American Horror Story on FX

Anyone watching? It is preposterously over the top and insane, incredibly poorly edited, but also compulsively watchable.

Pretty surprised this thread is so dead... This show is fantastic trash. Half the characters in cheapo cataract contacts; Jessica Lange FEASTING on the scenery; the mom from Six Feet Under as a total fox maid; ludicrous "teen" dialogue ('Hey... you got any Kurt Cobain on that thing?'); a never-shirted Dylan McDermott masturbating on a table and moaning like he's suffered a significant back injury; daughter dressing weirdly circa '92 in Angela Chase hat and baggy sweater (the actress has the last name "Farmiga" and looks a hell of a lot like Vera... I keep meaning to Google if it's her daughter or sister or what...); NIN/"Closer" video knockoff title sequence... And that's just the pilot!

So, yeah... I love horror stuff and have a high tolerance for the genre's lazier conventions, but, if nothing else, it should tick the boxes that True Blood used to tick for a lot of people. Anyone else watching this?!

i saw the first two eps. too gross for me.

Love to hate this show tbh

this show is awesome/ridiculous

It's an unqualified hit for FX in the States - renewed for S2 already. UK is about 5 weeks behind, I think - this thread could be dangerous for spoilers on the U.S. timeline.

Last night's ep. 2 was equally awful and fun: A preposterous 1968 prologue ("I'm so excited we're going to see the Doors at the Hollywood Bowl!" "Yeah, you're gonna blow Jim Morrison!" or whatever); A Charles Manson tribute act; Jessica Lange throwing crazy Baby Jane-ness all over the place with her escort boytoy; Evershirtless McDermott tortured by his student mistress...

...most fun new show by miles.

the first episode screened here tonight, i recorded it but haven't watched it yet. i love connie britton to death.

I thought we were up to episode 3 here (damn, forgot to watch it last night)

It's an unqualified hit for FX in the States - renewed for S2 already.

I only watched the first episode - too fucking funny, but I knew I'd fall behind so I canceled the dvr subscription and hoped it would eventually wind up on Netflix. looks like it will!

maybe foxtel is a bit behind xp

Ah right yeah this was on one of the new digital FTA channels I think.

almost dropped out after the first episode (which was kinda crap imo), but have totally come around on this show and really like it now. certainly a ton better than the walking dead, which i have officially given up on at this point i think.

Just tuned in tonight. It's pretty refreshing to see something so batshit gonzo on TV.

i told a dude earlier today that it is all condensed horror moneyshot television, which made me feel incredibly gross, but i think i am right

You are so fucking right. Honestly, I keep saying to my husband it's not any good, but I keep watching.
I'll probably end up watching season 2 anyway.

never-shirted Dylan McDermott masturbating on a table and moaning like he's suffered a significant back injury

Hah! Yeah, I kept laughing.

watched the pilot. wasn't scared, wasn't all that interested, want to know if i should pay to watch the rest of the series, or wait for netflix?

season 2 starts tonight, looks possibly even crazier?

Man 5 minutes in and already looks trashier and crazier than last year, awesome

yeah this is awful so far, every irritating thing about the first season (manic camera and hyper editing) is amped up to 11. also sorely missing a sympathetic beautiful redheaded connie britton.

Just watched the first two episodes of season one, and hahahahaha it's the stupidest thing I've seen for a long time. Will keep watching.

I'd be far to embarrassed to ever recommend it to anyone though.

first season premiere was so exhausting and poorly paced that i couldn't imagine watching a second episode. watched a couple episodes of the second season and thought it was surprisingly boring by comparison?

Weird, just watched S1E1 today and ... um ... this is going to be so terrible isn't it? Don't most Ryan Murphy series at least wait until the second season to fall off the cliff?

eric, stick it out!

almost dropped out after the first episode (which was kinda crap imo), but have totally come around on this show and really like it now. certainly a ton better than the walking dead, which i have officially given up on at this point i think.

― Princess Nancy (jjjusten), Wednesday, November 16, 2011 4:28 PM (11 months ago)

I think that season 2 is fucking fantastic btw, amped up all the right things, and went way way way darker and nastier, shows how far low rent cable has pushed the boundries.

what happened to that terrible amazon horror thing by the paranormal disturbance guy

hopefully buried in a hole and never seen again, i got the first disc on netflix and its one of the worst tv attempts at horror ever

and ive seen steven kings "the kingdom"

LOL

i enjoy a lot of things about the kingdom but i am a terrible king apologist so i don't know w/e

an ex of mine made me watch it because she claimed i looked like the aardvark spirit guide guy

shit got crazy

well, more crazy

oh god, just watched this for the first time (straight to season 2). I dare say that to me some episodes are up there with sopranos, oz, breaking bad in entertainment scale.

