User Reviews

Ryan Murphy is clearly channeling Larry Kramer in this new installment of AHS. So far, the nods to 80s (and 70s) New York are kind of fun. From Bette Middler and Barry Manilow at the Ansonia Baths, to Mars in its earliest incarnation to Friedkin's Cruising, anyone who was in the scene at the time is giddy while watching. I squealed with the short clip of Robin Byrd, and appreciate the multiple references to "something is coming" - a theme that's been used in everything from 86ed to Angels in America to Rent and again, Larry Kramer's Cassandra calls.

So far it's been an enjoyable slice of nostalgia of a time and a place so dark and sad that the camp is actually enjoyable.

I can't wait to see what other NYC icons he'll bring us...The Adonis? Koch? Christopher Street Bookstore?

I see you all shiver with Antici.....pation.

For 10 seasons AHS took place in limited spaces - a house, a small town, underground - and focused completely on the main cast. Here we are in a metropolis of millions, and the cast is stuck in crowds most of the times, loud parties, dark bunkers, large halls full of dancing, socialising people in colorful costumes or intimidating leather.

So far they have a hard time getting through all the noise, and so does the central story - that seems to deal with a serial killer (or more than one) who may or may not be supernatural, and the uncooperative behavior of the police force that unfortunately was all too real at that time.

Some of the new arrivals, especially Russel Tovey, manage to shine through, but the usually fantastic acting that saved some of the older seasons sees some real dips in quality as well. The AHS-veterans pull through as one would suspect.

But so far the plot is just bumbling around and gets interrupted by a second horror - one that wasn't supernatural at all and makes any serial killer look puny. I'm not even totally sure it's about the rise of HIV, and the fact that in this episode it gets mixed up with a vintage conspiracy theory doesn't help. It has barely any connection to the already foggy and wobbly mystery at the center, and I can't say that I'm too excited looking forward to yet another murder spree while the world we are watching is literally coming to an end in a crushing wave of death and self-imposed monogamy.

As usual every department outside of the writing office is doing a great job, bringing the 80s to life - even though there's pretty much only one body type present, and everyone looks like they are carrying around whatever they found in the fruit baskets on the set in their front pockets, from plums to bananas.

Costumes, hair, make-up, but also everyone behind the cameras did what they could; it's unfortunate that their hard work seems a little wasted so far. The writing is also not bad, it just has no grip on the story, and so far there hasn't been a single big moment of any kind. Which could mean that this all just very meta and we are actually watching AHS , once again, trying to kill itself. This time it might get the job done.

After the first episodes barrage of new characters and storylines we can finally get into it more. Whilst I still feel the script is struggling to balance its themes and characters this episode is quite strong. Once again the cast are brilliant and it was nice to see Rebecca Dyan joining our roster of characters. This episode further develops the themes and gives us plenty of hints of what's to come and by all means it is good. It's interesting, dark and a good watch.

I do understand the need for multiple villains but right now we have like 4? And instead of feeling clever it feels a bit like the writers are just trying to write conflict to keep the story moving. That being said I can see how it will tie together so I'll give it more time before I fully judge this part. And the new one we meet this episode (we will call him jeffery dahmer rip off) is very interesting and scary.

Of our two storylines the disease ones definitely gotten the short of the stick which is fair because it mainly only follows one character, but the lack of development can make it feel pointless. But I love billie Lourd so I don't care. She's great and Hannah is an intriguing character. The development at the end of the episode has positioned it well for the next few episodes.

We are only at the start of this story and I'm excited to see it develop week to week I just hope the ahs fans who are watching for campy over the top violence, comedy and sex can stick with this. Despite being advertised as a bdsm sex season Id say so far it's actually been pretty tame which is Both a strength as story gets priority and a weakness as said story isn't as smart as it wants to be.

Having watched the 2nd episode both so far have been straight rip offs of the movies 8mm and the controversial 80s movie Cruising starring Al Pacino. I think Ryan Murphys ideas are running out. What started as something unique and creepy is now generic and reductive. In a positive note this isn't a camp as the majority of the previous seasons have been. The art direction is always spot on as usual. I just wish they would do more original story's that are actually creepy. Hopefully the season picks up in the latter episodes but right now it's more Netflix true crime story than American horror story.