Whoops! Everyone is awful! Seriously, have you ever seen such a sustained display of unlikeability in an hour-long drama? What happened, American Horror Story? Is there no one left to root for? "Rubber Man" was basically a parade of bad times, but it also provided answers to some burning questions we've had about the Murder House, its ghosts, and what they want with the living. But while it's nice that American Horror Story has been so generous with answers lately, it's hard not to feel somewhat let down by this week's revelations. Sometimes more information just makes things less scary, you know?
Take the Gimp Suit Ghost, for example. Since its introduction in the pilot, many of us wondered just who was wearing that suit, and why was it so intent on makin' babies with Connie Britton? Was it a human embodiment of the house itself? Was he just a latex-clad Satan? Well, as we learned in the cold open, it was just Tate. Seeing as we'd already seen him wearing the gimp suit in an earlier episode, this was a reveal worthy of a face-palm. In retrospect it makes sense (except for the fact that Tate is clearly skinnier than the person who previously wore the suit), but that still didn't mean this revelation was particularly scary. We already knew he was a mass murderer! Now we just know he's a mass-murdering, hate-crimin' rapist.
Speaking of redundant information, was anybody else as terribly incurious about how the gimp suit itself came to exist as I was? For a brief moment I held out hope that the gay couple had been wrongly fingered for having brought it home, and that it was perhaps older and more sinister than anybody imagined. But nope! Zachary Quinto's character definitely bought the latex number in order to turn on his straying, S&M-fixated; boyfriend. So yeah, there's no bigger meaning to the suit's existence other than it was already in the house when Tate decided to murder the couple for failing to procreate. Because oh yeah, Tate promised Nora he'd find her a brand new baby to replace the one who'd been chopped into pieces back in the '20s. Tate's just a people-pleaser like that. (Quick question: Why was the fire poker thing necessary? Is Tate the worst, or are the writers?)
So yeah, many of American Horror Story's mysteries have now been revealed, but this episode's revelations were almost universally less scary than what I'd imagined. Where do we go from here? The main purpose of this episode was to illustrate Vivien's descent into supposed madness, hastened by a calculating Hayden who'd like nothing more than to steal Vivien's babies for herself. Vivien was already hanging by a thread when she realized the weird blonde lady to whom she'd shown the house was probably a ghost. But then Ben started coming at her with weird psychiatrist-speak intended to make her question her own sanity. And THEN he and Violet had a competition to see who could be THE WORST. Ben himself had had his own supernatural run-ins in the house, so it was amazing to see him be so cavalier about Vivien imagining things. But later on, after Vivien and Violet had an encounter with the ghosts of their home intruders, Violet lied and said Vivien had imagined everything just so that she would be able to remain in the house with Tate (who then deflowered her, BTW). So Ben and Violet were both pretty despicable in this episode.
Which was not to say Vivien came off well, either. She's supposed to be the most sympathetic person in this story, but it's incredibly frustrating to watch a character prove completely incapable of explaining herself in a rational manner or even make an effort to seem reasonable. Regardless of how true it may seem to you, everyone knows that you probably shouldn't yammer about rubber rapists and evil ghosts to a group of skeptical police officers. And it definitely didn't help that Vivien stole Marcy's gun and accidentally shot Ben. Get it together, Vivien! You're making it so hard to root for you!
The main problem with Hayden and Tate's plan to drive Vivien crazy was that it didn't make any sense. Wouldn't they want Vivien to remain in the house until she gives birth? Why terrorize her until she was led away by police? Wouldn't a wiser plan be to lay low and steal the babies once they're born? Ugh, ghosts, am I right? I appreciated that Hayden just straight up told Vivien that she's dead now, which in my opinion is a very helpful thing for a ghost to do. Come to think of it, Hayden also explained that ghosts can become invisible whenever they feel like it and then proved it with some classic poltergeist moves. Good to know! Also, how hilarious was it when Hayden teased Tate a bunch about being a wuss and then tried to seduce him? And the part where she stabbed Constance's ex-husband with a screwdriver while they got it on? I'm starting to think Hayden isn't exactly sane, what do you guys think?
