Genre: Sci-Fi | Horror | Thriller

Air Date/Time: October 12th at 10/9c

Network: FX Network

Creators: Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk

Director: Ryan Murphy

Writer: Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk

American Horror Story revolves around The Harmons, a family of three who moved from Boston to Los Angeles as a means to reconcile past anguish. The all-star cast features Dylan McDermott (Dark Blue, The Practice) as Ben Harmon, a psychiatrist; Connie Britton (Friday Night Lights) as Vivien Harmon, Ben’s wife; newcomer Taissa Farmiga as Violet, the Harmons’ teenage daughter; Jessica Lange (Grey Gardens, Big Fish) in her first-ever regular series TV role as Constance, the Harmons’ neighbor; Evan Peters (Kick-Ass, Invasion) plays Tate Langdon, one of Ben’s patients; and Denis O’Hare (J. Edgar, True Blood) as Larry Harvey. Guest stars for the series include Frances Conroy (Six Feet Under, Happy Town) as the Harmons’ housekeeper; Alexandra Breckenridge (True Blood, Ticket Out) as the Harmons’ housekeeper; and newcomer Jamie Brewer as Constance’s daughter.

Here’s one for those of you who prefer the more traditional type of scare. Because once the main storyline of the episode gets going, it is. Totally. Scary. The don’t-watch-this-alone-at-night kind of scary. I have a TV critic friend who stopped watching these at night after seeing this. Personally I stopped watching these at night after the first episode.

As scary as it was, I ever so slightly disappointed that it was more traditional. Happily, however, there is still plenty of Weird to go around, and it’s still an adrenaline-inducing, glued-to-the-screen episode. Jessica Lange once again chews up the scenery as Blanche Constance. It’s a great part and great writing but what she does with it takes it a level beyond great. Her ownership of that part reminds me of Margo Martindale in her Emmy-award-winning role as Mags in Justified.  You’re not thinking of her in any previous role when you watch her in this one. It’s another good episode for Evan Peters as well, especially near the beginning. Who knew the sulky kid from Invasion could be so very disconcerting?

This episode takes us off-campus for part of the story, which is also slightly disappointing,  but understandably necessary; you can’t have every scene take place in that (amazing, gorgeous) house. And here’s an interesting bit of trivia. Co-creators Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk both feel that the scariest moment of this episode takes place away from the house. It wasn’t for me, but maybe it was more so on the page. As they said in our interview, they’re writing about what they and the other writers find most scary. I’m choosing to not psychoanalyze about this.

A great episode, better than most things currently on TV and absolutely recommended, but not quite up to its pilot standards. Please be just a little more weird next time. Until then…

I give American Horror Story, Episode 2: “Home Invasion” 4 out of 5 Stars.