American Horror Story NYC: Requiem 1981- 1987 Part 1 and 2

Summary

The AIDs epidemic finally begins as the season comes to an end.

I have bundled the last two episodes of this season together into one review as really they are one long continuous episode that is designed to be watched back to back.

In many regards I am deeply mixed on this episode. Certainly I admire it for tackling the AIDs epidemic in a serious grounded way, which is not something done very often by large mainstream shows, whilst also showing its effect on the LGBTQ+ community of people who were both losing friends and in some cases dying themselves. I think it is important for TV shows to show and highlight these somewhat forgotten about periods in history, not forgotten about by those effected or who lost people to it, but to the wider world who didn’t lose friends and to whom were only confronted by this in the form of nightly news reports.

However, my question is, is American Horror Story really the place for this conversation? As though this series was horrifying, it didn’t feel like American Horror Story which usually deals with the supernatural, when you think about it like that this could have easily been a different show as very little supernatural goings on were happening here. I didn’t find a lot of this season scary I found it to be depressing, and that really isn’t what you want from your horror shows.

Overall, whilst I appreciate the show trying to deal more in gritty reality this season I would say that it is the worse for it, as the campy dark charm of the show is lost in the pursuit and what we get is fairly unrecognisable to AHS.

3/5

Pros.

Tackling issues that aren’t often covered

The way the show highlights the effects of AIDs on the LGBTQ+ community

It is very watchable

Cons,

It doesn’t feel like AHS

It is depressing

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American Horror Story NYC: Fire Island

Written by Luke Barnes

Summary

Some of the characters take a trip out to Fire Island to get over the trauma that they have been through but all the while a spector is gaining strength in the background.

Honestly I think outside of the serial killer premise, now that the show has killed that off, there really isn’t a lot of substance left. A lot of the scares just seem to be random images and vaguely through ideas, this can be seen with all the visons and when Big Daddy comes in with the save at the end of the episode, none of it seems to follow a rhyme or reason rather it is just thrown together.

Moreover, regarding the obvious Aids epidemic that is right on the precipice the show again eludes to it but doesn’t commit. At this point with all these episodes showing the signs and symptoms the show needs to stop beating around the bush and directly address it. I know that is the plan for the season finale but the season feels too long getting to it.

In addition this episode really hammered home and issue I have been having with this season and that is that it doesn’t feel like American Horror Story anymore, it feels like a different show wearing its skin. This is mainly because the supernatural is such a small part of the season as well as the show instead trying to deal with more of a real world issue than a fictional and out there idea. In many senses this season reminds me of Cult and that is not a compliment.

Overall, the season is starting to lose its way and drag on.

2/5

Pros.

It is watchable

Big Daddy continues to be interesting

Cons.

It has lost its way and seems content to limp on

It doesn’t feel like AHS

It is depressing and far too abstract

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American Horror Story NYC: The Sentinel

3.5/5

Written by Luke Barnes

Summary

The killer is caught but the killing continues.

I enjoyed that they finally caught the serial killer and brought him to justice, now hopefully we can tackle the two other major elephants in the room, the supernatural Big Daddy killer and the quickly spreading AIDS epidemic two things which are far more interesting that just a bog standard serial killer narrative.

I thought Russell Tovey’s Patrick is the shining star of this episode and his fiery speech as he leaves his employment at the police force is definitely a fist in the air sort of moment. I am intrigued by the fact that he is seeing visions of Barbara, played by Leslie Grossman, and hope that they further explore his connections to the supernatural killer that took her life.

I again found this episode a little slow at times and do think they are dragging out the season and that it would have been better with fewer episodes.

Overall, a good episode but one that highlights the wider pacing issues with the season as a whole.

Pros.

Finally catching the killer

Tovey

The visions of Barbara

They can now focus on the bigger picture

Cons.

Pacing issues

A fair number of slow moments that indicate padding and filler within both the episode and the season.

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American Horror Story NYC: The Body

4/5

Written by Luke Barnes

Summary

The killer is finally tracked down.

When I realised that this episode was going to have the main characters find out who the killer is I was somewhat surprised as there is still a ways left to go in terms of the number of episodes still left in this season, however, despite finding out who the killer is this episode they don’t catch him really quite the opposite.

I liked the fact that the world keeps being broadened and new facets like this idea of the mob working within the gay community are being explored. I thought bringing back Henry, played by AHS veteran Denis O‘Hare, was a really smart move as this new angle gave him a lot more to do and he really shined in this episode as did Zachary Quinto’s Sam.

My one issue with the episode and also this mid part of the season more generally is that there seems to be some filler being placed in to pad things out. Like there is no need for this episode to stretch on in the way that it does, it is possible for them to find out who the killer is and have the show down in one episode it doesn’t need to be spread across two, but I suppose that is the curse of cable TV.

Overall, a good episode that really sets up an interesting conflict for the next episode.

Pros.

O’Hare

Quinto

The killer’s identity is finally revealed

The ending and the set up

Cons.

A little bit of padding for time

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American Horror Story NYC: Bad Fortune

4/5

Written by Luke Barnes

Summary

The killers gameplan is finally revealed and things take a turn for the supernatural.

