American Horror Story -- "Smoldering Children" -- 12/07/11
#1
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American Horror Story -- "Smoldering Children" -- 12/07/11
By djariya at 2011-10-12
Synopsis:
Spoiler:
Episode 10 of 12
Promo:
<iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/VbtzFtTG4fg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
#3
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Re: American Horror Story -- "Smoldering Children" -- 12/07/11
I believe there were a few of us that guessed that Violet was dead. Still, even though I saw it coming I thought it was very well done. It was actually kind of sad to see her trying to run out of the house and keep coming back around.
#4
Re: American Horror Story -- "Smoldering Children" -- 12/07/11
Personally, I thought the teaser with the exterminator in the crawlspace gave it away. At least Ben and Vivien now have a valid reason for staying in the house...
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Re: American Horror Story -- "Smoldering Children" -- 12/07/11
I honestly don't even give a shit how this season ends. The pacing of this show has been beyond spectacular. I LOVE how they have been filling in the backstory as they've gone along. Regardless of the ending, I honestly haven't felt at any point like they didn't have a clear hold and path on the story and the way they're telling it. Sometimes it can come across that some shows are just making shit up as they go along. This is far from it and I love the reveals. The bit at the beginning with Larry and Tate was great!
#6
Re: American Horror Story -- "Smoldering Children" -- 12/07/11
Hmm... I dont know how I feel about this twist... Maybe because I saw that option discussed on here..and even addressed in interviews with Ryan Murphy, it wasn't as much of a surprise. It seems like they are throwing almost every twist of the horror genre at the book at us kind of. Well not twists per se...but storylines. I'm almost expecting someone to become possessed next. I don't hate that Violet is dead... I guess I just need time to think it over. I'll leave full judgement til the end of the season though for sure.
#7
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Re: American Horror Story -- "Smoldering Children" -- 12/07/11
So the truant officer has already come looking for Violet once. How are they going to explain her suicide and her desicated corpse hidden in the crawl space when he returns with social services?
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Re: American Horror Story -- "Smoldering Children" -- 12/07/11
I don't think there's any "kind of" about it. I pretty sure that's been the bag of the show all along, and part of the reason I love it. A trope here and there would stick out like a sore thumb and come off as really watered down for me. A new one or two spotlighted every episode just comes off as a throw everything at the wall homage to the genre and I think it's working amazingly well. I'm actually finding it pretty incredible they've been able to use as many as they have yet still tie everything together and not go completely off the rails.
#9
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Re: American Horror Story -- "Smoldering Children" -- 12/07/11
I don't think there's any "kind of" about it. I pretty sure that's been the bag of the show all along, and part of the reason I love it. A trope here and there would stick out like a sore thumb and come off as really watered down for me. A new one or two spotlighted every episode just comes off as a throw everything at the wall homage to the genre and I think it's working amazingly well. I'm actually finding it pretty incredible they've been able to use as many as they have yet still tie everything together and not go completely off the rails.
But not worried about that right now. I'm enjoying this very much right now but I'm going to have 0 expectations for season 2.
So I'm looking for clarification on this, maybe I missed something: The maid wanted out of the house, I get that. I'm also assuming that now she isn't actually gone, she's just not visible as the dead people seem to come in and out of "real life" as they wish. But I do remember the maid wanting her body dug up so they can remove her dead body from the premises because that would set her free. Why is that the case with the maid but not with anyone else? The boyfriends body was taken off the premises but he's still there. Normally a small thing like that wouldn't bother me but I'm wondering if they're setting up for the parents to find Violets body and end her story with her telling her parents to take the body away so she can be free.
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Re: American Horror Story -- "Smoldering Children" -- 12/07/11
Maybe my favorite episode of the season.
When Violet said something like "I don't want to die" and Tate replied "It's too late for that...", and then commercials, it put a smile in my face. It's like enjoying a really good meal.
What they did after that was just the cherry on top.
And yeah, I don't remember if I was the first to mention that she was dead, but I'm sure I was one of the first, but I still loved how they did it.
