AHS: NYC recap: Ryan Murphy’s theme is shockingly serious, Dahmer-esque

American Horror Story is back — did you know? Ryan Murphy was busy with a million other projects, but Ryan still managed to fit in one season of his beloved horror series. Just like every season before, American Horror Story, this one follows a totally new cast of characters (with some familiar AHS actors returning, like Zachary Quinto, Denis O’Hare, and Billie Lourd) in a brand new setting. As with the previous seasons, however. American Horror StoryThere are several Ryan Murphy-esque motifs. This is a spooky BDSM-style ghost figure, which may or may not be killing anyone.

This season’s premiere is definitely more grounded and less splashy than previous ones, even with a deep foray into BDSM culture and the leather scene, and seems to have a poignant metaphor at its core. But there is a ghost that haunts it — and not the leather clad spectral figure that’s been following some of the characters around — that could very well undermine what the show is trying to do this season.

[Ed. note: This post contains spoilers for the first two episodes of American Horror Story: NYC]

Image by FX

American Horror Story: NYCThis story is set in 1980 and revolves around a serial killer that targets gay men. Charlie Carver (a hopeful romantic) worries that Adam, his roommate and missing friend might become the latest victim. Unfortunately, the cops are doing nothing about it, because it’s the 1980s and they’re all pretty homophobic — except for Patrick (Russell Tovey), a gay cop who is in the closet and DoesHe wants to do the right thing, but is hesitant to make himself known to his prejudiced peers. That’s understandable. Meanwhile, Patrick’s partner Gino (Joe Mantello), a seasoned reporter, wants to break the news not just to sell papers but to protect their community when no one else will.

If the idea of something wiping out the queer community and public officials doing nothing about it isn’t clear enough, there is Also a B-plot about a doctor (Billie Lourd) who discovers an abnormal virus that is infecting deer in Fire Island — and also notices some strange symptoms in her mostly queer patients. The AIDS crisis allegory isn’t subtle, but then again, AHS It isn’t known for being subtle.

Image by FX

Remarkably, though, NYC: AHS The episode feels much more subdued than other episodes. Two episodes have only two deaths. One of the deaths is off-screen and the other one happens in a bar. The second episode opens with a torture scene, but there isn’t a lot of gore or visual scares. That signature is the only clue. AHS paranormal is the masked leather figure that may or may not be a figment of the characters’ imaginations, and it doesn’t even do much besides stand and look scary.

Instead, terror stems from how helpless characters feel and how they react to it. KnowThey are being targeted by something, and they have no control over it. No one is listening. Adam is accosted by a woman who rambles on the subway. This old lady repeats this phrase when he attends a reading of bohemian poetry later in that evening. It’s the dread of something sinister that makes up the horror of this season instead of the usual shock of brutal on-screen murders, spectral jumpscares, or even clusters of small holes. It is more in line with some of Murphy’s other projects, particularly American Crime Story, which isn’t a horror show but still dives into darker themes. This season of AHS isn’t embracing the horror genre like usual, and in fact seems to deliberately be staying away.

Image by FX

It could indicate a deeper and more politically charged situation AHSHowever, there’s one concern. The serial killer feels like a copy of Jeffrey Dahmer. We don’t explicitly know the identity of the killer ( there could be more than one), but the first two episodes certainly make it seem like it is the enigmatic Mr. Whitley (Jeff Hiller). And we don’t know much about Mr. Whitley but we do know he is a gay man who kidnapped Gino and tortured him; he wears large aviator-style glasses that resmble Dahmer’s; his hair is parted in that same exaggerated side part; and he wears basically the same exact striped polo-shirt outfit that Evan Peters did when he portrayed the serial killer in Murphy’s true crime show about Dahmer.

Oh, yeah, that’s right — Ryan Murphy already told the Jeffrey Dahmer story this year, with Monster: Jeffrey Dahmer’s Story. This true crime miniseries focused on Jeffrey Dahmer who was a serial killer and targeted gay men during the 1980s. While some critics praised the show for highlighting the victims’ stories, many of the surviving family members of Dahmer’s victims spoke out about the show’s inaccuracies and also about how they were given no notice that it was coming out.

Image by FX

Whitley could be described as a Dahmer-like character if that were all. But right on the heels of a controversial true crime show about Jeffrey Dahmer, it ends up becoming a troubling meta addition that undermines the whole thing — and doubly so, because this isn’t the first time Jeffrey Dahmer has been referenced in AHS; in fact, his ghost appeared in the show’s fifth season. Murphy has previously featured real-life serial killers as key characters, which adds an unsettling squick factor in what could have been a compelling allegory. There is so much going on that it’s doubtful the show will be able to unpack it all. Even more so when the virus plotline is only briefly mentioned in two episodes. The first episode featured the virus and it was introduced in the early part of the show. However, the virus disappears completely until the final episode. The message is about the system’s failure to the queer community. This part of the show can hopefully step out the long shadow cast by true crime. But AHSThere is no universe with a second or third act that can seamlessly tie it all together.

This season will be remembered. AHSbe more serious, dramatic and grounded in truth? It’s hard to tell, especially considering how often the show runs out of steam halfway through and flubs the ending. Although the show’s supernatural themes are an integral part of its appeal, it came to a halt at one point. AHS: The ApocalypseAfter that, the confusing mess of mythology became more over-done and obtrusive than any innovation. It was possible to ground the season by having a footing in real life, but that did not happen last time. Cult The ending felt too modern and contemporary to be cathartic. The 1980s might have more room to convey meaningful information than the restrained storytelling. NYCIt could also mean an update AHS conventions — if the show manages to tread the line between true crime obsession and typical AHS supernatural shenanigans. This may seem easy but Murphy can be a bit too feisty, weaving his own paranormal tales or giving a new spin to real-life serial killers. Then again, being subtle goes against everything that makes the show what it is — what’s an American Horror StoryYou don’t need to be a big sexy celebrity or have themes as subtle as the NYC subway.

NYC: AHSFX airs Wednesdays at 10 pm on FX Episodes will stream on Hulu next day at 10 p.m. EDT