American Horror Story — Series 6: Roanoke — Chapter 4 and Chapter 5

11th June, 2018.

Yes, OK … sue me!

But I’m still going to like Jean Michel Jarre’s mid-seventies albums.

Saying that?

I can’t help but notice he did an album of stock music.   In 1973: effectively predating Oxygène.

Here’s hoping the blessed thing gets released on iTunes!

~≈§≈~

At any rate … ?

Explaining my choice of background music is not why I’m here.

No … 

I told you — last night — I’d made a start on American Horror Story’s sixth series, Roanoke.

And though you might to want to know … 

That, yes … I‘ve seen two more episodes.

And guess what?   Gaga’s starting to talk … 

~≈§≈~

Episode 4 — Chapter 4 — sees Matt (Cuba Gooding Jr and André Holland) arguing with spouse, Shelby (Sarah Paulson/Lily Rabe), about events in the woods.

And, in the meantime?

Finding out more about their house from Elias Cunningham (Denis O’Hare).

The house, the grounds … and the six day blood moon period in October.

A period only a few days away …

~≈§≈~

Episode 5 — Chapter 5 — sees historian, Doris Kearns Goodwin*, who explains the background of the Miller house.

It seems it was built for Edward Phillip Mott (Evan Peters†) and his lover.

Who … ?   Like many of the later owners of the building come to a sticky end at the hands of both Thomasine (Kathy Bates) … 

And Scáthach (Lady Gaga), the witch who’s granted a certain amount of mystic power to Thomasine.

At a price … 

~≈§≈~

Now … 

Am I still impressed … ?

Hell, yes!



Up until now, American Horror Story has been — and still is — an entertaining series.

I’m even prepared to forgive Kathy Bates and Wes Bentley their accents‡, given that.

But … ?   One whose fifth season was maybe starting to … you know … lag a little, however good I may have found it at the time!

The fact is?   Roanoke seems to have a lot more thought, and experience,  put into it, than previous entries in the series.

And better acting.   Granted, I’ve a little ambiguous about Kathy Bates’ accent.

But both she and Bassett are Oscar winners: and Oscar winners for a reason.

I think Roanoke is where whose gongs are starting to show.

       Who, as it turns out?   Is a real-world historian, with an interest in several US presidents.

†        Digging up his James Patrick March accent from Hotel.

‡.       How can I put this?   I’d imagine that most of the shows US audience would be impressed with Bates’ attempt at a northern English accent.   From the little I know, the English colonists in American at the time, would have spoken that way.   But, as someone who’s heard real northerners talk?   I’m impressed Bates is having a go at it … rather than impressed with it’s authenticity^.

^       It’s a bit like Russell’s Crowe’s in Robin Hood.   Wondering about a bit.   Although, points to Bates: I can tell she’s aiming at a general Lancashire accent, and mostly on target.   Crowe’s was … yeah …