It seems like only a year ago that I wrote a review of the television program American Horror Story on this very blog and indeed it has been nearly a year, but American Horror Story is unlike most television series which follows a line of continuity from year to year. Every season of American Horror Story is a self-contained unit, with many of the same actors, but an entirely distinct plot.

This season has the subtitle of The Asylum which at first made me think of the workout program Insanity : The Asylum but is most assuredly nothing like that. The season opened up with a young couple frolicking in a long shutdown insane asylum (hardly a good place to frolic) and have just engaged in a sexual act when they encounter a rather foul creature that is later referred to by the name Bloody Face.

From here we flash back to 1964, where the asylum is up and running and a young man has been put into it for suspicion of being Bloody Face. He has periodic flashbacks to the deaths of his girlfriend that got him there in the first place and when a surgical examination reveals a bizarre mechanical object that springs forth from his neck, we have to wonder what is really going on.

Despite the aspects of utter fiction and fantasy on American Horror Story: Asylum, there is much based on fact. For example, there is a character who has been forced into the asylum because she is an out and happy lesbian who is perfectly happy with her girlfriend. If you were not aware, homosexuality was still in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental disorders even as late as 1980 and was not fully removed until 1986 — something that seems a bit shocking considering that this was in my childhood!

I don’t want to give away too much about the show but I can tell you that it is, to some extent, not as scary as the first season in some ways and far more frightening in others. I think it is possible to catch up with the show at this point and I would strongly recommend viewing it if you want a good dramatic thrill.

4 Comments

  1. David Boles – New York City – David Boles was born in Nebraska and holds an MFA from the Oscar Hammerstein II Center for Theatre Studies at Columbia University in the City of New York. He is an author, dramatist, editor, publisher, and teacher who writes across the live stage, print, radio, television, film, and the web. With more than 50 books in print, David continues to write 2MM words a year and has authored over 25K articles. He is a member of the Dramatists Guild, the Authors Guild, and PEN America, and founded The United Stage advocacy platform on the principle that playwrights have a duty to direct their own work. Read the Prairie Voice Archive at Boles.com | Buy his books at David Boles Books Writing & Publishing at BolesBooks.com | Study with Script Professor at ScriptProfessor.com | Touch American Sign Language mastery at Hardcore ASL at HardcoreASL.com | Explore the Human Meme podcast at HumanMeme.com | Train with Boles Bells at BolesBells.com.
    David W. Boles says:

    Interesting update, Gordon. I will have to look for this series and watch it!

    1. Gordon Davidescu – Born in Perth Amboy, Gordon Davidescu lives in Queens with his wife, children, cat, and plush bears. He loves reading a good book whether it is cloth and paper or digitally.
      Gordon Davidescu says:

      Your search is over — you can find full episodes on iTunes as well as Amazon Video. Hope you enjoy it!

  2. I find both seasons quite different and that the fear in the first season came from the fact that it was a family, that was what made it unsettling. The “Invasion” aspect in terms of the house having unwanted guests/ visitors was also one of those unsettling factors. Season 2, to me is far more twisted and perverse. Even though there is no “family aspect” to it, one immediately finds at least one character they can either relate to, or sympathise with. The only thing that feels a bit out of place (still) are the x-file parts (leaving it as vague as I can so as not to spoil things).

    I am really enjoying season 2, and David W. Boles, I advise you to get a lot of popcorn. 🙂

    1. Gordon Davidescu – Born in Perth Amboy, Gordon Davidescu lives in Queens with his wife, children, cat, and plush bears. He loves reading a good book whether it is cloth and paper or digitally.
      Gordon Davidescu says:

      Thanks! I agree that the family aspect was a bit unsettling. Glad you also like the show!

      Better make it vegan popcorn! 🙂 (I like olive oil on mine!)

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