American Horror Stories Season 2 Episode 3 Review: Drive

American Horror Stories Season 2 Episode 3, “Drive,” rides into our lives and proves itself as the best episode of the season thus far.

Starring icon Bella Thorne, and Anthony De La Torre, the unexpected gem of this episode, “Drive” puts us in the crosshairs of a serial killer capturing people from nightclubs. 

One of American Horror Stories‘ best episodes to date, “Drive” comes out with great casting, a strong script, and a wardrobe department that knows how twenty-somethings dress in 2022. 

Freakum’ Dress

Bella Thorne’s Marci spends the episode living a promiscuous life in an open marriage that seems to be falling apart. 

At first, you’re almost envious of her, baking her cake and eating it too, but it slowly unravels. 

There’s a moment when Marci’s friend Piper — played by Billie Bodega — calls her a “disgusting freak” for hooking up with several people she’s met at a nightclub, and it’s… a bit much. 

Piper appears to be a great friend in warning her about the serial killer, multiple times, but then she gets so angry for basically no reason. It’s honestly not a surprise she ended up one of Marci’s victims.

Bi Wife Energy

One of the best things about this episode is that we really feel for Chaz (De La Torre), empathizing with him when it seems that Marci has gone out of control from her usual self.

“Drive” emphasizes that Chaz is the good guy — going so far as to have him save Marci from being choked to death. 

He’s a hero! He saved his wife! He’s a romantic! Ah, yes, so he’s in on it with her. 

It’s the kind of twist you expect, then realize isn’t coming, only for it to actually make itself known in the end. An absolute chef’s kiss. 

Sometimes Men Are the Dumb Ones

Our actual hero, Paul, is the one who gets the short end of the stick. Paul is trying to be a good guy, trying to save Marci from who he thinks is a killer, but is actually a victim, and in it all, he’s left defenseless. 

We’re suspicious of Paul until the very last second, though, when Marci puts her knife down and Paul doesn’t lower his bat. 

I think I actually yelled, “pick it back up!” and boy, was I wrong. 

Though Nico Greetham is a great addition, and each episode is different, it feels a little wasteful to be using yet another actor from season one of American Horror Stories with no continuity to it. 

Overall, “Drive” is a fantastic episode that I will most certainly be watching every time October rolls around. 

Stray Thoughts

• The Conjuring 2 parallel of, “I just needed to find someone who believed in me,” is impeccable and I loved it. 
• I am embarrassed to have thought “okay, bisexual queen!” and a few minutes later, “it’s weird that the victims are men and women,” and I didn’t put it together.
• Obsessed with being so rich that you not only own a wine cellar but also bury bodies in there. 

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

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American Horror Stories releases new episodes on Thursdays on Hulu.

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