scary, but the characters and cast is fantastic. The burned guy, Constance, Violet, Tate, Viv the maid... All great characters and very well acted.

Just a fun show.

[Draft Dodger]

Originally Posted by Honolulu_Blue

I finally got around to watching this last episode. I had suspected the twist for a week or two but the reveal was great.

I think this show is fantastic. It's subtly creepy and scary, but the characters and cast is fantastic. The burned guy, Constance, Violet, Tate, Viv the maid... All great characters and very well acted.

Just a fun show.

totally agree. I too had some suspicions, but it didn't detract. Not really sure how they can sustain this, as I can't even envision where the show will be at the end of the season, let alone a year or two down the road. but loving the ride so far.

should also add that the guest stars have been terrific as well.

[samifan24]

Wow last night's episode was insane.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Last night's episode was great. Creepy, scary, touching, weird, all of that stuff.

[Swaggs]

It was kind of strange, but that was one of the first times that I can ever remember watching a show and hoping that one of the main (good) characters would die, rather than survive. Something about her surviving and staying with the dick husband versus dying and forever being with her daughter (who is already stuck), I guess.

An excellent season so far, in my opinion. I keep thinking that ever episode is going to be the finale, but they keep showing scenes from next week and one-upping the prior episode. Again, not sure how it works out long term (although I did have a thought that if the current family had actually moved in a couple years ago and a new family moves in next season with a depressed/unkempt/unstable Dylan McDermott playing in a similar role as Jessica Lange this season, that might be kind of cool).

[Draft Dodger]

Originally Posted by Swaggs

It was kind of strange, but that was one of the first times that I can ever remember watching a show and hoping that one of the main (good) characters would die, rather than survive. Something about her surviving and staying with the dick husband versus dying and forever being with her daughter (who is already stuck), I guess.

totally agree.

[Swaggs]

I thought that the first 90% of the show was outstanding, but didn't like the ending with the kid. A little too contrived and predictable.

Still, it was a pretty satisfying finale that was full of red meat. I liked that they killed off Ben quickly, as I expected him to go through some struggles and deal with misery for a good portion of the episode (and kind of expected him to be a big player next season, which he still could be I guess). Kind of cool that they drew a clear line between the benevolent ghosts (the Harmons, Moira, the burnt family, Constance's son that they kept in the attic and her boy-toy, the Black Dahlia, the nurses, the exterminator, etc.) and the malevolent ones (Tate, Hayden, the trio that invaded the home earlier in the season, presumably the twins, etc.).

I'm still not sure what they'll do with it next season. It was amusing watching the good guys work together to scare the family away for an episode, but I'm not sure that'll make for a full season's worth of viewing.

[Doug5984]

Really enjoyed the season- not sure what they are going to do with season 2 though. Killing Ben, especially the way it was done was a real shock to me.

[duckman]

Looks like that the creators will be taking into a different direction next season: American Horror Story Season 2 Spoilers

[samifan24]

It was quite a finale and I was surprised to read what's going to happen in season two.

[jeff061]

I think it will be hard to keep it going through the second season at the same quality. But we'll see.

I liked how they crammed so much into the finale, did not dwell on a lot of the emotional aspects or character transformations. Those would have been predictable scenes we've all seen before.

[Draft Dodger]

Originally Posted by jeff061

I think it will be hard to keep it going through the second season at the same quality. But we'll see.

I liked how they crammed so much into the finale, did not dwell on a lot of the emotional aspects or character transformations. Those would have been predictable scenes we've all seen before.

agreed. love that they didn't draw it out.

and definite shocker on season 2. very interesting.

[StLee]

I still don't understand the scene where the maid is hoping for her body to be found so that she can escape the house. In the end, it doesn't matter if there is a body or not: everyone who dies in the house stays in the house.

[Swaggs]

Originally Posted by StLee

I still don't understand the scene where the maid is hoping for her body to be found so that she can escape the house. In the end, it doesn't matter if there is a body or not: everyone who dies in the house stays in the house.

Yeah, I definitely noticed that, too. Not sure if it was a plot hole or something they just never got back to (or if she just wanted Constance to get busted, but if I recall correctly, it seemed to be made pretty clearly that she could pass on if they found her body).

[Travis]

Good but frustrating season imo. Not as good as I had hoped the show would become as I kept waiting for them to explain a lot of the issues I was having with the show/story but in the end they just kept leaving more and more questions instead.

Great casting/acting for the most part but the writing/holes/inconsistencies mean I won't be back for season 2.

[Butter]

Now that I think about it, I think it IS because the maid wants Constance to be busted, because as the police said late in the season, they are aware of her old husband and the maid disappearing but were never able to find them. Constance is the one who convinced the police that they ran away together.

I also thought that ghosts left the house when their remains were found, but that didn't fit at all with the rest of the season, so that is clearly not the case.

Really enjoyed this season. I don't know if they can keep it up at all, but I will definitely be watching to see if they can.

[Butter]

I guess the whole season was it's own story, so I guess we'll never have to worry about those inconsistencies after all. Two thumbs up to that idea. I think this story felt pretty much all overwith after the finale anyway.

[Honolulu_Blue]

I had not issue with any kind of "inconsistencies." I don't really see any. These are ghosts and spirits, so it's impossible to say what rules pertain to them.

It's very likely that the maid just thought that if her remains were found and taken from the house that she would some how be free, but even if they were she'd still be trapped there. It was nothing more than conjecture on the part of the maid and Constance, similar to the whole "Croatoa" thing. Like the gay ghost said, people make things up like that because it makes them feel like they have some sort of power and control, but it's all bullshit. The maid might have thought, and Constance too, that if her remains were found and removed that she'd be free... But that's not likely the case.