Finally... Violet's definitely dead, right? Ever since her "failed" attempt at suicide a few episodes back, some commenters pointed out that she hadn't left the house at all, and this episode made that fact clear. First Ben mentioned that Violet hadn't been to school in two weeks, then this episode teased us by having Violet get in the car, only to run back to the house at the last second. Story-wise, it would make sense for Violet to be dead; that would certainly be a legitimate reason for Ben and Vivien to remain in the house. But personally, I'm not sure I'm ready to deal with a Violet who can't be killed anymore. I've never been a fan of hers and this episode definitely confirmed that fact.
While this episode certainly had its highlights, it suffered from a lack of Jessica Lange and an overabundance of information (which verged on TMI when it came to the gay couple). Much like my previous objections to showing the school shooting, much of this backstory would've been more powerful if the show had simply implied it or left it to our imaginations. But regardless of this episode's pervasive bummer vibes, it still set the stage for what promises to be an exciting final act for the season. Personally, I just hope there will be someone to root for, because right now Security Guard Luke is basically the only person who deserves our sympathy.
Questions:
... Did you notice Tate didn't have chest wounds? What was the deal with that?
... Is Tate really the villain of this season, or is there a larger force working through him?
... Is Moira really trying to help Vivien?
... Why does a ghost that can turn invisible need to wear a disguise at all?
"Because oh yeah, Tate promised Nora he'd find her a brand new baby..."
I keep coming back hoping your critique of the show improves. Each time I am disappointed. You may wish to read other TV and movie reviewers to get some pointers on how to write like an adult.
Sadly I am finding the show a lot less scary now that we know Tate is the gimp. Which is a shame as the gimp was the scariest character. I am also surprised that the gay couple haven't had it out with Tate - I mean if that was me I would be pretty pissed with him. I had a similar (if not worse) reaction to the poker that Price had with the school shooting the other week. found it completely repellant and gratutious. Don't get me wrong I'll still tune in the show to see where it goes, but I really can't see how they will sustain with all the revealed backstory. They will have to do something though to make it mysterious and scary again. I love one of the previous suggestions of having a new family next season.moreless
"Why does a ghost that can turn invisible need to wear a disguise at all?"
If Tate doesn't realize that he's a ghost, he doesn't know that he can turn invisible - so he wears a disguise. Additionally, the suit makes the victims believe that he is someone they know, so it's easier to murder/rape them. Also, it would have looked kinda ridiculous if Vivien was shown being raped by Invisible Man.
Hey fellow American Horror Story fans! Are you on Google plus? If so, please check out the +American Horror Story Circle and meet other fans of this amazing show! http://gplus.to/ahscircle
Google+ sucks
I grew up watching scary horror film/movies with my father and then they were scary ,i haven't seen this new supposedly scary movie 'American Horror Story',i like to be scared also with suspense and mystery,even the characters were better back when.Alfred Hitchcock made better suspenseful stories without a monster.I hate movies with only gore and no good story,if there's not a great scary story line and characters it's usually not so good.I think the writers should keep the mystery and suspense in their scary movies would make it much better and don't give away the plots, scary movies now are too hollywood,i hope they start writing them more believable,Emmett North Jr
I wanted to congratulate you for discovering the Internet. Good on ya! _
Seriously why do you keep posting this stupid shit about a tv show on a tv show website that you seem to think is a movie?? What planet are you on??
Its a tv show, not a movie
isn't Tate kind of a douche? Even for a ghost? I mean, he doesn't realize he is a ghost, but he did know he put the suit on and boned his girlfriend's mom, right? AND impregnanted her? And am I the only one thinking that one of the babies is Ben's and the other is the supernatural freak of the house?
AND, maybe Violet isn't dead, but wants to be?Or has become so delusional she thinks that she is.
Being the first season and so many characters, the writers have kept us wanting more. Jessica Lange's absence makes me wonder what they have in store for us in the next episode! I hope they bring back Adelaide, since she had such a connection with the house.
The story line for Tate is confusing to me but I am positive before the end of the season it will come together.
AHS keeps us wanting more!
something else that bothers me about this show now is that they are narrowing the mythology... tate was bens patient, then violets boyfrined, then he was a ghost, then constance's son (which was really insteresting) and now hes also the rubber man. which means they robbed us of a character who could've had his own story to tell. simple.
EVERYONE IS THE WORST.
