American Horror Story: Cult Review: Don’t Be Afraid of The Dark (Season 7 Episode 2)
The clowns continue their reign of terror on American Horror Story: Cult Season 7 Episode 2, “Don’t Be Afraid of The Dark.”
My initial thought going into this season was “Sarah Paulson better not play some woman who cries every other second all season.” Well, now all I can say is at least it’s not “MATT” every single time.
At the same time, I applaud Ryan Murphy for giving her roles where she’s allowed to be like this because she was born to star in horror based projects.
I hate to admit it, but I like the Wilton’s. I don’t necessarily like who they are as a person, but I like the way they play into Ally and Ivy’s lives. I can see where Ryan Murphy is going with this; you’ve got the nice neighbors who seem lovely but are actually nasty people in disguise.
It’s not a secret that the Wiltons are racist and huge trump supporters. By the way, a gay for trump? The cruelest act Ryan Murphy has put us through since Violet’s death in Murder House.
Through fear and paranoia Ally is slowly starting to believe the insane things that the Wilton’s say. There’s no way that Ally would believe Harrison about a terrorist attack having something to do with the power, but because her phobia’s make it so intense, she actively begins to change the way she thinks.
Another good example is Ally buying a gun from Harrison. They move in and start spouting their backward ideas, and all of a sudden Ally is going against everything she’s stood for in the past.
One more reason I don’t want to let myself like the Wilton’s is there’s no way that they aren’t involved with Kai and his mission to turn his town into a white supremacy headquarters. I don’t believe for one second that they just casually came across Kai being beaten up and just filmed without helping him.
They helped Kai frame those immigrant workers to get a sad story out to help his council run, and they’re helping him make Ally go insane. There’s no other possible explanation for them moving in right after Kai murdered the Chang’s.
Side note: I am all here for them being that couple that actually did get married at the age of 35 because they couldn’t get anyone else to marry them. Also, a Nicole Kidman fan club? They really want me to like them.
I understand that Oz is, obviously, Ivy’s son biologically, but I’m getting tired of the way he treats her. The way Ivy just goes along with it is frustrating as well. I know my theory about Ivy being in on Ally being tortured by the clowns is more than likely out the window since Oz is now in the middle of it, but I still feel it deep down.
Who in their right mind would allow their wife, who has consistently been losing her mind, go check out a possible break in at your restaurant? Someone who’s in on it, that’s who.
In situations such as this, I tend to over analyze and have to make myself remember that this is television because there’s no way that I’d be offering to go when I’m being harassed by clowns. And, this is 2016-2017, Ally. Whip out that iPhone and facetime as you’re checking out the restaurant. Use your brain, please.
One last thing, I love how Ivy and Ally hire a full-time babysitter for Oz and never even do a background check. It’s so unrealistic that someone like Winter would just be hired off the bat and given full access to someone’s kid without some research done.
One background check on Winter and they’d realize the monster that they invited into their homes. It’s obvious that Winter is the one who unlocked all the doors in the house and then proceeded to distract Ally in the bathtub so that they could get ready.
So far so good on this season of American Horror Story. Let’s hope the hype continues.
Other Thoughts:
- Ally needs to fire Winter immediately after she was trying to seduce her in the bathtub.
- I feel like part of the clowns, like twisty, are made up by Oz and then the others are real people inside the mask.
- I’m not getting a good vibe from Colton Haynes being the detective.
What did you think of this episode of American Horror Story: Cult? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!
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American Horror Story: Cult airs Tuesdays at 10/9c on FX.
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Cade Taylor
Cade Taylor is a television and film critic living in St. Louis, Missouri. He is a Senior Writer for Tell-Tale TV. His love for television developed at a young age, with a concentration on queer stories, sitcoms, teen dramas, and science fiction thrillers. In addition, he works full-time as a news producer, telling the stories of Missourians and helming "Produced in the Bi-State," a segment spotlighting actors, musicians, and entertainers from the St. Louis area. He can be reached by email at cade@telltaletv.com.