This week, we were pretty much introduced to the cast of characters and got a little backstory. It was very 80’s. My name is Kent and I write the questions every week and I have a great group of people who answer them. If you are familiar with some of the other TV Show blogs that we do on the site, then you will recognize most of the names. If you would like to participate in the blog and answer my inane questions, please contact me at kent@9deuce.com. Please enjoy!
1. Who will be the final girl(s) this season?
Raylene: Brooke, Rita,
Eric: Brooke
Melanie: Brooke (I have a whole theory about it…) (Next week, for your final thoughts, can you elaborate upon this theory of yours?)
Kelly: Emma Roberts, Leslie Grossman (she may go at the very end), and Billie Catherine Lourd. But let me point out, the only people confirmed that I know of includes these three and our favorite (I got jokes) Paulson. So honestly, they may all make it to the finale. Who knows this early? (I’m with you on Leslie being killed in episode 8, 9, or 10. I also shuddered when you mentioned your joke.)
Kent: There are 2 schools of thought here. There is conventional horror wisdom which would dictate Brooke and possibly Margaret Booth (Leslie Grossman). This is how it should go, but this is AHS. Which leads me to AHS conventional wisdom. Girl power, blah blah blah, Brooke still lasts until the end because she is arguably the biggest star this season. Keep an eye on Rita as the underdog candidate. Also, if this show has more than one final girl, then this season will have failed as a slasher.
2. Is it refreshing to see so many new faces or do you miss all the familiar faces from seasons past?
Raylene: I always want Lange but the new crew seems decent so far. (I think everybody would love Lange back. Clearly, Eric does and I think she could have been the owner or perhaps Mr. Jingles mother, ala Betsy Palmer in Friday the 13th.)
Eric: Jessica Lange and Dylan McDermott (I like where your head is at. I just saw Zachary Quinto in Hotel Artemis and I’d love to see him return.)
Melanie: Evan Peters (I simply hope that taking the season off helps him with whatever he needs. I really think that he would have been great for this season, but he needed the time away. Just wish someone else would do the same.)
Kelly: I miss the OG cast. 🙁 I don’t have the same excitement for this series anymore. It died after Hotel for me. I’m holding onto hope for this season’s theme, but I think episode one was a nicely done starter. (The show is in a difficult spot and I think a large chunk of fans tuned out after Hotel. It’s not like Roanoke or Cult were all that great, so it made it easier for people to stop watching. But I agree, this was a nice starter. Most of the first episodes are usually good, except Cult.)
Kent: I miss the familiar faces trying on new roles. I prefer having a comfort level with the actors. I can obviously write a huge list of people that I wish were back, even Evan Peters, although he deserves time away. I feel like Quinto could have been fun here along with Denis O’Hare. Obviously, I want Kathy Bates back in the fold too.
3. Which callback to 70’s/80’s horror did you most appreciate in this episode?
Raylene: The very short guy shorts yay…The awesome aerobic outfits were solid. (You and the short shorts on the dudes. I’m shocked you aren’t petitioning for them to make a comeback.)
Eric: I am not a huge horror fan, so it is all new to me. (Well, imagine lots of rain, swimming, running away from the killer and if they are female then they trip in the woods. Lots of darkly lit scenes. Possibly a thunderstorm. Oh, and plenty of high pitched screaming.)
Melanie: I like the camp theme, but only because I know that is a scary movie theme. I haven’t seen any of the 70’s/80’s horror movies. (I will say that I think people should try to watch The Burning from 1981. I think this season is going to have a lot of that movie. Plus, The Burning has a young Jason Alexander (George Costanza from Seinfeld).
Kelly: I like the camp theme of Friday the 13th. (I would also recommend The Burning to you, or Sleepaway Camp 2. That has some good humor in it.)
Kent: The Burning reference which most people won’t get, but that was there, along with Friday the 13th and Halloween being the big ones. If a female camper ends up having a penis, then we can also include Sleepaway Camp.
4. Whose hair game is most on point this season? What about the best outfit so far?
Raylene: Xavier’s hair fantastic. Trevor and Montana’s clothing are pretty outrageous.
Eric: Clancy’s hair and outfits are the best for me. Meathead all the way!
Melanie: I am enjoying all the big 80’s hair and outrageous mullets. I am living for Montana’s clothes this season!!!
Kelly: Montana has some on-point hair and Xavier’s style is pretty great.
Kent: First of all, I enjoyed everybody’s responses. It appears that there are plenty of unique things for everybody to enjoy something. I was fond of what Trevor was laying down. Montana’s hair game was the winner for me. I will also toss out Roy, who was eerily reminiscent of Crazy Ralph. The best part, and I assume some of you will appreciate this info, Roy is being played by Don Swayze, Patrick’s brother. They really could use a relative of Kevin Bacon since he was in the original F13.
5. Which past seasons do you think they will make a reference to this season?
Raylene: All 8 (Wow, that is a lot to ask for. Best of luck on that one.)
Eric: Cult (I have been wondering if they would try this. It seems reasonable given all the flashbacks in that with Evan Peters, I can see them try something there.)
Melanie: I think Freak Show will be mentioned around the campfire. Twisty lives!!! (Damn right he does. I will have my Twisty glass next to me when it happens.)
Kelly: Well we have to pay attention to time periods and so it’ll need to be in the past. Possibly Asylum but for sure Freakshow (Twisty). (Asylum intrigues me. As you said, the time periods are important. But they could use a character’s past from the more modern era seasons. You know how Murphy loves that stuff, and I usually do too.)
Kent: Hot was the most obvious one to me. They are in California, after all. Freak Show is practically guaranteed, I think. I think that Roanoke has a high probability because it was based around acting. Finally, I have a hunch that we will get something from Apocalypse. I have nothing at all to base that upon, but they already have Cody Fern there, so why not?
Final Thoughts – I want your thoughts on the opening credits video for this video.
Raylene: It was good but not as solid as Furry Nights though. (Furry Nights is on Amazon Prime and is well worth your time if you want low budget horror with some laughs. I think that they did a surprisingly good job with it.)
Eric: I didn’t really pay attention.
Melanie: I love it!!! Really let you know what it was about. (Yeah, aside from going Clockwork Orange on our asses, I am pretty sure the video makes sure that you know what it’s about.)
Kelly: Love the 80s and staying on the theme! The music is a bit Stranger Things-esque to me. And I get a Poltergeist vibe too with all the TV action. (Great call on Poltergeist. I totally didn’t think about that one._
Kent: It served its purpose and is one of the better openings. Still, I hope this 80’s nostalgia trip doesn’t get too out of hand in regard to how many things are trying to piggyback on Stranger Things. I also watched Karate Kid (the good one) today. Finally, I want to point out that the name of the camp is Camp Redwood. I may be looking too deeply into this, but I think that it is alluding to blood on the trees. That is my hope.