American Horror Story: Double Feature Review: The Future Perfect (Season 10 Episode 10)

If there is one thing Death Valley is not, it’s compelling. The saddest thing about this conclusion is that American Horror Story: Double Feature Season 10 Episode 10, “The Future Perfect,” tries really hard to make what would be a complex and captivating story work in 4 short episodes.

Too much time is wasted on characters and plotlines that don’t matter. There is no direction to the point where the “past” moments really feel like they are a hodgepodge of memories inside a memory bank and not actually a complete story.

The Past Should Stay There

The big reveal that Nixon is merely a scapegoat to distract everyone from the many human disappearances is ill-conceived and poorly executed. Beyond the death of Eisenhower, I actually didn’t expect to see Mamie ever again — good riddance.

So, imagine our surprise when the writers bring her back and the infamous “deep throat.” Not only does that reveal not make sense and come out of nowhere, but it’s a slap to the face of the real Mamie Eisenhower. 

Honestly, this whole concept of aliens manipulating history and such would be more contrived and acceptable if the use of real historical figureheads isn’t to besmirch their real counterparts’ memory. It’s one thing to add another idea to the pile of conspiracies about JFK and Marilyn Monroe.

But to say that Nixon was never more than a laughing stock for the benefit of aliens is not the win American Horror Story thinks it is. If this concept had been given multiple episodes to develop, maybe I’d be more inclined to believe it or even care. 

The idea that Nixon is a total idiot doesn’t completely track with who he is. This portrayal of him is sloppy and doesn’t go into the depths of how and why. 

Claiming that his downfall is simply to distract doesn’t really satisfy us on the why and how the aliens are doing it. This is a concept that sounds good on paper, but in the end, falls extremely flat.

The other disappointing part of “The Future Perfect” is that not even the performances could make up for the terrible writing. Usually, Sarah Paulson compels and astounds, but as Mamie Eisenhower, we are left begging her to just disappear. 

Paulson adds nothing to the character and ultimately takes us out of the character. There have been times where actors have been cast as historical figures and their appearance was uncanny for the people they are portraying. 

Unfortunately, Paulson doesn’t look close enough to Mamie to make the performance a believable one, and Craig Sheffer looks nothing like Nixon, so the concept doesn’t stick. I’m not sure if it’s a poor choice in casting or if the makeup department fell down on the job with making these actors more believable in their roles.

Future, Perfect? Not So Fast.

The worst part of this episode definitely goes to the present storyline. Not only are these young adults not compelling as characters at all, but there is no reason for any of us to actually care what happens to them.

So when it is revealed that both Cole and Troy were killed by the alien baby, the tears were not flowing. Normally, I am the type of viewer who gravitates toward queer characters, but in this case, I constantly wanted them to shut up. 

The acting here is just atrocious — again the story might have been more compelling, even if the characters were still not likable, if the performances were worth our time. The only one I can give props to is Angelica Ross who knocks it out of the park every time as Theta. 

Even if Theta’s purpose isn’t quite clear, even when everything is said and done, their presence is always a treat. Ross knows what to do to really have us rooting for whatever future it is that Theta is aiming for.

The strangest reveal has to be that Mamie Eisenhower is not only still alive and living in Area 51 but that Calico is her bestie. I’m sorry, come again?!

Talk about something that comes out of left field that really doesn’t make that much sense. Even more so, the connection between them is never properly explained, so we are scratching our heads clear up to the very end. 

Let’s talk about that ending, shall we? What in the ever-loving heck was all that?

Jamie isn’t worthy enough, so they slice her throat? Kendall is worthy enough, but she mouths off too much, so it’s off with her head? 

None of these moves make any sense and progress quickly and out of nowhere. We are all still reeling from the revelation a couple of episodes ago that these girls are even pregnant in the first place. 

Now, they are vessels for the future of the alien race, but not really. It’s all confusing and complicated in a way that isn’t satisfactorily explained in the span of 45 minutes. This is a storyline that suffers for the same reason Nixon’s does — timing isn’t balanced in the slightest. 

The weirdest part is not even when Kendall loses her head, it’s what the aliens replace it with so that her body can continue to make the perfect alien/human specimen. What?!

Then, Mamie is there with Calico and the real end goal is revealed — aliens don’t care who lives or dies of the human race because the aliens are going to take over. Not only is this also out of nowhere and barely explained, but then the episode just ends.

Theta explodes Mamie’s head and fades to black. Where is the conclusion? Where is Death Valley‘s connection to Red Tide? What does any of this even mean?

Unfortunately, this finale leaves us with way too many questions and little to no answers. Death Valley deserved at least another 2 episodes of content to really try and flesh all these ideas out more satisfactorily. 

What did you think of this episode of American Horror Story: Double Feature? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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American Horror Story: Double Feature is currently streaming on FX on Hulu.

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