Channel: FX
Time: Wednesdays at 10pm
American Horror Story premiered in October 2011. We are introduced to a family who is moving into a haunted house. The family, consisting of Ben (Dylan McDermott), Vivien (Connie Britton), and their daughter Violet (Taisaa Farmiga), moved there with hopes of renewing their family structure, amidst Vivien's miscarriage and Ben's infidelity.
**SPOILER ALERT**
Moving at an incredible pace, this season was comprised of learning about all the atrocities that have occurred in the "Murder House". From a drugged-up doctor who reassembled his baby, to a gay couple murdered by "Rubber Man", the actual deaths are only a tip of the whole story. It doesn't take long for Vivien in particular, to notice that strange things have been occurring in the house, along with the discovery that the realtor who sold them the house failed to reveal most of the previous monstrosities. Not long into the season, Vivien gets pregnant. Yet, her marriage with Ben continues to be strained by his dishonesty and continued relationship with previous patient, Hayden. Much of Vivien's distress due to the ghosts, are attributed by Ben to be due to Vivien being unstable, potentially from the pregnancy/hormones etc... Along with the broken marriage, a valid question one could ask would be, "If the house is haunted, why not just move out?". My thoughts exactly! Their reasoning is, as Vivien is pregnant and her previous pregnancy ended in a miscarriage, she must stay put as any unnecessary stress could potentially lead to endagering the baby. While initially this is a good point, if some of the events that occured in the house happened to me - you'd see a cloud of dust as I fled down the street - warnings or not. Nonetheless, Violet also desires to stay as she is tired of her parents trying to remedy their failed relationship by moving. More importantly, she desires to stay close to her (future) boyfriend, Tate. Tate is an incredibly troubled young man, who is later revealed to be dead. Ben, a psychiatrist, is hesitantly seeing Tate, upon Tate's insistence, and only gets glimpses of the true extent to which he is disturbed.
This first season has moved along speedily, and has left me perplexed as to how they can continue into season 2 at the current pacing. Episodes 11 and 12, "Birth" and "Afterbirth", combined should be considered the finale. While I have given away some of the season's revelations, I'll leave the results of the last 2 shows secret, in case one should desire to go back and watch the series. What I WILL say, post-finale, is that I continue to believe that the series should end here. Yes, after just one season, and an insane one at that, the creators should wrap it up and keep fans holding close to the thrilling season it was. Why? Ryan Murphy, the creator of the series, who also created Nip Tuck (one can see the relation), JUST made a statement that Season 2 would consists of new characters, with the possibly of particular characters reappearing as new ones.
In my opinion, after the finale, it appeared that either a) they'd have to declare this a miniseries, leave it at one, solid season or b) do just as Murphy proposed (which apparently he mentioned prior to the official statement, was a possibility), that there be all new characters in season 2. While certainly there is potential for great things to come of season 2, firm fans of series are such fans partially due to the connections they have with the existing characters. If, in each season, all the main characters get replaced, where does that leave its' followers? Yet in its' first season, the show was received with rave reviews including a Golden Globe award for Best Drama Series. With this success, naturally, they will continue as long as it is successful. In contrast to my opinion, particular writers have ways of amazingly bringing about a series in a direction one would never have imagined, or continued where it seemed there could only be an end, so, in all, I wholeheartedly suggest that those who have watched, tune into season 2, and those who have not, catch up!
This season's Winning Characters:
Tate - played by Evan Peters. Tate is a truly disturbing individual. The son of nosy neighbor Constance, Tate had an odd upbringing considering his family (all his siblings have had a physical disability and in response, Constance made the household a manipulative and heavy home) and is deemed by Ben, a psychopath. Yet amidst the frightening actions he's taken such as murdering numerous high school kids, of which he does not recall and raping his girlfriend's mother, the viewer has a sense of relation, a bit of pity, as it seems he desired simply to be truly loved and to be considered normal by someone.
Constance - played by Jennifer Lange. She is a complex character played by a quality actress. The card that Constance was dealt was a burdensome one, and it is easy to feel for her. However, she is not helpless nor innocent herself, and the ease at which she makes life-changing/life-ending decisions, along with intricate and potentially self-serving planning is enjoyable.
This season's Losing Characters:
Vivien - played by Connie Britton. Both the character and the actress are irritating. Do moms of teenage daughters really let their kids talk to them the way she lets Violet talk to her and just let Violet's moodiness slide? (Same to Ben, he gets a D for being a father). I don't believe you have to grow up in a restrictive household to feel like these parents are just observing as opposed to parenting. In addition, Connie Britton as an actress is just so-so. Not horrible, yet a few of her reactions were emotionless where they truly required much emotion. 'Tis possible that it is simply next to Dylan McDermott and Jennifer Lange, her acting appears more so as a novice.
Hope for a Great Next Season?:
Yes! Although my recomendation is to end the series here, of course the creators/studios are looking to make money and will continue until they have pulled every interesting ounce out of the writers and characters.
Note: although "horror" is in the title and there are ghosts in very episode, the series is less a horror story and more so a disturbing family story. I can be a big chicken, but if I can watch this at night, alone, anyone can!
The Finale: 3.5 out of 5 frames.
The Series: 4.5 out of 5 frames.
In case you haven't seen it - a trailer for season one:
Danae signing off!
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