Contributor: Gregg Wright
Written by Jessica Sharzer
Directed by Michael Lehmann
“American Horror Story” has returned from its break, and I’m pleased to see it return, but it still seems to be exhibiting all of the same problems as before. Most of the individual parts remain fascinating and entertaining, but the larger story structure still leaves me scratching my head. It’s clear that the writers aren’t just making it all up as they go along, but the season also doesn’t feel nearly as well-planned as the first one did. Rather than build to a logical conclusion, story arcs seem to meander in accordance with some fickle whim.
In fact, the best way I can describe it is that the individual episode writers, though overseen by Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk, seem to be totally in the dark about what’s going to happen after each episode. And they do a fine job; at least as fine as possible, considering their lack of knowledge about what’s supposed to happen next. This is probably not what literally occurs in the writer’s room, but I think this pretty well describes the final product: storytelling that seems spontaneous.
There are specific examples of this phenomena that I could refer to. The apparent resolution of Dr. Arden and Sister Mary’s (a.k.a. The Devil’s) storylines are one. I appreciated many aspects of the writing here, but their deaths still left me saying “That’s it?” Considering how much time was spent on these two characters this season, this ending seems oddly anti-climactic. The Devil’s plotting and scheming has been an enormous part of the season’s focus. Now the focus will likely shift to Thredson and the aliens, leaving me to wonder why the Devil was treated as being so important.
There are, however, elements of the story (the most satisfying parts) that resemble the inspired story arcs from the first season. Despite becoming a rather tiresome part of the plot, ex-Sister Judith’s descent from iron-fisted matriarch and villain to humbled ally of Kit and Lana constitutes good storytelling. The same could be said for the whole Bloody Face arc and the involvement of the aliens, though it remains an annoyance to me that they seem to have been relegated so heavily to the background for most of the season.
I really can’t decide what to think of Monsignor Howard’s role in the story. Was it really the plan all along to have him be the one who overcomes temptation and takes out one of the season’s main baddies? I like seeing him become so heroic, and it makes a certain sense to have him deal with his lust for power, but it seems odd to see him suddenly take on this role in the show. Maybe if it had been built up to more, but as is, I would have thought that having Dr. Arden or Sister Judith dispatch her would have fit better with what we’ve seen so far.
As usual, the storytelling issues don’t keep this from being one of the more daring and intriguing shows of the past several years. The spontaneous dance number in the middle of the episode is completely bizarre, and yet I couldn’t help but crack a smile at it. And it was a stroke of sheer genius to turn Pepper into a frightening genius and lackey for the aliens. There are many such delightfully odd and compelling elements throughout every episode of this show, and they go a long way toward keeping me engaged, even as the overall story underwhelms.
Score: 7/10
