The chilling FX television series “American Horror Story” kicked off their fourth season on October 8, 2014. Director Ryan Murphy brought viewers back to the 1950’s small-town Florida “freak show” atmosphere; featuring bearded ladies, two-headed girls, the smallest girl in the world, and perhaps the most memorable character, Twisty the Clown. With the usually unusual and provocative plot and complex characters, American Horror Story had about ten million viewers glued to their TV screens, making it a record for not only the most viewers for any season on the show itself, and also for any show on FX.
Freak Show is without a doubt the freakiest, scariest, and most provocative season yet. It is mostly relatable to Asylum, the second season. Unlike the first and third season, season two and season four, so far, are more about scares than story.
However, the plot of Freak Show is actually pretty interesting. It follows the last of the remaining Freak Shows left in the country. The Freak Show is like a little community in its own, filled with people who are considered outsiders and “freaks”, all trying to make a living together. Unfortunately, a dangerous clown killer named Twisty is responsible for multiple murders in the town, causing the town to make a curfew. This makes it harder for the freaks to have business since most of their shows occur at night. The show will continue to follow these characters in their struggle to not only keep their business alive, but to survive in a town where they are not wanted, trying to be normal people.
The best thing about AHS is that you don’t have to watch the season before to watch the upcoming seasons. Every season is a completely different plot and storyline, but has the same actors playing different roles. The density of talent in these actors is unreal, as they are able to play the roles of so many different characters and are able to perfect a large range of personalities. Like Jessica Lange, who went from a conniving mother in the first season, to an evil nun in the second, to a delusional woman in Coven, and now the owner of a Freak Show who is looking for her last chance at stardom. Or Kathy Bates; who would never be expected to play the role of a bearded lady; but excels at it tremendously.
All in all, Freak Show will probably continue to have millions of people around the world glued to their TV screens this fall, making it the most successful TV series in FX history. Tune in Wednesdays at 10 to get a taste of the Freak Show.