*skipped straight to season 2

I love this shit. Jessica Lange has been massive in both of the series.

the cinematography in some eps is awesome too. this is the citizen kane of horror tv.

Yeah I read through some discussions of about the plot/themes of the first season and wasn't very interested but I'm a sucker for insane asylum horror stuff. This has been pretty good IMO - some kinda silly OTT stuff but I'm hooked and can't wait to see how they tie up the billion lose ends and subplots.

Really dig the opening theme too. Very creepy and effective.

this reminds me of oz. it's not too far off to call this oz's heir

this show has been fucking incredible this year

last year was such a mess of uneven acting and horrible scripts; this year is a massive improvement, and lange's acting is phenomenal

(not to downplay so many other great performances)

Okay, I just started S1 and am 5 episodes in; "preposterous" is exactly the word to describe this show. It is some wacky parade of the flimsiest and most obvious horror cliches strung together by comically incoherent dialogue and actions and reactions. Are they doing this on purpose or do they just not give a shit?

just stop and watch s2

yeah, season 1 sucks, but the second one is a blast

season one is more fun toward the end in a way than season two. season two tells you they're having fun with music and dramatic leaps but it's not as ridiculous and goofy

like, in season one you're thinking it's all dark in the horrible basement and then it ends up being poorly-hatched plans and braindead amnesiac ghosts

Jessica Lange reminds me of KatHep in Suddenly Last Summer.

THE FUCKING POPE???

~COVEN~

Kathy Bates will be terrorizing Wednesday nights during the fall as Madame LaLaurie – a real life serial killer who mutilated and murdered numerous slaves during the 1830s in New Orleans
Lange and Angela Bassett’s characters will be attempting to “mend the fence” between the Salem witches and the voodoo witches, but it’s unclear if Bassett’s Marie Laveau will be played present day or through flashbacks.

Yay! it's back and it is still ace, even better with what was already a fine cast with Bassett + Bates added.

Wasn't that hot on the premiere, but I'm hoping it develops to be as weirdly involving as last season was.

Jessica Lange vs Angela Bassett is looking like a top grade bitch off so far, just as good as it should be.

Fucking loving this once again. Patti fucking lupone!

I haven't seen this week's episode but I really hope the, uh, naive witch turns out to have more powers than fucking dudes to death because that's a pretty big buzzkill.

(for her)

this weeks episode written by the same guy that wrote the x-files episode 'home'!

Might be the best season so far; the levity was necessary. Admittedly pushes it closer to True Blood territory but still, Fleetwood Mac loving swamp witch doing Stevie Nicks dances with her scarf....priceless

i saw the series premiere of this the other night - or part of it anyway. they used the music from What Lies Beneath. rly shoulda left that alone.

ya this is really good right now

watched the first 7 episodes of s2 and this:

It is some wacky parade of the flimsiest and most obvious horror cliches strung together by comically incoherent dialogue and actions and reactions

is so OTM. so far they've covered the Exorcist, the Omen, zombies, nazi doctors, serial killers etc. when do the vampire werewolf mummies show up.

What is this? Knotty pine?!?

i am pleased with that as an ending.

This was roughly one tenth as good as last season. What a waste of an incredible cast.

Most unsatisfying the way they left Misty in hell, they didn't seem very bothered either.

yeah, that seemed like an unjust fate.

knotty pine line was the best thing abt the finale

The Misty thing was doubly unsatisfying since Rabe is by far the best of the younger actresses.

myrtle snow might have been my fave character overall

I enjoyed the witch council, wish they had more airtime

If I was to watch one of the first 3 seasons, which? As you may know i prefer dark wit and general creepiness to blood and thunder.

Series 2 in the asylum without doubt.

None of what I've seen from the show seemed all that witty tbh.

It is a horror series and Faulkner wasn't involved, but it has a very talented cast.

you won't like this Morbz. I didn't.

I wouldn't listen to this fucker.

Asylum (S2) is by far the best but I can't imagine you being into any of it really

It is some wacky parade of the flimsiest and most obvious horror cliches strung together by comically incoherent dialogue and actions and reactions

bears repeating

so what?

Dr Morbius, I don't think you would like this either. I have only seen the first season and while I found it watchable and entertaining, it was also quite lacking in taste, intelligence, imagination, and sense. I can't remember any wit, dark or otherwise, and it even creepy IMO.
I kind of enjoyed it but sometimes I like things that are dumb and trashy.

Not even creepy, that's meant to say

OK, thx y'all. I guess i'll watch those last two Rob Zombie movies instead.

Yeah, def try to resist the urge to use my taste in horror as an anti-barometer this one time.

yeah The Lords of Salem is worth catching at least xp

I only use your taste in comedy as an anti-barometer, honeybunch.

