Genre: Sci-Fi | Horror | Thriller

Air Date/Time: November 16 at 10/9c

Network: FX Network

Creators: Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk

Director: Tim Hunter

Writer: 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.

Creepy is back with more vigor this week, though the roller coaster is still not in full force; it’s more like bumper cars. “Open House” was written by one of the co-creators, so of course it’s excellent, and definitely more cohesive than last week, but it’s still missing just a tiny bit of snap, and could use a bit more terror thrown in, for my taste. In fairness, however, a good friend of mine who is also a reviewer found parts of this installment exceedingly terrifying; therefore, consider yourself warned. She chastised me for watching with the lights on, but it was nighttime when I watched, and I recognize my own Scary At Night Limits.

YES we get more answers this week! and of course YES we get at least one new question; I can think of at least two. I saw someone tweet a theory about one aspect of last week’s episode that had me wondering, and I’m still wondering after this week’s episode. I feel it necessary at this point, however, to remind viewers to not put too much time and effort into analysis and theorizing. There are enough hands involved in this series that inconsistencies are bound to happen, and they have happened. Relax and enjoy the show.

And yes, we really do get a show this week, and as always, more backstory. Last week’s backstory wasn’t a complete surprise, as we’d been told about it before. This week, though, we not only get more information about some prior residents whom we’ve already met, but we learn about a kinda-new-to-us additional one. It’s this kind of progression that makes the show so compelling for me, and keeps me so ravenous for more.

Well, that and the performances. Marcy, the realtor, breaks out just a bit more this episode, so I can’t let another week pass without giving Christine Estabrook a nod, she’s a treat. Connie Britton puts on another brave performance, fortunately for us a different kind of brave than last week, I really wasn’t up for more brains. And happily, we get more Constance. While truly an ensemble series, Jessica Lange’s contribution is incalculable. She completely sells one scene in particular that would be incomprehensible in any other hands but hers.

As for effects, kudos to the makeup people or VFX people or both, but to whomever makes Jessica Lange look ten+ years younger when we see her in a flashback. It’s really well done. The music was subtle enough to enhance and not detract. And having seen a different new show this season that is profoundly lacking in necessary atmosphere, a giant tip o’ the hat to the people involved in giving this series the softened, correctly lit, dense, beautiful look that draws the viewer in, and particularly supports the house’s bid to be considered a full-fledged character.

I love the house, and I love the show. Though I didn’t get that careening sensation I so enjoy in my favorite episodes, it still had the requisite creepiness, answers, new questions, and performances both in front of the camera and behind the scenes, that keep this show at the top of my new series favorites.

I give American Horror Story: Episode 7 “Open House” Four Out of Five Stars.