Tag Archives: the cortez

Oct23

I’ll Tell You What I Thought, What I Really Really Thought (AHS Episode 3)

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I’ll Tell You What I Thought, What I Really Really Thought (AHS Episode 3)

Heyyy everyone and TGIF! The newest episode of American Horror Story: Hotel entitled “Mommy” premiered on Wednesday and now it’s time for my personal opinions on it. There were some things that I loved, some things that I wanted more of, and some things that I didn’t particularly care for, so let’s discuss:

Introduction of Ramona Royal – LOVED: I adore the fabulous Miss Angela Bassett. I think that she’s completely and totally fantastic so I was so pleased that they gave her character an introduction fit for the queen that she is. From the scenes of her campy B-list movies to her kidnapping of Donovan, I thought that it was flawless. I hope that she gives the Countess a run for her money (or lack thereof) because I still can’t get in to Lady Gaga. My fingers are crossed that Bassett gets significant screen time this season to fill the humongous void that was left by my beloved Jessica Lange.

boohoo

^^^ Yes, I used this meme during last week’s opinion post but it just seemed to fit so well after my J-Lange swan song!

Ten Commandments Killer – Want more of: Detective John Lowe is hunting after a serial killer who murders people who break one or many of the Ten Commandments and I am such a fan of this idea. I think that it’s edgy, I think that it’s cool, and I think that I desperately want this story line to develop more. It seems like in every episode we only get a brief look into a crime scene that the TCK left behind and then that plot twist completely disappears. I think that Ryan Murphy and his sublime team were extremely creative with coming up with ways that people could get killed based off of the Ten Commandments. In episode three, for example, Detective Lowe enters an office building for a gossip magazine and all of the employees have their tongues nailed to whatever surface they are nearest to for “thou shalt not bear false witness”. That’s brilliant, now give me more of it!

The Countess’s sexcapades – Hate: I’M SO OVER IT! And I swear it’s not just me who’s dogging on Lady Gaga because of my personal distaste for her being on the show…Literally 99% of the people who I interact with on social media agree that they’re getting sick of every scene that the Countess is involved in being a sex scene. It’s tacky, it’s cheap, and it’s so overdone that I just can’t deal. I have seen literally no real acting from Gaga since her debut on the show which is why I don’t care for her as the leading lady. Anyone could do what she’s doing right now and I genuinely believe that. As soon as I see some range in the scenes that she’s involved in I’ll definitely have more love for her, but until then, I’m over the hump fest.

“No pity party in my bar!” -Cleopatra (And can I just say that Denis O’Hare does not get enough credit on AHS. He’s SO underrated despite his brilliance as an actor. I think he’s doing a terrific job and I wish Cleo was getting more screen time because I’m kind of obsessed.)

Over all, I thought that “Mommy” was good. Once again, it wasn’t “OMG” worthy, but it was good. Every episode since the premiere has been improving slowly but surely so I’m going to give episode three: three stars.

^^^ DA DA DA DA DA DA DA, MEET ME AT THE CORTEZ!!!!

You can catch me at the same time same place next week for a synopsis and opinions post on the new episode of American Horror Story: Hotel. Until then, what did everyone think of “Mommy”? What did you love? What could be improved on? I wanna hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct22

American Horror Story: Hotel “Mommy”

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American Horror Story: Hotel “Mommy”

Heyyy there everyone and welcome to the synopsis of the third episode of American Horror Story: Hotel, simply entitled, “Mommy”. We were introduced to a new character and witnessed a few deaths at the Cortez tonight so let’s discuss from the very beginning:

High fives for killing: “Mommy” begins with Tristan seeking out James March in the room he stumbled into during last week’s episode. He offers March his gratitude and a raised hand in the air, “you’re right man, killing is awesome”! March is quite pleased with this and tells Tristan that his “murder palace” hasn’t been put to good use in years. While this discussion among new friends is taking place, Will Drake enters the room with Claudia, discussing plans on tearing up the floor containing March’s meeting room. Lucky for Mr. March, Tristan is on the case with his mind on murder and murder on his mind. #REDRUM

Family drama at Chateau De Lowe: In this week’s episode we learn more about John’s lovely wife, Alex. There is a touching sequence in which she explains her career, saying how she wanted to save other people’s children but never bear her own. However, these feelings of indifference changed once little Holden came along. “I finally fell in love for real after having Holden” she swoons. Life was looking good for Mr. and Mrs. Lowe until their son got kidnapped (#obviously). We then view a scene of Alex’s suicide attempt where she lays in a bathtub overflowing with bloody water and her wrists slit wide open.