The first season was the only passable one, IMO.

def enjoying this season

v good acting this ep particularly kathy bates w the doctor & denis ohare w the viking

the anachronistic music numbers by jess lange are p dope too imo

I've read about this show a bit but never seen it, because every time I think I know what it is about, I read something that goes completely contrary to my expectations, and makes me stop wanting to see it.

Considering that season 2 featured Nazis, aliens and demons...

I really hate that they threw aliens in there so carelessly. GORPLOK WAS NOT AMUSED

http://cache2.asset-cache.net/gc/143174812-alien-and-spaceship-gettyimages.jpg?v=1&c=IWSAsset&k=2&d=X%2BNvU8Xdp6beBRupcKb7WkjO3jms3mXV72GZHxzARNw%3D

Considering that season 2 featured Nazis, aliens and demons...

Exactly! I thought it was some horror show, but then it sounded silly, or campy, or intentionally ridiculous, or just weird, or surreal, or funny, but never scary, so I had/have no idea. It'd be like a new police drama debuting, and then getting confused by people talking about all the singing clowns and Nazis.

Kathy Bates's accent this season is insane! She sounds like Philly Boy Roy.

this "blood bath" ep was a good one, esp dandy & frances conroy

lol @ "i wanted to be rid of them, put them on a bus to tampa, altho for me death would be preferable to tampa"

&

"you're no better than the roosevelts!"

"how dare you say that in this house"

I'm about 4 eps behind but plan to catch up soon

I thought it was some horror show, but then it sounded silly, or campy, or intentionally ridiculous, or just weird, or surreal, or funny, but never scary, so I had/have no idea

That's about right, though it definitely can be disquieting even if it's not exactly scary. I think "horror show by the guy who made Glee" pretty much tells you all you need to know. With all the pros and cons you'd expect from that.

This series has got progressively worse, but still it is the best horror series on tv by a country mile (sure, not much of an accolade) and still has the best cast. I just wish it would return to the highs of the latter part of S1 and the excellent S2.

gf and i will finish season 3 on netflix tonight

for me 1 > 3 > 2

they're all good but season 1 is the only legitimately scary one

i gave up on freakshow

there's something inherently corny about this show that just bugs me constantly

^^^

tried to watch season 2 but it was just too ridiculous to even care about, just a bunch of cliches randomly slapped together and amped up with a camp factor

i gave up on freakshow

Yeah we did too. Just got bored.

SEASON 1 SPOILER

so watch out is what i'm saying

started watching the first season a few days ago. it seems...bad. "watchable" in the manner of so much cruddy television and often quite scary, but plotted almost at random. the other woman is pregnant! but she's having an abortion. or not! and she's crazy! o wait, she's dead.

i liked s1 a lot, even with the silliness...s2 got so stupid & corny it was almost unwatchable. freakshow is not AS bad as s2, bu i'd rather just rewatch carnivale & have zero lols

the other woman is pregnant! but she's having an abortion. or not! and she's crazy! o wait, she's dead.

lol yes exactly. it's like the plotting is done by monkeys with a bunch of file cards with different horror tropes printed on them.

almost everything w/ dandy this season has owned, obv that is a problem tho when hes only tangentially connected to the freakshow, tho maybe they can stick the landing w/ the finale after the development @ the end of the last ep

i thought the introduction of nph's character was kinda a misstep tbh

taissa famiglia is really bad (but also really nice to look at tbf). jessica lange is the only actor who consistently brings it for me. or maybe she's just given the best material

farmiga*

Quite enjoyed S1, got two or three eps into S2 and gave up because it was just so weak and/or predictable.

what a pile of crap this season was, even though the performances were all exceptional. the storylines on this show are just a mess; I wish they'd concentrate one one or two things and see them through the entire season. The whole thing fell apart after they killed off the scary clown.

I think Asylum was probably the best season, but I actually never finished watching it. Maybe I shouldn't because it probably all fell apart after I stopped.

the theme/end-credits music of freakshow sounds insanely familiar to me but i can't place it

https://soundcloud.com/fandomfatale/american-horror-story-freak-show-end-credits

i've watched 2, 3, and just finished 4 and iv'e enjoyed all of them. i got a few eps into the first season and just couldn't go any further, it was way too scary and not campy enough. i'm generally averse to horror movies that involve any kind of gore, but the production of this show is just so gorgeous and the cast is always great. i totally have a crush on sarah paulson, especially her voice.

I only made it halfway through the S5 premiere. I can't imagine how anyone could possibly have enjoyed that.

i didnt hate it but every season I have to go through episodes of ughhh this is so dumb & ott why am i watching this

gaga & bomer are p dope, love paulson's makeup, Denis O Hare is rad as always, and everyone else is whatev

app the hotel is based of the elisa lam hotel, the hotel cecil in LA

loosely, obv

like, barely at all

for some reason my "fuck this" breaking point was Gaga making cunnilingus gestures at the Nosferatu picnic.

lol i liked that

otoh I kinda like Scream Queens, it's just as incoherent as AHS but with some actual laffs

over time it's become increasingly clear that Asylum is/was the only AHS for me

i liked #1 best

asylum veered off into stupid alium town & i was out

S1 was too aimless and repetitive to me. I was OK w/ the alium content of S2 because it added up to that weirdly poignant ending. Also nothing to me in the other seasons has ever been able to match the creepiness of the concept of being declared insane by the state and thrown into a hellhole with no recourse.

