NOT USING SPOILER TAGS.. But here is my review, I don't really spoiler anything major anyway
Okay. So I just finished watching the premiere. I tried scrolling through previous posts to see your guys' reactions to the show, but there are just to many pages, and not enough time in the day. But for the most part it seemed quite positive. On to my reaction.
Going in I was quite nervous as I was watching this with my family.. As I stated a while back, but I kind of threw my nerves away, and decided to just not care, and actually those nerves went away quite quickly, the reason I was so nervous came down to what was hyped to be a very graphic, bloody, gruesome, nude-fest and the fact that I wanted my family to like Gaga, and this would be the first real experience of them witnessing her first hand, but my nerves vanished quite quickly as soon as I seen the Swedish girls.
I was extraordinarily excited, I don't know if I was as excited as I was for Freak Show though surprisingly. Something about the Freak Show's opening had my heart pulsing, the odd arrangement sounds during tense moments, surprisingly made that first episode more pulsing. The anticipation I felt for seeing Sarah Paulson with two heads, and the scene with Jessica and Sarah in the hospital had me dying at how brilliant the season felt like it was going to be, but after that scene the show dropped off, and immediately I knew Freak Show was going to be my least favorite season.
But Hotel, surprised me. I don't think Kathy's entry into Hotel was as exhilarating as the presence that is Jessica Lange, so in that moment I truly felt Jessica's absence. But, I was still hyped by these Swedish girls (or whatever that language was) I think they both did a brilliant job, in truth if you compare this opening scene to the milk man in Freak Show, Hotel comes out superior. That thing that came out of the bed really reminded me of Shelly in Asylum. It was a very intense way to start the season, possibly the most horrific. I wasn't scared, but more shocked.
I can't remember scene by scene so I'll just go by what I remember from then on.
I love that they added the detective side of it, it actually adds some reason to the show, and that right there brings, and fulfills any doubt of their being a lackluster plot, which I think Ryan was smart to do, and Wes was a great choice. Although at times I find him to be quite stiff, cut off, and unrelatable, very statue like, and if this character is supposed to be a heroine in this season, he hasn't pulled me in yet but I guess I kinda felt the same way about the dad in Murder House (I forgot his name, don't know why). His daughter is fine, she doesn't annoy me, she also doesn't do anything for me thus far, but I guess she is cute.
I was doubtful that this season would have any emotion, or any potential emotion but I was very wrong, this season isn't just about being visually beautiful, it seems it will offer rich story-telling, which real emotion (a child abduction, family dealing with that), but it's whether or not the conviction is there, and Ryan shines a light on those moments and lets the characters go there. (Which I think is possible from the preview we saw of Chloe's character screaming out "Holden!")
Now onto Chloe.. Which ties into Wes, now don't hate on me, because I stan for Gaga, but I'm about to get a little bit messy, y'all drag Gaga, yes her character is very emotionless at this point in time, but Chloe trying to bring out those emotions, I just really felt no compassion towards her character, I understand what they were going for, a family in distress, but at times I honestly felt her acting was weak, if you were supposed to feel for this character the way that you felt for Vivien Harmon (in Murder House) well then Chloe is truthfully nothing in comparison, at least not yet. And I don't know that I can say what it is yet, but the scene where she was crying about how she can't look at Wes because he looks like Holden, I was like no girl, I want real emotion! Give it to me the way Vivien went in on her husband about being a cheater, and Wes give me some real response, don't be such a closed wall. And yes they are completely different characters, different time as well, but if these are in comparison the heroes, or the people who ground the show, they need to work on their conviction as as family. Her scene at the amusement park, reeled me in, and I felt intrigue towards her character, so I think I need to see more of this story line, which I am looking forward too. This isn't a jab, or a drag, they are brilliant actors, but if I felt any cringe in this episode it surprisingly came from the family moments, but I like them as actors, and I can see it going up from here. And I'm not actor myself, so they did great. I just wanted MORE.
I also thought Holden going missing on the carousel could've been done better, like him look at his son, and then looking away, then looking back, maybe a wave. But maybe that's just me, wanting to bring out the drama. That scene was shot beautifully otherwise, and it gave me Heavy Rain vibes. In that moment I was obviously thinking about Gaga snatching Holden from the pictures we saw of her on set, which obviously is a major spoiler, that kinda ruined it, as I knew Gaga had snatched him, or so we think I guess. But that is my own fault. That scene was done really well, the colors were gorgeous.
