American Horror Story: Freakshow
Mackenzie Schuessler
Step right up, step right up... Be amazed, be enchanted, be mystified, be horrified. You’ve just been granted front row seats to the most exciting show on television! American Horror Story: Freakshow premiered last Wednesday and gave fans an up close and personal look at this seasons characters and their freakish talents. The audience became instantly enthralled with the latest installment of the series and viewers were able to get a sense of the impending doom that is sure to follow. This is a series known for its horrifically disturbing and unique story lines that keep audiences on the edge of their seats and out of their minds.
Unlike other TV shows, American Horror Story starts with new characters, locations, and storylines each season but most of the same actors return each year. The first season, Monster House, aired in 2011 and followed a family who moved to a new home in modern day California, looking for a fresh start after an affair. Unbeknownst to them, the house has a horribly gruesome past and most of the (might I add, deceased) past owners weren't ready to give it up. Next was Asylum.The story takes place in 1964 and follows the patients, doctors and nuns who occupy the Briarcliff Mental Institution, founded to treat and house the criminally insane. Serial killers, a Nazi doctor, the devil, and horrible nuns are all but a few inhabitants of the manor. In last years season, Coven, a mysterious all-girls boarding school has opened in New Orleans to protect and house young women who carry supernatural powers and keep them from the dangers of the outside world.
With high expectations, the first episode of Freak Show, which aired on October 8th, surely delivered just the amount of insanity and terror that viewers were waiting for. It has set high standards within the viewing community for even bigger and better shows to follow. Some viewers, such as Sarah Peters, feel that “Its going to be the best season yet. The Freak Show theme leaves so many opportunities for them to have a crazy good season. I cant wait to see what happens!” The season is set in the 1950’s in the quaint town of Jupiter, Florida follows a struggling freak show led by Elsa Mars, who is played by Jessica Lange. Jupiter is a small, quaint town where “normal” citizens are not very welcoming of anything different than the status quo. Freak Show will certainly present important moral issues, especially about accepting the differences in all of us.
The season premiere, “Monsters Within” familiarized viewers with actors from past seasons they are created as new characters. Jessica Lange reappears as the ring leader of the curious crowd and her devoted follower, Kathy Bates, plays a handsome bearded lady. The charming and ever popular, Evan Peters returns for his fourth season on AHS as the suave but horribly disfigured Jimmy Darling. Elsa finds Bette and Dot Tattler, a set of mysterious Siamese twins that couldn't be more different from each other. Both heads are played by Sarah Paulson. As we get acquainted with some stars of Elsa’s show, it becomes obvious that even with all these oddities, it’s about to go under. After a series of mysterious town tragedies, Ms. Mars decides to take advantage of the situation in hopes that her beloved show can be saved. Elsa will do anything to insure that business will succeed. But throughout the episodes we also get a glimpse at a horrific, nameless clown that stalks the shadows murdering and kidnapping victims. Though his part in the show is unknown at this time, it is obvious he will soon strike more fear in the eyes of Jupiter’s citizens.
While fans wait with anticipation for next weeks episode, it’s easy to see it will be an exciting event within households across the globe! Tune in to FX at 10pm on Wednesdays to get your fill of American Horror Story: Freak Show.