I just wanted to slap Violet, ugh she is being so dumb. She's throwing her mother under the bus so she can stay with a GHOST, how is that going to work out? Anna and Jeremy had a better shot than this crap. Even though Tate might be incredibly sweet right now, she knows that he murdered at least 20 people, come on. And Ben is completely ridiculous. He himself has been experiencing craziness and knows that something isn't normal, and yet he's completely willing to lock up his wife for being crazy. Honestly, take a good look at yourself, you hypocrite. He saw Hayden hit in the face multiple times with a shovel, and was absolutely sure she was dead, but when he sees her again the only explanation is that it's all some giant conspiracy set up to mess with him. But when his wife sees Hayden and she thinks terrible things are going on, she must be mentally unbalanced. Honestly, WTF.
1. I think Tate didn't have chest wounds because part of him denying he was dead probably made him unconsciously manipulate his appearance so he looked normal. Similar to how Moira can look both young and old, or not always have bullet wound to her face, but simply a strange looking eye. (Also, when Moira's death was played out, wasn't she shot in the other eye, instead of the one that is the 'ghost eye'? - I could be wrong about that.)
2. I think there is probably some larger villain at play, and I think it is probably the 'power' in the house that Hayden spoke of. That doesn't mean though that Tate has not done terrible things, and whether or not they were brought on by this 'power' is too soon to tell.
3. I think in some ways Moira genuinely is trying to help Vivien. Moira was killed after a man got grabby with her, she shouldn't have been shot because she wasn't doing anything wrong. Which I believe means she can relate to Vivien when she is the one being locked up or viewed as crazy after Ben was the person who brought it on with his involvement with the crazy mistress/murder. In that sense, I think Moira is trying to really help Vivien her, but I do think Moira is being very suspicious/working for evil when it comes to Vivien and her 'demon baby'.
4. I think the ghosts wanted to be able to interact with actual living people. I think they probably get lonely or bored and therefore need a disguise in order to socialize.
Just another thing I want to say is, really, how many more people are they going to say lived and died in this house? Because there are like 932984 different groups of people that lived here, and just how many can you stuff in without having a completely ridiculous timeline? The stories are all interesting, but I think all the stories will overlap (and not in a good way) if they continue to add more.
Okay, I talk and think about this too much, so I'll stop here. Great review, as always. :)moreless
Wasn't Moria carrying on an affair with C's husband? You can't say she wasn't doing anything wrong. Oh, and Violet is now a ghost herself, which is why she's acting this way.
Moira was a bit of a whore, she admitted that before, and she was shot in that eye.
Yeah, she was kind of a whore. But when she was shot, in the moment when Constance went over the edge into crazy murderer, she was obviously being taken advantage of. So in that moment, she was just a girl about to get raped (even if she had been a whore earlier) and that's hardly her fault.
And thanks for clearing that up :)
It seams to me that Violet has conveniently forgotten that Tate killed those kids and also that he's dead (although maybe I wasn't paying enough attention to details to be 100% on that last one). Just like how Tate has forgotten that he killed those people. It seams that if a ghost doesn't want to believe/accept something, they are very good at making up an alternate reality.
Give credit to Tate for somehow being the sickest and best person on the show simultaneously.
My only problem with AHS is that I thought they were going to do something with Moira and Ben...and they left that dead in the water. Hayden is a liitle... grating? Not nice?
I'm with you with Tate. He deserves some credit.
I, too, was a little disappointed by the backstory of the rubber suit. I was hoping for a storyline where the house was used as a sex dungeon back in the 70's, circa the time the ginger twins were killed. There seem to be a few consistency issues as well. If the nurses lived in the house in the 60's why would the baby parts and such still be in the basement when the twins went down there. How did the house get so dilapidated? It seems like the house wants children. Did this start with all the abortions that were taking place in the 20's?
Although I like the "Violet is dead' storyline, I am not sure that she could be dead. How would she be visible to the police when she was called in to corroborate Vivien's car story? Even if she decided to make herself visible (like Hayden described), Ben would not have called her into the room (unless Ben and Vivien are both in denial that she is dead).
The ghosts ARE visible to people!!! Haven't you been paying attention? Tate, Hayden, Moira, house fluffers, etc. All visible!!
