Genre: Sci-Fi | Horror | Thriller
Air Date/Time: November 23 at 10/9c
Network: FX Network
Creators: Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk
Director: Miguel Arteta
Writer: Ryan Murphy
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.
YAY, IT’S SCARY! Remember back in the first few episodes when it seemed like each one was an homage to a different kind of fear? Welcome back to that, in buckets. The scary is more third-person this week as opposed to scary for the viewer, but it is still scary. And it’s done quite well, slowly building, with the occasional jump thrown in for good measure. We even get a laugh-out-loud moment, as happens in some of the best scary movies.
Speaking of which, they have done a number of salutes to various horror movies in past weeks. This one is an homage to a suspense movie (which I will not name – spoilers), with horror thrown in free of charge. Thank you, American Horror Story! And thank you, Ryan Murphy; your episodes are apparently always my favorites.
Sadly, if you are looking for Jessica Lange in this episode, your search will be in vain, although Constance’s name is mentioned once. This, however, is Connie Britton’s episode, and she makes you not even notice the absence of our favorite neighbor. She is ably assisted by really exceptional camera work and lighting, and good lord the music is beyond exemplary. Eerie sliding craziness with the strings, periodically punctuated by single notes from a piano. But Connie Britton, wow. Just wow.
As for the actual storylines this week: we always get backstory in flashbacks as well as through exposition, but this time it includes what went on and goes on with the unliving residents. There is a fair amount of jumping between timelines – don’t blink, as one reviewer friend did, and miss the “six months ago” card at the bottom of the screen at one point – but most of the transitions are nicely done; some are even artful. Speaking of not blinking: not that you ever would, but don’t miss the opening segment, as you learn the identity of the titular Rubber Man right then and there.
The last scene seemed mis-placed during a first watch; the preceding scene felt more like it would have been the better choice. Upon reflection and a second watch I instead have this question for you viewers, once you’ve seen it: is it a warning, or a hint? Bwahaha.
Welcome back to full excellence, oh favorite new show o’ mine.
I give American Horror Story: Episode 8 “Rubber Man” Five Out of Five Stars.
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