We then witness a family therapy session at the Lowe residence where Alex explains her anger towards Scarlett and her story of seeing Holden. With tension at an all time high, Alex visits her husband at the Cortez with divorce papers in hand. When Alex attempts to leave John has a mini-breakdown and expresses his fear that he’s going crazy. Alex accompanies him to his room where she puts him to bed, they have a little hanky-panky, John suggests they have another baby, and Alex leaves promptly. Once Alex is in the hallway she has visions of a woman recently killed and in all of her confused running around, stumbles upon Holden. She approaches the little boy who is staring at the ground, lifts his chin up, and hears her son speak for the first time in over a year – “Hi, mommy”.

RIP, we just killed the Claudia: Naomi Campbell’s AHS debut was short lived because she got the axe on this episode. Remember the junkie who Sally sewed into a mattress during the season premiere? Yeah, me either. ANYWAYS, the said junkie emerged from the mattress that Miss Claudia laid her perfect body on, did a little stabbing, and that – as they say, is that. The young man runs from the scene of the crime and into John’s arms begging for help. He is rushed to the hospital and the doctors agree that his frenzied and frazzled state is compliments of withdrawals. We also learn in his dying breaths that the mattress man thought Claudia was Sally whom he had the intention of killing. “She said I would be free”…#LIAR

The Countess AKA GOLD DIGGER: Once Tristan takes it upon himself to murder Will Drake to prevent the renovation of the hotel, he decides to break into his room to seduce him and then kill him mid-bang. This would be murder was prevented by the Countess, however, who shook her head “no” as soon as Tristan pulled out his knife. Later on, we find the Countess attempting to convert Mr. Drake to Gagaism, which Tristan interrupts – much to his displeasure. The Countess then takes Tristan to have a little chat in which she reveals to him that she’s not as rich as he thinks. According to the vampiress, all of her money was lost thanks to Bernie Madoff (#asshole). “Will Drake can’t die until after I marry him and take every goddamn penny”…Well, goddamn.

Bitter Donovan is BITTER: Poor ol’ Donovan is down on his luck this episode. He just got dumped, he hates his mother, hates himself, and is bitter at the world. In tonight’s episode you’ll find that Donovan has a lot of built up anger against his mother dearest, Iris. He exits the premises of the Cortez and into the streets to drink the blood of junkies and brood in solitude…And then, thanks to the poor choice of trying to kill the “Slaughter Sister” herself, he winds up in the trunk of the car of a new character.

Ramona Royal (Angela Bassett): In tonight’s episode we’re introduced to Ramona Royal, played by the fabulous Angela Bassett. Miss Royal was the queen bee of B-list movies who wanted nothing more than to be considered a “serious” actress. Over dinner with a fancy producer, the Countess approaches their table and makes the producer leave just by looking at him. We then see some good ol’ Ebony and Ivory action because apparently Lady Gaga only signed up for sex scenes this season. The ladies fell in love with each other and Royal got turned soon after, which she describes as “glorious”. The years go by and everything is going just dandy for a while until a new love interest enters the scene. “There was nothing I couldn’t be…except hers forever”.

Ramona Royal found love in a hopeless place with a not as good as Tupac rapper of the 90’s. Royal decides that she wants to be with him for forever and proceeds to turn him in a recording studio. After the deed is done the new couple enters the main room of the studio to find all of the workers dead with a tear streaked Countess in the producers chair. The Countess shoots Royal’s new man in the head and a grudge between the two vampires begins.