I thought this was a very strong episode, I enjoyed the fortune telling scenes even if they were a bit silly and over the top. Moreover, I welcomed this season of the show more openly embracing the supernatural as for the most part this season has been relatively human focused.

I thought the Big Daddy fight scenes were well done, you never quite knew whether Patrick, played by Russell Tovey, was going to escape or whether he was going to die, they were tense scenes. Moreover, the death of Leslie Grossman’s character felt like it brought with it a new found sense of stakes for the season and her character really does drive the mystery forward.

Overall, another strong episode of this season with a very welcomed move towards the supernatural, I hope some of these mysteries will soon start to get tied up.

Pros.

Grossman

The ending

The veer towards the supernatural

The continued build of the mystery

Cons.

A little slow at times

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American Horror Story NYC: Blackout

4/5

Written by Luke Barnes

Summary

The mystery furthers.

I enjoyed that this episode continued to explore the killer and what he is trying to do, I think that if the show is to truly nail its landing this season then he will have to have one hell of an endgame to live up to all the hype the show has installed in him as the main villain.

However, but also good, the thing I am more interested in about this season that I think it is doing incredibly well is talking about the ever looming threat of AIDS, with the epidemic growing threateningly close over the horizon. I am curious to see how the show will address it, whether it will fully sink into conspiracy theory area or have it and the indifference many showed towards the victims be the real horror of the season, or maybe a bit of both.

Big Daddy continues to be a compelling supernatural villain who hopefully we won’t learn much more about so that some of the seasons mysteries can be left to the imagination.

Overall, another strong episode.

Pros.

The mystery

Teasing the past of the characters we think we know

The looming catastrophe on the horizon

Big Daddy continues to be a memorable villain

Cons.

It continues to be far too heavily eroticised

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American Horror Story NYC: Smoke Signals

4/5

Written by Luke Barnes

Summary

The aids epidemic looms large, and the killer picks up steam.

I really do find it interesting how this season of AHS is handling aids and the aids epidemic of the eighties, clearly a lot of horror is being drawn from that real world tragedy but the show is trying to put its own spin on it as well. I thought fully going into conspiracy theory territory and saying that aids was developed as a biological weapon for use in the cold war was certainly very out there, but I like that the show went into this larger than life frame with it.

Moreover, I like that we are seeing more and more of the killer and the net seems to be closing in. I think both sides of this season are working well together to create strong scares and unsettling themes.

My one issue with this episode, though I think it is actually more aptly for the season as a whole, is the fact that there are far too many characters at times. Each of these are given their own mini stories and quite often it can be hard to remember who is who and what they have to do with the wider narrative of the season.

Overall, another strong episode.

Pros.

The new origins of aids

Seeing more of the killer

The tension and scares

The ending

Cons.

A few too many characters

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American Horror Story NYC: Thank You For Your Service

3.5/5

Written by Luke Barnes

Summary

Gino, played by, Joe Mantello is abducted by the killer and Dr. Wells, played by Billie Lourd, further explores the origins of her mystery virus.

I am still quite enjoying this season of AHS I think that the mystery is interesting and that both strands of it are coming together nicely. I am keen to keep watching as I want to know where it is all heading.

Moreover, I liked that this season is really hitting on how hard life was for LGBTQ+ people in this time and place and showing how the cops not only don’t want to know but actively at times hate them. I think the scenes wherein Adam, played by Charlie Carver, was detained by the police simply for speaking out about his experience and held without merit were both infuriating and also moving.

Where this season is losing me is like all Ryan Murphy series the fact that many scenes just boil down to softcore porn. Now, I don’t mind this when these scene service the plot in some way, but more often than not it just feels stuffed in to both pad for runtime as well as to titillate Murphy and Co.

Overall, the second episode continues to further the mystery in interesting ways, but the constant forced sex scenes are holding it back.

Pros.

The mystery

The performances of Lourd, Tovey and Mantello

A degree of unpredictability in what might happen next

The ending of the episode

Cons.

The needless sex scenes

Pacing issues

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American Horror Story NYC: Something Is Coming

3.5/5

Written by Luke Barnes

Summary

A killer is terrorising the New York Gay community in the early Eighties.

Admittedly I went into this first episode with rock bottom expectations as last years Double Feature was so bad that I didn’t even finish it, and looking at it through that lens I think this first episode did a lot to inspire confidence and maybe even, if I dare to dream, to have AHS back on course.

I like the mystery being set up with the quest of who or what is big daddy, I am guessing now he will be more than your typical killer, if it does turn out later on that he is just a really muscular dude in bondage gear then I’ll get a little disappointed. Additionally the storyline with Billy Lourd’s character about what is going on on Fire Island is also shaping up to be an interesting mystery.

I think the performance’s so far have been quite good Zachary Quinton is back and is bring a real depraved charisma to his sleezy art dealer/ photographer character, and also Russell Tovey is also a very welcome new addition to the cast.

Overall, though the usual AHS issues are there, in spades, I am hopeful for this series.

Pros.

Quinton and Tovey

Interesting new mysteries

Back to basics feel

Big Daddy seems to be a good villain thus far

Cons.

It is badly paced

Much like with all of Ryan Murphy’s projects it is basically soft core porn

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