As for the maid being the only one to have "aged". Again, they are spirits. They seem to have some ability to change their appearance depending on who they are, how they died, what they carried with them to the afterlife and all of that.

I think the show did a very solid job creating its mythology and sticking pretty closely to it.

I didn't feel like the season ended with a ton of unanswered questions. Not at all. I felt like a lot of was explained. Enough was explained. I think by its very nature as a "ghost story" there needs to be some sense of mystery to it all.

[Rizon]

My wife and I somehow ended up watching the season out of episode order, so we were confused most of the time (eg: when did THAT person die??).

[Swaggs]

Some casting news starting to trickle out:American Horror Story Season 2 Casting News | Daily Dead

Looks like Jessica Lange, Zachary Quinto, and Sarah Paulson (among others) will return, but play completely different characters. Chloe Sevigny and Adam Levine (of Maroon Five) will be joining the cast (Levine is in and Sevigny is close to signing).

[jeff061]

That's cool, Lange was fantastic. Quinto was good(as he always is), but I don't think he had much to work with. Hopefully he gets a larger more dynamic part.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Three episodes into the second season this show just continues to be absolute insanity. Crazy, wild highly entertaining insanity.

We've got aliens, a homocidal maniac (in both the past and present), a demon possesed nun, canabilistic human-like things outside, a doctor with some incredibly confusing women-issues and a thing for human experimentation and amputation and, oh, they should just give Jessica Lange the Emmy again right now.

[Aylmar]

Originally Posted by Honolulu_Blue

Three episodes into the second season this show just continues to be absolute insanity. Crazy, wild highly entertaining insanity.

We've got aliens, a homocidal maniac (in both the past and present), a demon possesed nun, canabilistic human-like things outside, a doctor with some incredibly confusing women-issues and a thing for human experimentation and amputation and, oh, they should just give Jessica Lange the Emmy again right now.

I haven't watched the third one yet (it's on the DVR), but I thought the first two were kind of lame compared to last year. Last year was just such a great premise. I think they lost me this year when they brought in the alien thing...

I'll keep watching it, but it's moved from "have to watch it as soon as I can" to "when I get around to it" in my TV viewing.

[Draft Dodger]

I considered the first season to be scary. this season, I would call creepy. I'd prefer scary.

[jeff061]

I'd call season 2 intense, it pushed way beyond creepy after episode 1. I actually thought season 1 was more creepy than scary.

I loved season 1, still I'm very happy they took season 2 in a different direction and it's standing up on it's own. I almost worry it's just crossed way beyond the line to keep a wide audience. If this show doesn't last much longer at least it appears to have given us 2 classic seasons.

[Swaggs]

Anybody still in on this one?

I'm not sure whether it is because the first season seemed to hit all the right (scary/disturbing) notes for me or what, but this one has been more of a labor to get through. I think it is probably because there aren't any/many sympathetic characters. Plus...

Spoiler

Aliens are kind of cheesy... although, I'm not sure why (considering all the other weird shit (angel of death, mutant/zombies, possessions, etc.) I think they could have done more with less -- sticking with the Nazi war criminal storyline for a longer arc, weaving patients' backstories into episodes as the push the overall plot along, and then having more of a conclusion that I know what I am rooting for.

Anyway. Still well-acted and the kind of show I would have killed for as a teen/college kid.

[Alan T]

I agree with you Swaggs. The first season was wonderful. This season I've just been watching in hopes it got better. The story in the first season compared to this season is what made the difference for me.

[LloydLungs]

I actually like this season as much as last season. You have to go into this show with tempered expectations. The writing is going to be scattered, they're going to throw 20 things against the wall and forget to wrap up half of them, not everything is going to make any sense, etc. Once you don't expect tight writing you can enjoy all the good things about it.

Lily Rabe was brilliant this season. That was an actress clearly enjoying the hell out of a role. No pun intended.

[jeff061]

I'm a few episodes behind, still like it, but it just seems to be all over the place. Doesn't quite hook me like season 1 did.

[Honolulu_Blue]

I just watched the finale this morning. Solid wrap-up to the season. It was a bit all over the place, but that was part of its crazy-pants charm. They threw everything into the mix. It might not have been quite as compelling in certain respects as last year, but still an enjoyable, whacky ride.

Jessica Lange tore it up once again. And Evil Sister Mary Eunice was fantastic. Probably the highlight of the season.

And I found myself humming that French song all morning long.

[samifan24]

I thought the season went out with a whimper last night and really the season was about two episodes too long. I realize they had to do some wrapup stuff but I liked it when they wouldn't let up on the intensity and I felt they let up a bit at the end. Still such a creepy, disturbing show that I can't wait for season three.

[Swaggs]

I like the format that they decided to end the season with (using Lana as a present day, media-icon looking back and interweaving "documentary" footage), but I thought the actual story conclusion was uninteresting. No big, clear reveals (you can take some stuff from the alien storyline, I guess) and kind of lame, cleanly tied up endings for the characters (they could have just as easily finished things up with a few written lines about each character during the credits, a la 80s movies).

I dunno -- I think the producers and directors think a little too highly of some of the acting talent (Sarah Paulson and Evan Peters are fine, but unremarkable actors to me) and it felt like some of the scenes were short on writing/dialogue and long on "sit back and watch how amazing these actors are." It works for some of them (Lange, obviously), but not for most. I thought the bookend opening/closing of Lana and Jude having the discussion about looking fear in the eye was a perfect example of it falling short, but I assume the folks who make the show thought it was great.