Out of every show I watch, and trust me I watch a lot of TV, episode two of American Horror Story was what I was looking forward to the most. After the theme of this season was revealed and the ending they left us with last week, I was desperate for more. Even with my high expectations, this week did not disappoint, however, I fear for the rest of the season.
The episode picks up with Shelby still lost in the woods where she stumbles upon a not so casual human sacrifice featuring zombie-like people and an elderly ringleader played by Kathy Bates. Shelby is then hospitalized after being found and was accused of being on hallucinogens, though this proved to be untrue.
Both Shelby and Matt decide they have had enough, but instead of moving like most sane people would, they choose to stay and fight for the house they have foolishly spent their savings on. They either run to the cops or run into the woods looking to fight, but hold strong either way.
The best part of the episode came when Shelby and Matt find a cellar in the woods that someone had clearly been living in. After investigating they find a video featuring a passionate but crazy professor, played by Denis O’Hare, giving an eerie history of the house and the encounters he had.
This episode also introduced us to our first disposable character, Lee’s daughter Flora. Like any horror movie, it’s not complete without a creepy little girl who seems to be the only one who can see the dead. And by the end of it she goes missing. This was about as predictable as they come.
Chapter two of American Horror Story: Roanoke gave us great visuals and fantastic acting. It also continued with the suspense and thrills of the first episode, however, this could end up being the seasons downfall. The fear is that the entire season is going to feel a like a cheap horror movie. We were immediately thrusted into the terror of this quaint farmhouse, and that’s all we’ve seen. There is no subtlety, it’s all-out, all the time. Will every episode be Shelby and Matt trying to fight off the paranormal? This season also claims to be about the mystery of Roanoke Island but we haven’t even gotten a hint of this. I know at some point their story will get there but I’m growing impatient.
If there isn’t some major progression in the plot or some serious character development, this season will have peaked at its second episode. The audience is no longer sympathetic towards the characters and wonder why they don’t just leave. The house has proven to be seriously haunted, from bloody knives in the walls to murderous nurses, it hasn’t letup sense they moved it.
Like I said, I really enjoyed this episode. I thought it continued on well from chapter one and wasn’t without the scares we have grown to love from American Horror Story, but if they continue at this rate the audience will become immune. It seemed like an episode we would see in the middle of a season. If Roanoke doesn’t make some major strides in its plot this season, it could end up a dud.
Score: 8/10
