“American Horror Story: Freakshow” began last Wednesday, unsurprisingly, with a murder. The premiere fell flat of expectations, performing the same storyline seen in all three seasons. The show has garnered millions of fans and maintained its trio of matriarchs: Kathy Bates, Jessica Lange and Angela Bassett.
Sarah Paulson portrays a two-headed character and plays each of the heads, Bette and Dot Tattler, as their own individual beings. Elsa Mars, played by Lange, comes to the forefront quickly and has her own agenda, as usual of Lange’s AHS characters.
Paulson’s performance as Bette and Dot is the best achievement of the premiere. She creates a conflicting dynamic between the rigidly moral Bette and the open-minded Dot, convincing the viewer of the double-headed situation. Dot and Bette become their own individuals quickly, and Paulson executes the different personalities well. But where Paulson shined in the premiere, Lange’s Elsa Mars fell flat.
Lange’s role as the ringleader is typical of her previous roles. Elsa Mars, a woman past her prime, yearns to be a star, which can be seen through her performance during the freakshow. Lange’s German accent for Mars is prevalent, but her imitation of David Bowie’s symbolic “Life on Mars,” down to the blue eye shadow suit, prompted a bathroom break instead of sympathy. The typical flirtatious entitlement that Lange’s AHS characters always have is also prominent in Elsa, begging an eye roll or two.
Ethel and Jimmy Darling, played by Bates and Peters respectively, are the bearded lady and the crab boy of the freak show family. It’ll be intriguing to see Bates and Peters work off of each other – their chemistry was the most engaging in the premiere.
Though the first episode seemed to be an introductory episode without much substance, the other characters will fill out the story. As more characters begin to interact with the circle introduced in the premiere, the show will hopefully elevate its plot line.
