American Horror Story Season 7 Episode 1 Review

Wherever you land on the political spectrum, most can agree on one thing – the 2016 presidential election was truly a horror-evidence. This flavour of American Horror Story takes that concept, expanding it into a dread-filled satire nearly the current landscape of America.

American Horror Story Season 7 Episode 1 is just the start hour of the season. It'southward less of an earth-shattering opener than I'thousand used to for the series, just it lays out a lot of intriguing fabric right off the bat.

Suffice it to say – I'yard into it and so far.

There are two characters who arguably seem to exist the "chief" folks this season. First, I'll discuss Ally (played with the usual aplomb past the magnificent Sarah Paulson).

As a married lesbian living with her wife and young son in Michigan, a state that (in real life equally in the bear witness) Donald Trump narrowly won in the election, you would think that Marry would be the de facto protagonist of the season. Y'all'd call back she would be the hero and that'd be that.

If you went in thinking that, I totally understand why. Notwithstanding, you'd be 100% wrong.

Ally'southward pitfalls as a character aren't every bit overt every bit Kai's (Evan Peters), patently.

She is not walking around baiting Mexican immigrants into attacking her, smearing Cheeto dust all over her face, or preaching the need for anarchy to overthrow our current society at community board meetings. Nope, that'southward all blue-haired, Trump-supporting Kai.

But Ally own't so grand either.

As our managing editor Carissa Pavlica so aptly pointed out in her pre-flavour preview of American Horror Story: Cult, liberal and/or progressive viewers will experience simply as uncomfortable with "their side" equally they do with the evidence's portrayal of conservatives.

Nosotros've only known Ally for one hour, and already she'south nearly completely insufferable – which I believe is exactly the indicate.

I do feel pity for her right off the bat, as she plunges into a well of despair following the election. But that despair is almost cartoonish, to the point where her psychiatrist (Cheyenne Jackson) and her married woman Ivy (Alison Pill) can inappreciably fifty-fifty have her seriously.

I mean, come on – could a woman who honestly says something like this be meant as annihilation other than a caricature:

I won't believe annihilation until I hear Rachel Maddow say information technology!

Ally

Then, of course, there's the large reveal that Ivy is nonetheless pissed off at Marry – because Ally couldn't bring herself to trust Hillary Clinton enough to vote for her and instead made a protest vote for Jill Stein (aka, ane of the third-party votes that contributed to Trump's win in Michigan).

That Ally had a hand in the very matter that led to her breakdown is some pure, delicious irony.

I've gotta requite it to Ryan Irish potato here – the self-aware liberal sense of humor is very on point.

There are numerous other instances of Marry's cringe-worthy behavior.

Referring casually to Erstwhile President Obama as "Barack" in her therapy session, speaking self-centeredly as if he was her personal savior, remarking that their housekeeper either left or was deported – all of these things underscore the privilege Ally has as a reasonably well-off, cisgender white adult female.

Obviously, every bit a lesbian, Marry has every right to fear for her livelihood in the context of the show. But her over-the-peak preoccupation with the election and its effects on her mental health are portrayed every bit nothing just ridiculous.

All that said, the scary clown sequences (particularly at the grocery store) are fantastically shot. In that location's a mounting sense of dread that really mimics the boring ascent of anxiety to total-on panic attack status. Even the mode it is filmed is perfect.

And then, there's Kai.

Kai is less nuanced than Ally, just Evan Peters still gives this office his all (as usual).

A lot of Kai's motivations still remain unclear. What is most intriguing most Kai is that it'due south unclear whether he's legitimately a supporter of Trump and his behavior – or if he just sees Trump'due south ballot as the perfect vehicle for chaos.

As Kai explains in his speech communication to Mr. Chang at the community board meeting – Evan Peters' standout scene of the 60 minutes – people dearest fear. In a strange way, they crave it.

In Kai'southward mind, allowing fear and chaos to overtake lodge and interruption information technology autonomously is the perfect way for the strong (him, in his own not-so-humble opinion) to come into power and to pb.

Kai is a loon, and I tin't wait to see what he does next.

He clearly has a lot on his agenda. Then far, he has recruited Wintertime (Billie Lourd) to whatsoever his nefarious plan is with Ivy and Marry. He has also seemingly arranged for the murder of the Changs.

This is simply what I'1000 presuming. (PS, the fact that Kai and Winter are (plainly?) siblings makes that weird pinky-linked confessional scene all the stranger.)

But Kai'due south thinly-veiled threat afterwards Chang puts him downwards at the meeting seemed pretty articulate to me – Kai sent that cabal of killer clowns to the Changs' home to kill them and make it look similar a murder-suicide.

There is zip in this earth more than dangerous than a humiliated man.

Kai

RIP, Changs.

Jumping back to the topic of Wintertime, I remember I can safely say that she is my favorite graphic symbol then far.

Billie Lourd is phenomenally creepy. The style she can go completely deadpan and emotionless behind the eyes is extremely effective.

Wintertime is a sketchy nanny on par wth Damien's nanny in The Omen. That's, like, A-level creepy nanny status.

I don't fully empathise the switch from Vassar drop-out who campaigned difficult for Hillary Clinton (wanting a "trigger alarm" when Trump's win was announced and citing Lena Dunham retweeting her every bit a "proudest moment") to apparent stooge of her brother Kai. Just I'thou certainly intrigued enough to stick around and find out more.

I'm also not sure what the game plan is hither with forcing Ozzie to get desensitized to death, gore, and murder. But I know that it's phenomenally disturbing – maybe the most disturbing chemical element in an hour clogged of killer clowns.

Speaking of which: Twisty's render was much-hyped, which leads me to think he will be back in some other capacity than only equally a horror comic book character that Ozzie loves.

That tin't be it for him, can it? If so, what a letdown.

Stray thoughts:

• I'm glad that the episodes take actual titles again. I got tired of American Horror Story: Roanoke'southward "Chapters" pretty quickly.

• Seeing Billie Lourd on my screen made me miss Scream Queens all over again. RIP, Scream Queens.

• Bleach-blonde Colton Haynes! More, delight!

• The child playing Ozzie is, and so far, a very good child actor. I am notoriously difficult to impress when it comes to child actors, then this is proverb something.

• Chaz Bono, a trans man, playing a MAGA hat-wearing, Trump-supporting grocery cashier is very clever. Also, did he non accept a manus? What'south up with that?

• Perhaps I'm looking too hard for past season connections, only "The Butchery on Main" (the restaurant Ally and Ivy ain) immediately had me thinking of American Horror Story Season six's Butcher.

What did you think of the American Horror Story flavor premiere? Share your thoughts by commenting beneath, and don't forget that you can spotter American Horror Story online here at TV Fanatic anytime!

Caralynn Lippo is a staff writer for TV Fanatic. Follow her on Twitter.

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Source: https://www.tvfanatic.com/2017/09/american-horror-story-season-7-episode-1-review-election-night/

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