In 2011, American Horror Story took television by storm with such dark and twisted plotlines about mankind. By taking such uncomfortable situations that nobody feels comfortable discussing and blowing it up, it is not a surprise the show became such a talked about phenomena. As the seasons have progressed and themes have changed, there is one season that sticks with me all the time. My unpopular opinion is the season two (Asylum) is the best season of AHS. Yes, Murder House and Coven hold a special place in my heart, but nothing shakes me to the core quite like season two.
The Female Characters
When I say I want to be Lana Winters when I grow up, I legitimately believe it. Lana Winters is one of the first main characters we meet in the first episode, as an ambitious reporter in the early 1960s. Not to mention, a homosexual woman during a time where all diversity was frowned upon. Which brings us to the HBIC, Sister Jude. Sister Jude, who runs an asylum for the mentally unstable by the Catholic church, has such a brash, scary past to hold such an innocent, high power. Despite the twists and turns these two female leads face throughout the season, they still keep such a force behind them.
The Name Game
The most popular scene in the entire season is, of course, Jessica Lange’s rendition of “The Name Game.” With all of the patients singing and dancing around her, I was obsessed with this scene forever. Whenever Netflix first posted this season, my friends and I would play this particular scene over and over again until my mom took the remote away from us. Not to mention, I have such a soft spot for Evan Peters and Sarah Paulson and watching them dance makes me giggle.
The Wardrobe
Aside from the plain-garb the patients wear, the wardrobe for this season almost moves me to tears because everything is so beautiful. Lana’s outfits, especially, are so bold and express her inner character so well that I stare in awe at her costuming for a lot of the show. My future wedding dress will be modeled around a dress Lana wears during a scene in the 1970s, that is how iconic and impressionable the wardrobe is. Not to mention, oftentimes the costumes contrast the backgrounds/setting of the scene that it completes the aesthetic of the show.
The Realness of the Horror
When we are taught history, there are chunks of information that are purposefully left out. Perhaps for shame, perhaps to keep us in the dark. But the treatment of mental illness and facilities used to treat mental illness for centuries is hardly ever a discussed topic. And that is what makes this season not only the scariest but also the saddest for me. There is still a stigma around mental illness and treatments, but watching this horrific season (which is based off of things that would actually happen) put things into perspective for me. This is the real American Horror: how we have treated our people.
If this is not enough to sell you, watch season two on Netflix and give it a second chance!
