With the first American Horror Story, my biggest issue was how this ostensible horror series was far too preoccupied with banal family drama and soapy character interactions. You won't find me making the same criticism of Asylum. And yet that doesn't mean everything has been fixed with the series.
From the get go, Asylum throws handfuls of horror tropes right at the viewer. Within the first ten minutes of watching, you see slashers, abandoned asylums, race riots and even goddamn space aliens. Impressively, the show manages to keep this pace up throughout. There is hardly a scene go by where someone isn't doing something horrible, having something horrible done to them, or trying to escape all the other horrible things. It might actually be to the shows detriment, as nazi scientists, sadistic nuns, mutants, serial killers and demonic possessions all jostle for attention. There is something of a lack of focus for much of the series, but I think this over-load of horror tropes probably makes a more interesting viewing than, say, a ceaseless argument about adultery.
After a while, an interesting theme emerges from the show. Initially sympathetic characters become less likable, as their skeletons get pulled out of the closet. Meanwhile, the designated villains of the piece become gradually more sympathetic in the face of even worse evil beings. Every single character goes through one of these arcs, from good to bad or bad to good, and it feels completely natural. The show wants to gradually, subtly shift the viewer's sympathies, and I think it pulls it off.
In terms of flaws for the series, though the family drama is a thing of the past, there is still a lot of scene chewing. This is often exacerbated by the absurdity of the premise (a hospital with demons, a nazi "Moreau" and a space alien? What are the odds?) It also pulls one of the most perfect examples of a big-lipped-alligator moment I have ever seen, all of which undermine the scariness. Also, by resorting to classic horror tropes, we are essentially getting yet another story that depicts mental health in a negative light. Not that asylums didn't do bad things in real life, but I find it troubling how I barely ever see positive depictions of carers.
Over all, it is a definite improvement, even if I haven't actually been scared by the series.
All right, which of you psychiatrists didn't kill someone today?
With the first American Horror Story, my biggest issue was how this ostensible horror series was far too preoccupied with banal family drama and soapy character interactions. You won't find me making the same criticism of Asylum. And yet that doesn't mean everything has been fixed with the series.
From the get go, Asylum throws handfuls of horror tropes right at the viewer. Within the first ten minutes of watching, you see slashers, abandoned asylums, race riots and even goddamn space aliens. Impressively, the show manages to keep this pace up throughout. There is hardly a scene go by where someone isn't doing something horrible, having something horrible done to them, or trying to escape all the other horrible things. It might actually be to the shows detriment, as nazi scientists, sadistic nuns, mutants, serial killers and demonic possessions all jostle for attention. There is something of a lack of focus for much of the series, but I think this over-load of horror tropes probably makes a more interesting viewing than, say, a ceaseless argument about adultery.
After a while, an interesting theme emerges from the show. Initially sympathetic characters become less likable, as their skeletons get pulled out of the closet. Meanwhile, the designated villains of the piece become gradually more sympathetic in the face of even worse evil beings. Every single character goes through one of these arcs, from good to bad or bad to good, and it feels completely natural. The show wants to gradually, subtly shift the viewer's sympathies, and I think it pulls it off.
In terms of flaws for the series, though the family drama is a thing of the past, there is still a lot of scene chewing. This is often exacerbated by the absurdity of the premise (a hospital with demons, a nazi "Moreau" and a space alien? What are the odds?) It also pulls one of the most perfect examples of a big-lipped-alligator moment I have ever seen, all of which undermine the scariness. Also, by resorting to classic horror tropes, we are essentially getting yet another story that depicts mental health in a negative light. Not that asylums didn't do bad things in real life, but I find it troubling how I barely ever see positive depictions of carers.
Over all, it is a definite improvement, even if I haven't actually been scared by the series.