Happy five year anniversary to American Horror Story! Murder House debuted on October 5, 2011, and it’s only appropriate that we get a new episode today.
We’re getting closer and closer to the planned twist in American Horror Story: Roanoke that’s coming just after the midway point of the season, so let’s jump right in and talk about this week’s new episode, “Chapter 4.”
The episode opens in the aftermath of Shelby witnessing Matt having sex with the witch at the end of last week’s episode. Shelby is absolutely convinced that Matt and Lee have been conspiring behind her back (which, to an extent, they were), but Matt not remembering what happened is incredibly trying for the couple. Sarah Paulson (as usual) and Cuba Gooding, Jr. are doing an incredible job as the reenactors this season, and I absolutely can’t wait to see what they’re able to do after the twist coming to Roanoke in just a couple of episodes.
Later in the evening, Shelby is attacked in the shower by the Pig Man…creature, and she’s saved by the appearance of Elias (Denis O’Hare’s character who made the tapes from the first two episodes) as he yells “Croatoan” at the being. Shelby still holds onto her impression that Elias is crazy, but she still asks him about the word and its meaning. He explains the origin to them, and he also informs the couple that he owned the house for years, even though he only lived in it for a few months, because he didn’t want anyone to accidentally come across the evil. He only lost the house because of a mistake in property taxes, and Shelby and Matt were the first inhabitants since him. Elias took extensive notes on the house and the land (“There will be a book, someday!”), and he tries explaining more about what’s been going on to the couple. This is the most time that we’ve gotten so far with Denis O’Hare on Roanoke, and the actor feels just as much in his element as Elias as he did in his eye-opening turn as Liz Taylor on Hotel. In fact, his performance feels more natural as Elias than it ever has on American Horror Story, and I hope that his role here doesn’t come to an end prematurely (despite his character’s story in the episode, he’s listed as a series regular for the season). The crazy thing about American Horror Story is that just about any member of the cast could solely lead an entire series, and O’Hare is proving more than ever that he should be counted among that number.
“Chapter 4” is the goriest episode of Roanoke by far, and, for the most part, it seems to be of a much more realistic nature than American Horror Story typically delivers. I mean that in a good way, though, because Roanoke‘s aesthetic remains the best aspect of the show. Subduing the outlandish elements of the narrative while exaggerating others is what’s helping set Roanoke completely apart from what’s come before.
This episode also gives us more of “special guest star” Lady Gaga’s witch, and it’s clear that, while not a main character, she is a major player in this season’s story. There were times in Hotel that it seemed like Lady Gaga may have been phoning in her performance, and I think that’s why I’m so amazed at her turn as the witch here. She hasn’t had a ton of screentime, but it’s so clear that she’s completely immersing herself in the role. Lady Gaga could have easily been miscast as another character this season in a more prominent role, but Ryan Murphy knew exactly what he was doing in setting her as the witch. The entirety of the “flashbacks” (I’m not really sure what to call them) of the Roanoke colony have been among the season’s most impressive parts so far, too, and I would be remiss to not mention how impactful Kathy Bates’ performance has been. She, too, is giving the best performance of her American Horror Story career in Roanoke, and it will be interesting to see how things play out come awards season.
It’s a small thing, but the moment with the “real” Uber driver doing an interview was fantastic and the funniest thing that’s happened so far this season. I absolutely loved it.
Overall, “Chapter 4” was another really strong entry in American Horror Story: Roanoke that brought a high level of horror and gore while giving us much more time with the cast than we’ve gotten so far, and it’s really building the series into something fun before things twist around in a couple of weeks.
What did you think about this week’s episode of American Horror Story: Roanoke? What do you think the twist will be? Let us know your thoughts in the comments down below!
[Photo Credit: FX]
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