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'AMERICAN HORROR STORY' RECAP: "OPEN HOUSE"
By: Emily Cheever
Ology.com
http://www.ology.com/tv/american-horror-story-recap-open-house
Nov 17 2011
A phone beeping off it's hook, an ominous score, a woman weeping by
the fireplace. Looks like it's another episode of American Horror
Story. And break out the iced tea because this week it's an "Open
House."
I'm starting to wish this show was a little more deft in revealing
their rules of haunting. For example, why (besides the fact that she
was a lusty woman in her life) can Moira be seen differently? Why
haven't we met Larry's wife and children? And mostly (perhaps they're
saving that for a finale) what is so special about this house/land
anyway?
In previous week's we've seen a little more opportunities for acting
where this week was back to it's freak fest roots. Not only do we
see that Constance once chained up her other mentally challenged
son in the attic, Viv masturbating to the black security guard, a
mastectomy due to demon baby teeth, but we also see Moira literally
bite someone's dick off. Entertaining? Yes. Sensical? Eh. But being
seven episodes in, I suppose we can't hope for much sense anymore.
The pulp of the episode came from the fact that Vivian trying to
sell the house. Even with her issues, she's the most balanced person
on this show. She gets two offers- one from Larry and one from an
Armenian developer who lusts after Moira and everyone calls Persian.
One of the two interested buyers will be schlongless by the episode. I
bet you can guess which one.
The Armenian wants to buy the house with the sole purpose of tearing
it down to build an apartment complex. Constance, having most of her
relatives in the house, hates the idea as she fears that she will
loose her ghost family forever. This is how she enlists Moira's help,
and Larry's (subplot: he's in love with her and his wife knew it- she
was the one who burned herself and the kids) to do that unspeakable
thing. What was it? Oh right, that penis thing. After the Armenian
dies Constance orders, "make sure he's off the property before he
expires. i wouldn't care to ever encounter his carcass again."
Unfortunately, Violet's character is starting to be pushed into a
one note teen. Yes, we get it. She's sad. She can see ghosts, she
likes the house, and she's sad. Hopefully they will play more with
the idea that 1) she's still a normal teenager who should, you know,
do stuff and 2) really have fun with the plot that she's dating a
ghost. Now she just seems pathetically content in her moping, which
is something that all teenagers do from time to time, but considering
that this was never a show about normalcy, they should switch it
up. I do appreciate that there was a glimpse of Violet beginning
to understand her medium powers- in writing classes they talk about
this as "learning the rules of the world." Still, it was not enough
to push me into affection for her character.
The big reveal and push from this episode comes from Vivian at the
very end. We now know that Vivian is having twins, not a demon baby,
which is disappointing on some level. But when Violet shows her old
photos that she found in the attic she recognizes the face of Mrs. Dr.
Charles. Will Vivian start to believe in ghosts?
I'd prefer that in the future of American Horror Story, they stick to
just establishing the history and cut out guest characters. Sure, Eric
Stonestreetâ~@~K and Zach Quintoâ~@~K were great, but this Armenian
guy? I felt that he only existed for shock value. We got enough
shock value already when we find out that Mrs. Dr. Charles' monster
baby (made by her ether addicted husband) is alive. Then she tries
to breast feed it (it bites her nipple off, essentially). Then she
kills her husband and herself. See? That's enough shock value. Listen,
I truly love how creatively f*cked up this show is but like all Ryan
Murphy shows need to be reminded, a little goes a long way.
Awesome scene acknowledgement: After Moira gives the Armenian a blow
job for the first time (as the young one), the old Moira leaves
the room wiping her chin. It's a simple trick but really fun. The
camera work that is, not the whole blow...you know what, you get what
I'm saying.
SumOlogy: Private parts are at the mercy of American Horror Story.
By: Emily Cheever
Ology.com
http://www.ology.com/tv/american-horror-story-recap-open-house
Nov 17 2011
A phone beeping off it's hook, an ominous score, a woman weeping by
the fireplace. Looks like it's another episode of American Horror
Story. And break out the iced tea because this week it's an "Open
House."
I'm starting to wish this show was a little more deft in revealing
their rules of haunting. For example, why (besides the fact that she
was a lusty woman in her life) can Moira be seen differently? Why
haven't we met Larry's wife and children? And mostly (perhaps they're
saving that for a finale) what is so special about this house/land
anyway?
In previous week's we've seen a little more opportunities for acting
where this week was back to it's freak fest roots. Not only do we
see that Constance once chained up her other mentally challenged
son in the attic, Viv masturbating to the black security guard, a
mastectomy due to demon baby teeth, but we also see Moira literally
bite someone's dick off. Entertaining? Yes. Sensical? Eh. But being
seven episodes in, I suppose we can't hope for much sense anymore.
The pulp of the episode came from the fact that Vivian trying to
sell the house. Even with her issues, she's the most balanced person
on this show. She gets two offers- one from Larry and one from an
Armenian developer who lusts after Moira and everyone calls Persian.
One of the two interested buyers will be schlongless by the episode. I
bet you can guess which one.
The Armenian wants to buy the house with the sole purpose of tearing
it down to build an apartment complex. Constance, having most of her
relatives in the house, hates the idea as she fears that she will
loose her ghost family forever. This is how she enlists Moira's help,
and Larry's (subplot: he's in love with her and his wife knew it- she
was the one who burned herself and the kids) to do that unspeakable
thing. What was it? Oh right, that penis thing. After the Armenian
dies Constance orders, "make sure he's off the property before he
expires. i wouldn't care to ever encounter his carcass again."
Unfortunately, Violet's character is starting to be pushed into a
one note teen. Yes, we get it. She's sad. She can see ghosts, she
likes the house, and she's sad. Hopefully they will play more with
the idea that 1) she's still a normal teenager who should, you know,
do stuff and 2) really have fun with the plot that she's dating a
ghost. Now she just seems pathetically content in her moping, which
is something that all teenagers do from time to time, but considering
that this was never a show about normalcy, they should switch it
up. I do appreciate that there was a glimpse of Violet beginning
to understand her medium powers- in writing classes they talk about
this as "learning the rules of the world." Still, it was not enough
to push me into affection for her character.
The big reveal and push from this episode comes from Vivian at the
very end. We now know that Vivian is having twins, not a demon baby,
which is disappointing on some level. But when Violet shows her old
photos that she found in the attic she recognizes the face of Mrs. Dr.
Charles. Will Vivian start to believe in ghosts?
I'd prefer that in the future of American Horror Story, they stick to
just establishing the history and cut out guest characters. Sure, Eric
Stonestreetâ~@~K and Zach Quintoâ~@~K were great, but this Armenian
guy? I felt that he only existed for shock value. We got enough
shock value already when we find out that Mrs. Dr. Charles' monster
baby (made by her ether addicted husband) is alive. Then she tries
to breast feed it (it bites her nipple off, essentially). Then she
kills her husband and herself. See? That's enough shock value. Listen,
I truly love how creatively f*cked up this show is but like all Ryan
Murphy shows need to be reminded, a little goes a long way.
Awesome scene acknowledgement: After Moira gives the Armenian a blow
job for the first time (as the young one), the old Moira leaves
the room wiping her chin. It's a simple trick but really fun. The
camera work that is, not the whole blow...you know what, you get what
I'm saying.
SumOlogy: Private parts are at the mercy of American Horror Story.