Season three of ‘American Horror Stories’ isn’t afraid to push some uncomfortable buttons, delivering some of its creepiest stories ever.
It can be increasingly easy to write off American Horror Stories, especially when a middling season of American Horror Story proper is currently airing. American Horror Stories began with a rocky start that was too indebted to the franchise’s past. However, it’s gradually become an underrated destination for heightened, campy tales of terror that aren’t bogged down by the plotting and structural issues that so-often hurt American Horror Story’s seasonal narratives. Not only is American Horror Stories’ third season a consistent batch of terrifying tales, but it also contains some of its best work.
“Bestie” is one of American Horror Stories’ strongest episodes and exactly the type of tale that this series should be telling. It’s an incredibly uncomfortable experience, from start to finish, that works as well as it does because of its raw and vulnerable characters. These are real characters with genuine depth that feel like the antithesis of the caricatures who often dominate American Horror Story. Series newcomer, Joe Baken, makes an excellent first impression with a script about loneliness and the dangers of toxic relationships, even if they’re virtual. The story doesn’t succumb to the typical pitfalls and even when it does make use of unnecessary tricks, like an in media res introduction, they’re benign touches that don’t drag down the episode. Any misgivings in “Bestie” can quickly be overlooked with the arresting, dreadful atmosphere that’s achieved through its extended duration.
“Bestie” paints itself in a bleak world where characters monologue on their respective tragedies that can be a lot to take in and makes it feel as if these characters are destined to fail. Jessica Barden, Seth Gabel, and Allius Barnes all excel with their respective material here so that “Bestie” truly becomes an unsettling experience. In most American Horror Stories episodes, a protagonist’s death is expected and sometimes even encouraged, but the final act of “Bestie” leaves a bitter taste in one’s mouth even if it’s an effective twist that stays true to the episode’s toxic themes. Max Winkler directs the hell out of this episode that’s as emotionally grueling as it is visually arresting.
American Horror Stories’ pendulum swings to the opposite side of the horror spectrum with “Daphne.” Franchise mainstays, Brad Falchuk and Manny Coto, write an episode about advanced rogue A.I. that’s ultimately still just a story about connection, much like in “Bestie.” “Daphne” is the weakest of season three’s four episodes, but it’s still a completely serviceable installment of campy, modern horror that’s far from “bad.” “Daphne” becomes a bit of a fumble. There’s a lot to like here between Reid Scott’s starring role and the brilliant casting decision to pull Gwyneth Paltrow off Ryan Murphy’s bench to voice an algorithm-driven AI rather than a living, breathing human. However, “Daphne” also is very much structured in the shadow of COVID-19, which repeatedly gets addressed and undercut, while a new virus looms. This narrative component becomes relevant to the story, but it never feels necessary. It’s more of a glaring, preachy touch that muddles some of “Daphne’s” grander messages.