Unless they don't know that she's dead. If her ghost has been walking around interacting with them, they would have no reason to think that she's dead. The other ghosts could have done something with the body so nobody would find out. I'm pretty sure that she's dead.
By far the worst AHS episode yet.
I was really rooting for tate, but now, I just feel almost used! When he pulled off that mask I was shocked! Then the episode just kept getting more and more depressing. The thing about Violet being dead, does make sense, cuz when she had the suicide attempt, the only person with her was tate and since he kills everyone...and he wants her to be with him forever! It does make sense, and i kinda hope everyone is dead.
And the only people with wounds seem to be the people who can't really make themselves visible easily, like only on Halloween or when called out. I think cuz they make themselves visible, that covers up scars, or otherwise Moira would have a large hole in her head. I also think that Moira is trying to help Vivien, at least trying to protect her from crazy ass Hayden, who i always thought was nutzo!
The disguise thing I think for Vivien was so that she wouldn't know it was Ben's patient tate, but for the gay couple, not sure why it was necessary, but it was defiantly not the same guy cuz tate is shorter then the gay couple, but this guy was the same height.moreless
That fire poker was so off-putting it totally lowered this show for me, and I doubt I will watch it any more. I find it odd - the creators are gay and yet they put that in. All I can think is there is some severe self-hatred going on to do that. It was disgusting, and at a time when we are trying to stop gay-bashing. Just really really in bad taste.
I agree it was kind of much with the firepoker but I think it was clearly used in effort to make it look they had killed each other. Kinda hammered that part home a bit too much
i agree, I expected much more of a back story for Rubberman. it's just Tate?? in a suit bought weeks earlier by Zachary Quinto? its like the writers put no thought into that at all. i still love the show and am hoping that more is going to happen and that questions will be answered.
I still love Tate... but I never thought that Violet might be dead until I read this! I now am very interested in that storyline... I hope that it's true! I honestly thought that Security Guard Luke might be Rubber Man, and am kind of disappointed that it turned out to be Tate... They could have done better than that IMO.
the idea of violet being dead is the best argument i've read about this show so far. true or not the hints are all there! nice job catching that. something i thought about during this episode warrants a thought too. the house had to come to life at some point starting this whole thing. it was said in this episode that the ghost when powerful are using the power of the house. the same force keeping them their. when i heard this i thought about the baby which was given a living heart, and brought back to life. i like to think that this act.. creating life.. could have been the spark which gave the house life
I agree with Llamaland. I hadn't even considered Violet could be dead until I read this but after thinking about it a little more I don't think she is yet. Tate is definitely planning on killing her so they can be together forever. He basically said as much in his scene with Hayden in the basement, and it was hinted at again in the last scene where he killed the gay couple.
deed*
I don't know anything about this movie 'American Horror Story',has it been in theatres or on tv? Can i still see it anywhere? If anyone knows let me know where,Emmett North Jr.
Uh wtf is wrong with your brain.
It is a tv show. You're on a tv show website.
I don't think Violet is dead yet. It seemed like Tate had to balls up to do the dead, not just get rid of Viv. So I am pretty sure he is going to try/suceed in killing her in the future so they can be together forever......how romantic :/
Great episode with good information, and more questions!
Great episode, now things are coming together more nicely I think.
... Really ?! What about Hayden ? Or the gay dude (Z.Quinto)? Or Moira with both eyes intact? Maybe its a matter of ghost-skills. Some have it. Others dont.
... The larger, EVIL force. While Tate is not the most stable in the stables, he seems to be driven by something, just like Ben sometimes.
... Yes, because she realizes that there is no help for her - at least not with the current residents.
... because ... em ... you know ... wait a sec ... mm ... OK that is BS. But it looked cool !
I fuckin' disagree with every comment, in fact I loved this episode even though it's complicated and doesn't make any sense. I love how the writers like to play mind games with us, 'cause let's face it that's what the show is about.
You know what people seem to be skipping over? The fact that Moira had a REALLY GREAT Character moment! Finally deciding to DO something and trying to help Vivien get out of the house was really cool. Was I the only one who noticed???
Yes, she is the only one I really like now.
I noticed and only for that Moira deserves redemption.
Agreed. ^_^