Thursday, October 18, 2012

Lesbian Horror Story

WARNING: Scary-ass spoilers for the Season 2 premiere of “American Horror Story” ahead. Especially the scary part.

First, it was like a lesbian dream. Sarah Paulson and Clea Duvall playing lesbian partners in 1964. One is an eager cub reporter wanting to prove herself (that’s be Sarah’s Lana). The other is a third-grade science teacher. They’re in love, living together and – yes – even get to kiss.

Then, just like that, it’s a lesbian nightmare. Sarah gets discovered lurking around the mental asylum and then, horror or horrors, institutionalized because of her homosexuality when her partner is blackmailed into signing the papers with the threat of exposure.

Of course, the nightmare part is sort of the point. The whole show is like a waking nightmare. Truth be told I stopped watching the first season after a few episode because ZOMGSCARY. But now I’m torn about this season. I’m pretty much a wuss, so scary movies/shows/whathaveyou make me hide a pillow. But, I do greatly appreciate that this is a show with actual gay ladies playing gay ladies on screen. But then on the other hand, how terrifying is it to be thrown into an insane asylum for being gay. Worst still, it actually used to happen.

There’s also the matter of this being a Ryan Murphy/Brad Falchuk production. So, their track records with the lesbians is a mixed bag. On the one hand, they gave us Brittana. On the other hand, everything else. So I’m not sure if I should be afraid or really, really afraid for the lesbians in the show.

All this boils down to one big question: Will I keep watching? Well, not alone and definitely not with the lights out.

6 comments:

Carmen SanDiego said...

You had me at Clea Duvall..
But, seriously, being commited to a mental hospital for being gay is super scary. And that was not that long ago... We sure came a long way in a short period of time

Erin said...

Is Clea Duvall out? I've never heard her say anything about it.

Anyway, I'm really not sure I'll watch this. Real life discrimination of lesbians is bad enough. I don't know if I can stand to watch one being tortured or raped in a nightmare mental asylum.

egghead said...

I watched last night, and I was somewhat amused by the punitive nun played by Jessica Lange, who apparently leads a double life in her mind, entertaining lascivious thoughts about her priest guy. Tear off that habit and see what's under that why don't ya! Jessica sure loves playing these parts.

I watched some of last season, but I stopped. It seemed to me to be porn for archetypal sexual nightmares only. And all the pop-out scenes seem to tear at fear, temptation, the grotesque and one just goes away with a depressed taste in their mouth. Now, if one could watch this with a sense of absurdity for old tropes, it could be palatable and then you could very well be laughing and rolling around in the floor spitting chunks.

I was thorougly entertained by the lesbian scene, because I can almost remember (and still do) drawing the shades before kissing, etc. my gf. But I'm not watching unless I find out gf somehow gets the hell out of the torture asylum; but something tells me she's going to get raped till she's corrected, and THAT is somewhat of a trigger. And I can't be a masochist while trying to quench my curiosity.

Anonymous said...

There is a Spanish film, A Love to Keep, based on a true story, about a lesbian who is committed to an insane asylum. It is at turns charming, heartbreaking and hopeful. It's not easy to watch, but well worth it.

Anonymous said...

I've watched the first season of AHS and loved it. There are moments which are frightening but the stories, as horrifying as they may be, I found it to be interesting and well written.

But this episode is probably the most horrifying than any of the first season episodes ( and yes,I'm including that Frankenbaby). Because what's more frightening than scenarios which is very much based on reality and which philosophy is still quite prevalent in our modern days?

maya said...

I luuurve both Clea Duvall and Sarah Paulson, but I think I dislike scary things more. I finally watched this ep, and I can not deal with it. I wish those two would get their own show. Maybe a tv adaptation of Patience and Sarah. Clea chops wood and Sarah raises chickens, and then they makeout. I would totally watch that.