Marcy from Murder House
on point, the dog dying from season 1, very subtle, but a great punch. I'm interested to see more of her character..
Also when Wes went to look into that house, that sent a message from his wife's phone that looked like Mr. March.
Mare absolutely love her accent, she pulls it off brilliantly as well. I want to see more of her character. And actually her beauty stunned me for whatever reason, because I don't think I've seen her as an actor looks so intriguing, her other characters kind of faded away for me, and left no impact on the stories tbh, obviously she was a big part of Orphans, but I really didn't care for her previous two characters, but I'm intrigued by this one.
Max Greenfield, he did all of scenes so well, I won't go into detail about that scene to much, It honestly wasn't to cringe worthy, or overdone. The way they explained it had me gagging, it was full on, but I honestly didn't feel overly uncomfortable, but it left me feeling a little dirty, Sally stole that scene. Sarah Paulson
Sarah after giving the drugs to Matt. When she walked down the hall, she did that so well, and obviously what followed with Kathy. I actually like the implication of dealing with addiction, that is a major plot I hope is fully explored. It was interesting to see that moment when Sarah and Matt shared a needle, I think that added layers, to what could be a very artificial storyline, you always hear about that happening, but I don't know that I've ever seen it done on something like this, so I thought that was very smart.
Kathy acted that scene also brilliantly, except her saying you can't leave, I just felt like in that moment she should've got up, called 911. Instead of just laying there anyway.. That whole scene was done so well.
It's funny because so many scenes were done so well, and usually I felt like Freak Show had so many filler scenes, that I honestly didn't care for. But here scene after scene I was intrigued. I was left wanting more. I don't think one scene here was filler, every scene came with conviction, and furthered your intrigue to each character, which is why I think the ensemble cast works well on a show like this..
Denis flawless, flawless!!
his best character in the series yet
Now onto Gaga..
I will firstly say. I stan. Not that it matters, because I am an AHS fan, and I will go in brutally honest. I also will say I had my own theory years ago, from when I saw Asylum, that Gaga would fit perfectly in this show, after seeing the Lana Winters character. So the fact that my fave and one of my fave shows came together, I am still in disbelief. But I'll leave that for another time..
It was 100% an ensemble cast, and I'm glad! It wasn't the Gaga show, it was a Horror Show, and Gaga was just one of the main characters (which may change, I see her getting more involved as time goes on), and in truth, she is undoubtedly one of the most intriguing characters. And I must say, she slipt away into her character which is an incredible compliment, because usually my heart would race when I saw Gaga, especially when in the presence of family, as I would want them to accept, and like her, for whatever crazy reason, but here I just felt her being apart of the show. And god was she a great addition.
Her first scene with the coke I was like YAAASSS serve me Fiona Good from Coven, she kinda gives me that vibe, of a witch as well, which is funny because she is supposed to be a Vampire? And I assume she is dead.. Anyway
First scene, with Matt, at the cemetery, she really demanded the screen, and lit up the show, her character is strong, and literally feels like Morticia Addams, she is the presence that resides of the Hotel, which I feel works incredible well for her in her debut acting role, the imagery for her character is gorgeous, she feels very stoic, elegant, evil, intriguing, I get like Nicole Kidman in The Golden Compos (weird comparison, I know) I can't find the right word, she feels iconic, and as if the creators have given her the floor, and really given her the respect she deserves as an artist, and made a very worthy role for her, she has a very enchanting presence, and that presences is above any other cast member in that realm, as I feel she demands the attention of the viewer without forcing herself down your throat, it really was done beautifully. But that doesn't really speak words about her acting more so about her presence.
4 some executed wonderfully. Her boobs looked great, it honestly wasn't overly graphic, I didn't see any nipples from her, her ass looked great, her hair, fabulous! It was really an eye opener for the episode, and a stand out moment. When she smoked the cigarette at the end, and we first heard her voice, it sounded powerful.
Her slitting that poor girls throat, and Kathy being frightened of her was also done wonderfully, Kathy's lips were literally quivering.. I saw people complaining about the scene with Cheyenne Jackson. She lost me in moments in truth, but so did he in that moment. I kinda of lost what they were talking about, but I still think she did a wonderfully job, it just wasn't as powerful as her other scenes, the scene with her and the child went in out of being good, to great. And I like this vibe she has around children.
