American Horror Story: Apocalypse is the newest season of the show, the eighth in the series. It opens with the news that a missile is heading for L.A. This season, so far, feels quite different to the ones previous.
It isn’t quite what you would expect, the plot going a different way than most other apocalyptic works. Writers, Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk, still cater to realistic fears but not in an artificial way. The season before, Cult, was criticised for being somewhat messy in plot and subject matter. This season feels fresh and needed. It deals with the idea of the apocalypse in a less obvious way and without giving too much away, the actual ending of the world is not shown for that long. The plot focuses on asking why and how, covering the events leading up to it. The effortless storytelling of the season so far will keep you engaged.
There was certainly a dip in interest for this show, and arguably a dip in quality and enjoyment. But Apocalypse was a great surprise for me. The concept of a crossover season has brought back audiences from season one (Murder House) and season three (Coven), two of the most popular seasons and my personal favourites. And it has certainly delivered. It would definitely be ideal to watch those seasons first before starting Apocalypse so you can fully understand what is going on. The timeline is slightly choppy but this isn’t necessarily a detriment. We spend many episodes in flashbacks but this is needed for the plot and with the crossovers, it remains dark and thrilling.
Many familiar faces are around, including Sarah Paulson and Evan Peters who have been present for every season of the show so far. They are seen portraying multiple characters, some from past seasons and brand new characters. It could be slightly confusing but their impeccable acting makes up for it. Paulson in particular shines this season. We also see the return of Kathy Bates, a well-loved addition to the cast. But, one of the most impressive actors for me has been Cody Fern. Eyes were on him as he was a new member of the cast and he portrays a very important character plot-wise. And he absolutely delivered. Fern is compelling and exciting, and kept me watching at all times. He is fully dedicated to his role and it certainly shows. Overall, the new season has been addictive and has a certain flare that I’ve not seen in this show for a few seasons. Give it a try for yourself and you might be surprised.