AMERICAN HORROR STORY – FREAK SHOW [Season Premiere Review]: Family Circus.

It’s October, so that means 4 things in particular: The Walking Dead, scary movies, Halloween, and American Horror Story.

Boo.

Allow me to begin by stating that I’ve watched every season of AHS thus far, having both loved (S1: Murder House) and not-quite-hated (S2: Asylum) them to various degrees. I’ve been saying for a couple months now that Freak Show is going to be the best season yet. Just something about the addition of Michael Chiklis (The Shield, The Thing from the FF movies), the strength and size of the current cast, and — hell — the choice of the carnival location. Is the Divine One still thinking that?

The story is simple enough. It’s the 1950s in Florida, and Elsa Mars (the legend Jessica Lange) runs a traveling circus that is a haven for those deemed societal “freaks”. There’s Ethel the bearded lady (Misery‘s Kathy Bates), the lobster man Jimmy (Days of Future Past‘ Evan Peters), the tiniest woman Ma Petite (Jyoti Amge)– oh, you get the idea. Elsa finds out about conjoined twins, Bette and Dot Tattler (the magnificent Sarah Paulson), whom she wants to recruit as an act for her show. Producer Ryan Murphy uses these new inductees as a device to walk the viewer through the strange and the crazy that is the Freak Show.

And that’s for sure what this is!

One of the chief moves I applaud Murphy and Co. right off the bat with “Monsters Among Us” is going with real people for the performers. You see a woman without legs. That’s not CG. You see the tiniest woman? She really is that size. OK– so the Tattler twins are fake; but, with all of the freakish authenticity floating throughout the scenes, the producers ensured their audience with something they would never have imagined.

2 Crazy White Bitches are better than…1?

Of course this season of American History Story isn’t going to avoid the whole psychology of it all, either. Some of these freaks are smart, some are angry, and, well, some are just nutcases. Throw them all under some tents and start up the band! And, funny you asked, congregants, yes there really is a band. Paulson deserves immediate recognition for having to play two personalities. She can’t help but outdo herself each and every season– and this time, literally! My only concern is with the CG being used to give her two heads, as it looks poorly done and very rarely ever seems to look right.

Can’t FX hire some good graphics people?!

Now let’s talk about that AHS terror. One word: Clown. I’ve watched this episode twice now and I haven’t felt that dreaded fear in some time. Twisty reminds me so much of Texas Chainsaw Massacre and for all the right reasons.

Much of the show — with this episode directed by Murphy himself — was shot with cinematic wide angles that only add to the already great artistic visuals. The editing, also, is like a mellow flow of a slow rope pulling you closer and closer to the end without holding you on any scene too long. I am, however, a little hit or miss on the music, although I very much enjoy it going from the dark and frightful to the period style of the time era. And, is it just me, or did it seem like the levels were too high? When I’m having problems hearing the dialogue, you’d think that would take away from the scene. Oh, maybe my TV is possessed.

In regards to whether Freak Show ends up the best of AHS, of course that remains to be seen. Still, this may have been my favorite first episode of the entire series. I’m willing to buy a ticket to this show every week!

Take my money.

4.25 (out of 5) Balloons.

 American Horror Story: Freak Show will air every Wednesday at 10pm on FX.