Not one scene did she make me cringe, which I thought she would. Her acting honestly it shocked me, because yes there wasn't alot of it, but at the same time, I didn't say OK shes a bad actor and shes just here for her big name, it was a big step up from her scenes in Sin City, and Machete Kills (even though I like the scenes in Machete Kills), she fit right in, and did a brilliant job, and if anyone drags her, so be it, because she truthfully killed what she was given, The Countess is the perfect name for her, and she definitely has left me intrigued.
I also saw people say they liked the scene where she talks about Matt's jaw, but that was actually the 1 scene where I was like her accent sounded a little odd. But she looked incredible! She stole every scene she was in, and her and Matt are a brilliant pairing. I want to see more, and more of them. Congrats Gaga, as a stan I am proud, but even further as a fan of AHS, I can say I am proud to have you on board, because you really enrich the show, and I really hope you reside in season 6, even in a smaller part, so we can get LG5
If I forget anything.. My bad
Honestly the greatest opening episode to the season, it's a big step up from Freak Show, I am honestly left wanting more, I honestly can say, I want to keep watching, I actually can't wait til next week and these 13 episode wait times are going to be hell.
And I think the biggest compliment this season could get, as Jessica is kinda what made this show, or so people thought, but maybe it was the brilliant writing they gave, and her conviction that made the show, so in truth we only lost some conviction, and no less credit to her, because I stan for her, and her acting very hard, but I truthfully didn't fill the loss of Jessica after the opening scene was over. I didn't feel her absence, because the other cast is that brilliant. The ensemble works here, the cast, characters seem rich, and all have intrigue, not one character is annoying, they all have value, even the children, I felt some blank space, or dead air at moments, as if because the Hotel is so massive, and you see like 2-3 people in 1 massive room at a time, and the Hotel is so dead, it feels literally like a ghost town, which made it feel isolating, but that could be the point. Every character slipped so easily into their new characters, that you kinda lost who they were last season, and I may go as far to say every person returning from last season so far that we've seen I prefer their characters now, because they just feel more comfortable in their new characters skin! Which makes me really think that was the vibe Freak Show went for, because their is a lot more realism, even with the shock value in Hotel. Love the flash backs, and if I were to order in which season I liked the most at this point, I would say
Murder House > Hotel > Asylum > Coven > Freak Show
But let me remind you by the end of each season my ranking ended up
Asylum > Murder House > Coven > Freak Show
and how I believe by the end of Hotel I feel the ranking will be
Asylum > Murder House > Hotel (> a very small gap>) Coven > Freak Show
Lord did Ryan answer my prayers, massive step up from Freak Show, all round a better cast, I didn't like the strong man, I didn't even like Evan, or Kathy in Freak Show most characters annoyed me, but thats not the same here. There is so much going for this season, Ryan just needs to keep it up, and this season will be a great addition to the series, and honestly not a step down at all, and maybe even a step up.
My advice, slow up on the gore, keep up with the psychological horror, integrate more pulsing horror sounds, use sound affects to your advantage. Focus on Gaga, Sarah, Kathy, Denis (in small doses), Matt. Don't push the fashion story line with Cheyenne to far because that could end up being a gay mess. The Art though could be exciting, visuals are on point, i feel almost like a Tim Burton at times, when watching Sarah and Kathy go at it especially. Keep Gaga goth, and the goth music, find redemption for these characters, and heart. Don't play up the drill-bit-*****, and play on the history of the Hotel. Because there is so much potential. ALSO SOMETHING I MUST STRESS. They need to find a sound that each season had whether it was the la duh dah in Coven, or the tense sound during Freak Show, because I felt it was missing here, which may have made up for some of that blank space I talked about earlier. Find that, because that could add a whole new layer to the show, otherwise the score is wonderful. And I heard a lot of sounds used in the title sequence used in the actual show.
I'd go with 7.7/10 and might be the best opening episode, if not 2nd to Murder House. Also not worried about lashings, reviewers, because as a fan, and someone who dragged Freak Show, I know this episode ***** all over the opening episode of Freak Show, and maybe even the first couple episodes combined, if it keeps this pace, it's going to be a great ride! (but knowing Ryan, he'll probably disappoint in areas, but he just didn't disappoint me very much in this premiere episode) Great job on everyone's part, small note the title sequence looks great watching it on your TV screen, I thought I loved it before, but wow
Really great job, and really has kept my anticipation and has my love for this show in full force!
@ this probably being longer than all of Gaga's dialogue this season combined.
It takes me a few seconds to understand who is who 
)
They always kill the hot guys 
Did you even watch it