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Lead Critic for the site, as well as serving as an editor when needed.
American Horror Story: NYC continues its two-episode release with a touch of madness. By the end of this week, viewers will still be sucked into the show, questioning what they’ve seen, making a return to form.
These mid-season episodes are looking to be the craziest this season has to offer. It also seems evident that the two-episode release works well, at least in a narrative capacity. The first of the two episodes ends on a cliffhanger that ultimately leads right into the second of the two. It is interesting enough too, that the first one has helped to tie up some loose ends from the previous week’s set. The tension surely does its job too and continues to keep certain elements a mystery. However, my former point will potentially have more weight next week, with the release of Episodes 1105 and 1106.
The cinematography, editing, and Joe Mantello (as character Gino Barelli) remain the standouts of this season thus far, with every other element doing its job perfectly.
Read with caution. Minor spoilers to follow.
Episode Three Discussion
American Horror Story: NYC Episode Three, titled “Smoke Signals,” releases Sam’s prisoner and he’s able to walk out and just right past the most mysterious character of the season, Big Daddy (Matthew William Bishop), standing ominously in a doorway. Something refreshing this season, it isn’t known to what extent exactly which serial killer will end up being revealed as the main season villain.
Big Daddy ends up starting a bar fire, while Sam (Zachary Quinto) continues to be a creepy asshole, and then you have Mr. Whitely (Jeff Hiller). He reminds me almost exactly of the villain of Dexter‘s infamous fourth season, Arthur Mitchell aka The Trinity Killer, played by John Lithgow. Hiller is also a similarly built guy for the role, which might be a coincidence even still.
This episode was written by Brad Falchuk & Manny Coto, and helmed again by John J. Gray. The cinematography, handled by Stanley Fernandez Jr., was great for the tone this episode wanted and explored more of the craziness of desires that people have. The editing, done by Thomas Mitchell, was also super smooth too and felt slick and at ease.
There are a lot of cats in the production too, which isn’t really anything bad but maybe it’s a shout at the musical from Ryan Murphy & Brad Falchuk? (I didn’t see that atrocious movie musical adaptation but I’m sure someone liked it.) There are just a lot of cats in the show for whatever reason, and sometimes they’re a quick cut in the center of the frame. One of the characters, Hans Henkes (Casey Thomas Brown), seemed to really enjoy their company though, so maybe it was just that?
Hannah (Billie Lourd) makes a connection with the disease and the gay community, and attempts to take blood samples, but resorts to her own matters. The last quarter of the episode is some of the best parts of the season thus far as well. The tension bleeds like a cut. This episode was pure chaos though, otherwise, it works very well.
Minor spoilers for “Smoke Signals” to follow for my analysis of American Horror Story Season 11 Episode 4.
Episode Four Discussion
Episode Four, titled “Black Out,” desperately well continues the tension from Episode Three. We get a little more of the same for this episode that we got in the previous one, albeit that it still gets the main task at hand finished. Somehow, the cinematography and editing remain, perhaps, the best elements of American Horror Story: NYC. Ned Martel & Charlie Carver tackled the writing, while Jennifer Lynch sat in the director’s chair.
The direction from Lynch is some of the best all season. There is a breathtaking shot of Patrick Read (Russell Tovey) running through a door and down a flight of stairs and the camera work is outstanding in that shot. The whole production flows so slickly. The editing, done by Julia Franklin here, is very smooth as well and the blend is great. The lighting is also pretty good and the production design for this particular episode is pretty considerable. All of the elements thus far have made for great horror television.
The pace of the episodes works surprisingly well and doesn’t really slow down unless there’s a scene between two people, usually Patrick and Gino. Overall this episode really hits the nail on the head and the very last scene is insane! It could be one of the best in the series.
The Cast of This Week’s American Horror Story: NYC
The cast is much more powerful this season than in the last few seasons. However, Billie Lourd remains a key disappointment this week — and I hate myself for even conjuring that thought. She is usually one of the best parts of the show each season she’s on but, for whatever odd reason, it feels like she’s taking her character a little too seriously here. I was really excited to see her return to the show. Unfortunately, she’s better in her debut season on the show than here. Still, my head is high for the rest of her story this season.
Joe Mantello has great material to work with, and he delivers all of his energy right to the camera throughout the scene. He and Russell Tovey are fantastic together, the former being an unexpected, emotional, and chaotic addition to American Horror Story: NYC, in all the best ways. He makes the show so much better, and I might even care about his character less if it was anyone else playing Gino. His delivery is sharp, precise, and commanding. He seems to even make some scenes better with other actors. It could garner an Emmy run for Mantello.
Final Thoughts of This Week’s American Horror Story
These two episodes were fantastic together, but the third episode on its own cannot stand without the fourth one. Still, American Horror Story: NYC pulls the viewer right in and continues to deliver madness. This is one of their more mysterious seasons, and I think it’s working in some form so far. The cast, particularly Joe Mantello, cinematography, and editing make the episode’s best moments more appreciable than at the surface level.
American Horror Story: NYC will air two episodes every Wednesday and will stream them the next day on Hulu, as part of FX on Hulu.
What are your thoughts on this season so far? For the review of the rest of Season Eleven, stay right here with TCS!
Lead Critic for the site, as well as serving as an editor when needed.
This article was edited by John Tangalin.