Also the fate of Sevigny's character in that season is the ultimate lingering image of the entire series imo

the thing I love is how strongly they commit to a look every season, i freaking adore the production design. so much attention to detail, mwah i love it

but for me stories almost always let me down. on the nose & overbaked & just festooned with stuuuuff, it ends up like one of those giant industrial magnets - like, can we lose a FEW ideas?

Apparently Ryan Murphy has the same taste in men as I do and looooooves horror, but that's still not enough to make me want to watch anything he does.

https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtp1/v/t1.0-9/12107973_10206019459097787_6792396576028972418_n.jpg?oh=fda590706b5e1b97aea3c27be57af243&oe=56922E2C

With "same taste in men as I do" meaning brunettes, not white dudes exclusively.

... I'll see my way to the door now.

lol

There's something really novel about the indifferent, hateful camp of a ryan Murphy show that even when I'm disgusted there's still this nothing-else-like-it unpredictability. Bret Easton Ellis minus the literary pretension, and somehow more nihilistic while claiming to be less.

good call - it def has a BEE detachment vibe

the sensibility is almost kubrickian (no shock they're ripping off the shining), just without any of the craft

"don't put people down for who they are on the outside...we're all monsters and drips within"

it's REALLY bad at ripping off the stuff it rips off.. like yes i get they are referencing the shining, but they miss the mark entirely.

that's the thing - kubrick thought the world was a cesspool but obv FELT something about it, wanted to carefully construct his portrayals of it, give it some poignancy. murphy & co is like "lol, we're all just bitchy meatbags for the slaughter, fuck it".

really curious about american crime story, cuz on one level reveling in our fascinating grossness is his raison d'etre, but facts seem like they'd be a real chore and burden for those guys

this show is terrible chaki otm

im definitely going to watch the thing and respect it's ambitiousness and gay horror flair. also i hate how EVERYTHING has to be a mystery told in flashback (every character, every plot point). cant there be a central mystery and a bunch of characters we can fall in love with jeeze?

i hate that there's always 25 diff characters & plots at the beginning, like just tell me who you're going to keep so i can just give a shit about them

was gonna watch the pilot until i heard there was an extended schmidt torture porn sequence, will stick to hate-reading recaps for now

"first ep" not "pilot" i guess

Watched first episode of season 5. I think we've failed as a society if this is what passes for camp horror these days.

Coven was my favorite season of this, it was funny and stupid and had Stevie Nicks. Freakshow was by far my least favorite, although all the performances were great the writing was awful.

your boy has jawline for days

swoon

new vampire dude is a full head shorter than Bomer & HE's the model? puhleeze

these are the things i think about while hatewatching this silly show

love the music choices for the Gaga scenes tho

mvp of hotel was denis ohare, the ep w his son was killer

evan peters was also v good but the rest of the serial killer posse are awful + unnecessary

def some inspired music cues - hotline bling, mazzy star, marianne faithfull

gaga gets more cred in my book for not ruining the season than contributing anything significant

dam they also used a warpaint song! missed that somehow

The music was great!

6 starts in two weeks, looks to be abt the Roanoke colony disappearance

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Horror_Story_(season_6)

I think that's a fair bet. The producers have mentioned that the promos have had a variety of themes to misdirect viewers about the season's theme

this framing device sucks

i kinda like it

agree its bad

Doris Kearns Goodwin?!?!?!?!!!!

that was pretty brilliant

apparently the rest of the season jumps out of the framing device and this was like a sneak peak of the rest?

i'm more sold on this now

yeah, somebody told me the whole thing was going to change. After this episode we tried to figure it out. Does the Polk family follow them to LA? Does somebody else move into the house? Then we saw the preview and it had the guy who bought the hotel from last season, so who knows.

so the weird cannibal people are actual roanoke descendants, or just carrying on the work?

neighbors just helping out I think?

I actually like this season. I mean, it's a stupid show for sure and a guilty pleasure, but I feel like this season has been nicely restrained compared to the last few, which were filled with crazy edits and so many references and characters it was hard to keep up with or care. I thought last night's Polk family was a nice little Texas Chainsaw bit.

ahs cult seems fun

yeah i always end up bailing on these fkn things & this one so far seems fkn weird & kinda dumb?

the trypophobia stuff is pretty lol tho

something about sarah paulson just bugs me & idk why

luv her