A cursory glance at my viewing habits would reveal that, the small number of shows I watch that aren't created by Greg Berlanti, are the ones created by Ryan Murphy. So I was "in the bag" for this show, staring his muse, the great Sarah Paulson as a younger version of the maniacal nurse from "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest". Even so, though I can wholeheartedly say I liked this season, I can see the flaws that might turn off someone not quite so enamoured with the show's concept.
Edmund Tolleson (Finn Wittrock) brutally murders several Priests as part of a home invasion. He's soon caught and sent to a mental heath facility for judgement on whether he's sane to stand trial for the crime. Mildred Ratched (Sarah Paulson) manipulates her way into the sanatorium staff, blackmailing the chief Doctor Richard Hanover (Jon Jon Briones) and undermining head nurse Bucket (Judy Davis). In a position of power, she's able to influence the decision on Tolleson's culpability, but what is her motivation for infiltrating the hospital.
There's lots to like about the show. It's very "Hitchcock-ian" in it's look and tone. Set in 1947, it's very much a stylish effort, with cars and fashions of the time done well. There are homages in the shot selection and angles, as well as direct lifts from Hermann's scores for "Vertigo" and "North By Northwest". (Although it's the refrain from "Cape Fear" which is used the most, which would be fine, was it not for "The Simpsons" repurposing it as the Sideshow Bob theme). The colour palette is the most striking aspect - both naturally within shots, and then when a strong hue is added to display the emotion of the character. (I did actually feel this was a little heavy handed, but perhaps that's me).
The issues for me were with the story. I know this isn't the case from reading about it, but it feels like someone had the idea for "Young Ratched" and it was greenlit, and cast, and only then at the end did someone say "what's the story actually about?" This results in a plot that's reasonably entertaining, but also wildly unfocused. Characters are made to feel important and then disappear, certain plot lines don't really amount to much and the finale has shift in the characters that I don't think was really earned. I'm also not sure I ever buy into a connection with this Nurse Ratched and the one from the movie.
I don't want this to come across like I didn't enjoy the series, I did. I'm just not sure that it was necessary to elevate this as tying in with the Oscar winning film, when it feels more akin to another season of "American Horror Story".
Edmund Tolleson (Finn Wittrock) brutally murders several Priests as part of a home invasion. He's soon caught and sent to a mental heath facility for judgement on whether he's sane to stand trial for the crime. Mildred Ratched (Sarah Paulson) manipulates her way into the sanatorium staff, blackmailing the chief Doctor Richard Hanover (Jon Jon Briones) and undermining head nurse Bucket (Judy Davis). In a position of power, she's able to influence the decision on Tolleson's culpability, but what is her motivation for infiltrating the hospital.
There's lots to like about the show. It's very "Hitchcock-ian" in it's look and tone. Set in 1947, it's very much a stylish effort, with cars and fashions of the time done well. There are homages in the shot selection and angles, as well as direct lifts from Hermann's scores for "Vertigo" and "North By Northwest". (Although it's the refrain from "Cape Fear" which is used the most, which would be fine, was it not for "The Simpsons" repurposing it as the Sideshow Bob theme). The colour palette is the most striking aspect - both naturally within shots, and then when a strong hue is added to display the emotion of the character. (I did actually feel this was a little heavy handed, but perhaps that's me).
The issues for me were with the story. I know this isn't the case from reading about it, but it feels like someone had the idea for "Young Ratched" and it was greenlit, and cast, and only then at the end did someone say "what's the story actually about?" This results in a plot that's reasonably entertaining, but also wildly unfocused. Characters are made to feel important and then disappear, certain plot lines don't really amount to much and the finale has shift in the characters that I don't think was really earned. I'm also not sure I ever buy into a connection with this Nurse Ratched and the one from the movie.
I don't want this to come across like I didn't enjoy the series, I did. I'm just not sure that it was necessary to elevate this as tying in with the Oscar winning film, when it feels more akin to another season of "American Horror Story".