Having not watched seasons 4 or 5 due to massive
disappointment in season 3, this viewer decided to jump back on the American Horror Story bandwagon and tune
in for the premier episode of season 6.
AHS is known for having a different
theme each season, but co-creator Ryan Murphy and his team kept the new theme for season 6 top secret with only vague screenshots in its trailers and an even more
mysterious title depicting a question mark in front of the number 6. Rabid fans
across the globe congealed in forums on the internet to discuss subtleties in
grave detail about season 6 and its possible theme, making it one of the
smartest marketing ploys in today’s programming. Not until episode 1 aired,
would anyone know what the new installment holds for AHS fans everywhere.
Right from the start you can tell something is
different. Firstly, the narrative comes at you in a never-before-used style
called “docuseries” or “doc-series” where people sit in front of a camera and
tell their story while a reenactment portrays every word, providing a more
immediate connection to the events. Usually coinciding with these types of
shows, disclaimers are shown before the segment assuring audiences these
stories are based on actual events and AHS season 6 skillfully uses the
“docuseries” style, which is a manipulative, but fun gimmick nonetheless. You
are watching a show within a show about actual events. Adding to Six’s
uniqueness, this season brings in actual
history from the late 1500s. There was such a place, what we know today as Dare
County, North Carolina, where an entire populated settlement of colonists disappeared
leaving no clues as to how or why. This has since been dubbed the Lost Colony.
Though season 6, subtitled, “My Roanoke Nightmare”
is new, the actors are recurring. AHS is at least refreshing in its efforts in
this sense. Actors playing roles in previous seasons return as different
characters, something rarely seen nowadays. Most notably, Sarah Paulson--while
playing a relatively small role in season 1--she is now undoubtedly the lead
in each season. Along with some relative newcomers ,
there are veterans Evan Peters, Denis O’Hare, and Lily Rabe. Cuba Gooding Jr.
makes his debut as Matt Miller’s reenactor.
As explained briefly above, you are invited to witness
a reenactment of Matt (Andre Holland) and Shelby (Lily Rabe) Miller’s story
about their experience. You watch as the real Miller’s flesh out their story while
also watching the reenactors of Matt (Cuba Gooding Jr.) and Shelby (Sarah
Paulson). Quickly, the Miller’s succumb to bone-chilling noises, sightings, and
a brisk violent encounter, foreshadowing episodes to come. This brings us back
to the brilliant roots of the series’ inception. Episode 1 leaves this
exciting yet terrifying taste in your mouth.
So far, the writers aren’t going
for the big theatrics similar to seasons before, but are getting down to
brass-tacks and are bringing back what made American Horror Story so popular to
begin with. Season 1 was groundbreaking in its storytelling, acting, and its
strong invitation for the audience’s participation. The season 6 debut checks
all of these boxes. Ok AHS, you got me.
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Score
-H