American Horror Stories Season 2 Episode 2 Review: Aura

On American Horror Stories Season 2 Episode 2, “Aura,” Gabourey Sidibe and Max Greenfield show us the horrors of smart houses, and why it’s wise to maybe not break the law while you’re amongst the land of the living. 

“Aura” shows us what it’s like to heal from old wounds, and what it’s like to come face to face with them.

Though better than American Horror Stories Season 2 Episode 1, “Dollhouse,” “Aura” is still amongst the show’s weaker episodes.

What’s nice about “Aura” as well is that we don’t spend too much time trying to learn characters who are otherwise unimportant to the story — we stay right with Bryce and Jaslyn. 

RIP Repression

Though I probably should have seen them coming, the twist in “Aura” was actually shocking to me.

Again, in hindsight, I should have known something was up in learning about Jaslyn’s (Gabourey Sidibe) background and not Bryce’s (Max Greenfield). 

There’s a double-gasp moment, though, as Bryce tells us the woman newly haunting the Aura is his ex-fiancee, there’s more. 

We then learn that Bryce knew his fiancee was alive upon getting hit and proceeded to kill her.  

True love.

AHS Takes A Stance on “The Janitor Will Clean it Up, It’s His Job.”

If you were ever in school, public school at least, there were basic things that were unwritten rules amongst each school. The hierarchy of school went: students, teachers, lunch ladies, janitors. 

It’s not right, and it certainly isn’t a fact for every kid in every school (picture me flipping my hair and winking knowing I wasn’t that kid) but there’s a good amount of them.

Look, never be mean to your janitor just because they’re the janitor. But also, if you’re a janitor, don’t write creepy love letters to girls in school. 

This is certainly a way for the writers to take the plot when after they slam us with a twist, but I guess it kind of has to be boring for the twist to be unexpected. Eh. 

American Horror Stories Defies Their Own Logic

When Bryce is killed by his ex-fiancee and his current wife, he turns to dust and disappears. 

This is also what happened to Dayle once he and Jaslyn forgave each other. But then, in the end, Bryce comes back. 

How? Why? Also, did nobody wonder where Bryce went? He talked a lot about his job for him to be someone coworkers don’t notice is gone. 

Overall, the thought of a ghost controlling your automated doorbell is freaky, but “Aura” doesn’t fully pull it off with the story they show the viewers. 

There are several ways this episode could have been expanded and worked through better, and it certainly isn’t bad, and I’m sure I will be rewatching with my friends when I inevitably force them to watch.

Stray Thoughts

• Watching Jaslyn slowly become dumber throughout the episode, to the point where she throws the door open and willingly lets her ghost inside, was truly heartbreaking. 
• Bryce is a horrible husband all around, but I don’t even blame Jaslyn for falling for him. Did y’all see him with that poker over his head? 
• Justice for the raccoon. I will avenge you. 

—

What did you think of this episode of American Horror Stories? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Critic Rating:

User Rating:

 

American Horror Stories releases new episodes on Thursdays on Hulu. 

 Follow us on Twitter and on Instagram!

Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!

Breeze’s Top 10 Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and Horror TV Series of 2020