Enough time since the finale of American Horror Story's second season, subtitled Asylum, has elapsed for me to rabble my thoughts together. Here goes.
As crazy ridiculous as the first season
was, I have to again praise Ryan Murphy and company for outdoing
themselves here. As I said before about not envying anyone
subsequently attempting a haunted house story following the first season, this now also applies to the canon of the insane asylum. This
season, rather than being tied down to just ghosts inside a suburban
home, saw all manner of antagonists, including serial killers, Nazi
scientists, genetic mutants, angels, demons, and even aliens. I find
it incredible that a show that consistently stays cranked at eleven
still manages to maintain a (somewhat) coherent narrative. Though in
regards to Ryan Murphy’s other allegiances, I do have to commend
his restraint for waiting until ten episodes into the second stanza
to inject a musical number.
What I find deliciously unique about
American Horror Story is how they recast certain actors as new and
unrelated characters from season to season. Jessica Lange, Evan
Peters and Sarah Paulson all returned for Asylum, in roles with large
sweeping arcs. However, these were but
three that inhabited this amazing season, which also included the likes of James
Cromwell, Zachary Quinto and Lily Rabe as Sister
Mary Eunice.
Perhaps most astonishing about American
Horror Story is, unlike other genre shows on television, it never
seems to wane. It maintains its primary arc as well as throwing in
these awesome side plots, like Ian McShane’s turn as a killer
Santa. I also hope that the show continues to feature a random
appearances by historical figures. This season, to echo Mena Suvari’s
cameo as Elizabeth Short (aka The Black Dahlia) last year, Asylum
brought in the criminally underused Franka Potente as Anne Frank
(yes, that Anne Frank).
Although there are a lot of
similarities in aesthetic between the two seasons, I found Asylum to
be of a considerably darker pedigree. The absurd comedic beats
sprinkled into the first season are almost completely replaced here
with a jet black sensibility. I’m not saying this show doesn’t go
over-the-top, just that my reaction to said occasions was not
guffawing laughter. There are images involving supporting characters
(namely the ones portrayed by Chloe Sevigny and Clea Duvall) that will
not leave my consciousness for a very long time.
Sarah Paulson (left) as Lana Winters & Franka Potente as Anne Frank. |
Though some of the major storylines
were wrapped up rather quickly toward the end of the show, I have to
say I adored the Six Feet Under-style flash forwards of the finale
that showed where every character ended up.
Asylum was a resounding success, so it
is no surprise that a third season has
already been announced. The rumoured “Salem” storyline has me a little concerned, as the connotation of limiting itself to witchcraft seems like a step back
to me. True Blood lost me during its “Season of the Witch”, so
hopefully Salem does not. As of this post, Lily Rabe & Frances
Conroy are already onboard to return, so that’s a good start at
least.
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