Series Best season thus far...
In my opinion, of course. That said, it's not for the faint of heart.
Having seen the first three horror stories, I can say that Asylum is my favorite. If only because it is the one that seems the most well-rounded. It also probably has the most to offer.
Seriously, we've got mad scientists, feral mutants, mysterious aliens, an Ed Gein style Serial Killer straight out of Rob Zombie's dreams, angels and demons, on top of all the deranged mental patients and ill-tempered nuns. It's a season jam-packed with drama, melodrama, twists, turns, Squick, Gorn, Nightmare Fuel and Tearjerkers. All that good stuff.
While the other seasons fluctuate between the present and the past, Asylum actually has two different timelines. One that takes place in the present day, when a newlywed couple wanders into the controversial and long abandoned Briarcliff Insane Asylum and joking about the legendary and long dead psycho-killer, Bloody Face. The other takes place in the 1960s, when Briarcliff is still running and Bloody Face is on the loose.
Being an avid fan of the slasher genre in my youth, I appreciated that much of the story is centered around a masked killer. What was even more impressive was the atmosphere of infectious madness that seems to be emphasized throughout, but especially at Briarcliff. This season is so scary and creepy and ruthless that it's a little bit hilarious. The campiness was tuned just right.
Asylum also has the most fleshed out and interesting cast of characters. Whether its the cold but benign head nun Sister Jude (Jessica Lange in what might be her greatest performance), the anti-heroic Intrepid Reporter Lana Winters, or the unlucky everyman Kit Walker. The two most surprising this season were probably Lily Rabe as Sister Mary Eunice, a good nun gone bad, and Zachary Quinto as Dr. Thredson, a weird but friendly visitor at Briarcliff. Even the minor characters are unique.
Though there are times where it feels like it's plodding and being written without direction, by the last episodes it all comes together rather nicely. Just about everything is resolved, and I liked it. And I even liked the things that were left ambiguous. It was very entertaining, legitimately terrifying, and just a very excellent season.
Good job, American Horror Story. After Asylum, I always give you the benefit of the doubt.
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.