American Horror Story: Apocalypse presents the best show premiere in years



[ad_1]

This post contains spoilers for the American horror story: Apocalypse first.

Sarah Paulson chew decorations in a Victorian dress next door Kathy Bates in a weird and sadistic shelter? How could anyone American horror story fan resist?

In its eighth season, the stakes for American horror story may be higher than ever In the midst of disappointing evaluations, the series finally offers something more like a feverish fan dream than a carefully thought out scenario: a mix of House of murder and coven Until now, the way these disparate elements will come into play remains uncertain. except for a brief appearance of Michael Langdon, the Antichrist born of House of murder, apocalypse has not yet revealed any old characters. But the season is young and the table is set for a meal that already includes human flesh.

Although we can guess where this season will unfold, its premiere was classic Ryan Murphy: as campy as possible, with a twisted sense of humor and a keen sense of glamor. It remains to be seen whether the rest will realize the potential of this first, but so far this season is a satisfying reminder of what A.H.S. can do when the concept is right.

The last installments of A.H.S. have proved the division between the fans. Although some have appreciated WorshipAttempt to horror the real world, the season was finally disappointing and inconsistent. And although RoanokeThe story's approach to history was simmering with potential in the beginning, in the end it was little more than Sarah Paulson screaming and a pile of horror references tied together by an unforgettable plot. . Apocalypse, on the other hand, looks like a return to form – and a hybrid of what made the best American horror story the seasons are singing.

Yes, apocalypse is a pretty blatant fan service – but at least he does not take himself too seriously. In the first moments of the first, the world was destroyed. Leslie Grossman and Billy Eichner come back to basically resume their Worship roles as dysfunctional and shallow married couple; in a few minutes, Eichner shouts: "Slut!" to the private plane carrying Grossman in a fallout shelter with his assistant, his hairdresser and his rich grandmother. But that's A.H.S., thus, the bunker, nicknamed Outpost 3, looks more like an expensive spa than an underground complex. Even more fascinating, it is led by an obscure group called "The Cooperative", supposed to include the 12 brightest minds in the country – the same people who seem to have led the nuclear explosion. His leader? Sarah Paulson as Wilhelmina Venable, who likes to be called Mrs. Venable, flanked by Bates playing another sadist, Mrs. Miriam Mead. The rules of the bunker are pretty simple: do whatever Mrs. Venable says, do not get into "unauthorized copulation" and do not go out.

Although our first foray into apocalypse from time to time meanders, it also contains fascinating clues about what will happen. We know, for example, that Mrs. Venable and Mrs. Mead defy all the instructions that the Cooperative gave them, directing the shelter more like a sadism den than anything else. Residents need to eat small Jell-O-type cubes that contain all the vitamins that the human body needs to survive, although rations decrease in 18 months. And sometimes, the owners of the outpost show people who behave badly for their own amusement – and that they can kill them for a stew. (By far the best line of the first is this horrified exclamation: "The stew is Stu!") In the end, Michael Langdon seems to be telling Ms. Venable that the other shelters have been overrun and that he has come to determine which, if any, Outpost 3 residents deserve to survive by moving to another larger shelter, where supplies are more abundant.

With Apocalypse, A.H.S. has the potential to deliver its most satisfying season for years. Even without a lot of original House of murder or coven characters, the first offers enticing possibilities and a mysterious scorched earth – teeming with fascinating monsters, human or otherwise. Its aesthetic avoids the relaxed approach of the last seasons, returning to exaggerated sensibilities American horror story shine. (Who does not respect a fallout shelter that forces their guests to dress for dinner as if it were a murder and mystery party?) And most importantly, the season's sense of humor is unpopular . Rather than trying to convey a deeper message about the current state of affairs, this season seems to be content to point out the horrible possibilities that haunt our world without wanting to insist on this – and that more than anything , could be the most refreshing change from last season.

It is not wise to judge a television season at its premiere, especially when Murphy's name is included. Most seasons of A.H.S. getting lost somewhere in the middle, and it already seems likely that with all its moving parts, apocalypse will fall into this trap. The question will be how captivating she is, even if she wanders through this messy medium – and if she is finally able to stick the landing. From what we have seen so far, however, it seems worthwhile to walk around.

Receive the Vanity Fair HWD newsletter

Sign up for the basics of the industry and Hollywood news.

[ad_2]
Source link