For me, since this is a horror show, it's really hard to surprise, I'm looking more into the execution and they are truly delivering in that field.
When Violet said something like "I don't want to die" and Tate replied "It's too late for that...", and then commercials, it put a smile in my face. It's like enjoying a really good meal.
What they did after that was just the cherry on top.
And yeah, I don't remember if I was the first to mention that she was dead, but I'm sure I was one of the first, but I still loved how they did it.
For me, since this is a horror show, it's really hard to surprise, I'm looking more into the execution and they are truly delivering in that field.
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Re: American Horror Story -- "Smoldering Children" -- 12/07/11
I think they will have a new family for the second season, so they are going to kill/go crazy the two adults. I think we have talked about this in the past. If you die in the house you stay there, that way some of the actor can be guest stars in future seasons.
Last night they also answered why some people that died there show from time to time. Again it's something that has been used in the past in other horror movies or so, basically it's when you get some kind of peace you can disappear or something. Like the maid, that Ben was finally able to see her old, when he acted the right way. Or the burned guy, was able to see his family when he finally realized what he did in the past and it seems he was repent. I guess it will work for some of the dead and not too much for others.
#12
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Re: American Horror Story -- "Smoldering Children" -- 12/07/11
My new theory for the end of the season: Ben and the twins die too. Vivien will live. She'll turn into the new Constance by living next to the house and constantly visiting so she can see her family.
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Re: American Horror Story -- "Smoldering Children" -- 12/07/11
I think I read somewhere else, won't mention the details here so I don't spoiler you, but there's more back story from Constance. I think in the last two episodes we will learn more about her.
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Re: American Horror Story -- "Smoldering Children" -- 12/07/11
Exactly. Everything's been done into the ground through the years so it can't just be the plot point and action itself. It's more about the staging and delivery and the show is nailing it. By all accounts this should should be terrible, but it's so well crafted.
#15
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Re: American Horror Story -- "Smoldering Children" -- 12/07/11
I agree. They really are going all out and using everything from past horror plots. It just doesn't bode well for season 2 when they run out of things to do.
But not worried about that right now. I'm enjoying this very much right now but I'm going to have 0 expectations for season 2.
But not worried about that right now. I'm enjoying this very much right now but I'm going to have 0 expectations for season 2.
The show next year is going to have to come up with a credible reason for Tate bothering another family. It made sense he would gravitate towards Violet in this family.
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Re: American Horror Story -- "Smoldering Children" -- 12/07/11
I think Ben and Vivien are going to do something about helping Violet cross over and in turn, Tate goes to hell... he'll fight doing that though.
#17
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Re: American Horror Story -- "Smoldering Children" -- 12/07/11
How many episodes ago did Violet take the pills? I barely have a memory of it other than people talking about it in these threads recently.
So is Larry gone for good? Guess he never got his $1000.
So is Larry gone for good? Guess he never got his $1000.
#19
Re: American Horror Story -- "Smoldering Children" -- 12/07/11
I think she took the pills in "Piggy, Piggy." I thought it was so interesting and romantic that Tate saved her. I guess not.
I thought this was a great episode that was really well acted. The Constance scenes were just amazing. Lange just blows me away in that role.
Tate has done so many horrible things, yet somehow, he still comes across as sympathetic to me. I am not sure why that is.
I thought this was a great episode that was really well acted. The Constance scenes were just amazing. Lange just blows me away in that role.
Tate has done so many horrible things, yet somehow, he still comes across as sympathetic to me. I am not sure why that is.
Last edited by onebyone; 12-09-11 at 10:24 AM.
#20
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Re: American Horror Story -- "Smoldering Children" -- 12/07/11
I have always thought this show was fluffy and over the top, but Violet's reveal left me cold, melancholic. The best episode since the reveal of the maid's reasoning for being in the house and wanting out.
#21
Re: American Horror Story -- "Smoldering Children" -- 12/07/11
The evil twin could lurk in the basement like the Frankenstein baby. Speaking of which, where has it been?