So what does Royal want with Donovan?: So glad you asked! Now that Royal has Donovan in her clutches she tells the Countess’s former lover about her desire for revenge. This sort of revenge requires someone with inside access to the Cortez, however, because Royal wants the Countess’s kidnapped vampire children. #SNAP

So what does Donovan do?: Nothing, really. Donovan is told to leave once Royal finds out that he got his bitch ass dumped. So back he goes to the Cortez with his tail between his legs and a mother who is now suicidal thanks to his harsh words. Iris enlists the help of Sally to off herself once she decides that she can take no more of life as “being the joke”. Sally doles her out a hefty OD of heroin which to her surprise doesn’t kill her. So, Sally goes to Plan B…suffocating Iris with a plastic bag held in place over her head with a belt. Lucky for Donovan, after a pep talk with Cleo at the bar, he finds Iris just in the knick of time…Dead, but not dead enough to not be turned. He cuts his wrist, holds his blood to his mothers mouth, and brings her back to life as a vampire. #CountessChocula

So there you have it, the Cliff Notes version of the newest episode of American Horror Story: Hotel “Mommy”. What did everyone think of tonight’s episode? Who is your favorite character in the hotel thus far? I wanna hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct16

I’ll Tell You What I Thought, What I Really Really Thought (AHS Episode 2)

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I’ll Tell You What I Thought, What I Really Really Thought (AHS Episode 2)

Helloooo everyone and TGIF! With the newest episode of American Horror Story: Hotel “Chutes and Ladders” airing on Wednesday, we have a lot to talk about! Thursday was a day of reviewing and Friday is a day for the opinions on the episode compliments of yours truly. Episode two was a definite step up from the season premiere but it was just not quite there yet for me. Despite some things that I despised, “Chutes and Ladders” was a vast improvement so let’s discuss, starting with what I loved:

Holden, Holden, Holden: Oh. My. God. That little boy is seriously the most darling thing on the planet. Hearing him actually talk in this episode with his adorable tiny voice made my heart melt. He’s too cute for words and I swoon so hard every time he’s on screen!

babies

The Cortez backstory: I was so happy that this episode gave us the history of the hotel and introduced us to Evan Peters’ character, James Patrick March. Knowing all of the horrors that went on as the hotel was built made the atmosphere of the Cortez genuinely spooky as opposed to when it was just kind of there in episode one and the first half of episode two. It was also nice to learn more intel on the faithful maid, Miss Evers, as well as finally unveiling the significance of Room 64 as March’s office.

The character development of John Lowe: I really really like Wes Bentley. I think he’s fantastic and I’m very pleased with how he’s playing John. What I’m getting the most from his character is this sense of unraveling and I’m looking forward to seeing just how far he’ll take it throughout the season. Learning more of John’s backstory as a recovering alcoholic was something that I wasn’t shocked by because it just seemed to fit perfectly and the theme of Hotel is addiction. What I’m really hoping for as we go further into the story line of the Ten Commandments Killer is a good cat and mouse detective chase because I know Bentley will really bring it!

Now that you know what I loved, let’s talk about some of the things that rubbed me the wrong way:

Even Peters’ accent: Jesus Christ, it was SO bad. During Freak Show I remember complaining about Jessica Lange’s German accent because I thought it was awful. This led me to recall writing that I would prefer for an actor to use their natural voice if they can’t do a good accent and I hold true to this statement. I thought that Peters was trying so hard to sound like this roaring 20’s tycoon and it was evident, therefore, unbelievable. It sounded like I was hearing a mockery of a 1920’s big wig as opposed to the real thing.

The overall sense of trying too hard: A lot of my fellow fans that I interact with on social media brought this up, which I was thrilled about because it was something that I was thinking the entire episode. Throughout “Chutes and Ladders” I couldn’t help but think multiple times that I could tell how hard the actors were trying to act. This honestly goes for a majority of the cast but specifically for Sarah Paulson and Finn Wittrock, which I was really disappointed by. I felt like I was watching a cast of extreme caricatures during episode two and a lot of the acting looked very forced and unnatural to me.

Missing Jessica Lange: Yeah, I said it, I miss Jessica Lange like no other. It’s funny because when I learned that Lange wasn’t going to be the leading lady of Hotel, I thought it might be a nice change to have someone younger to give a fresh spin on the show. But now, as I watch Lady Gaga as The Countess all I can think about is how perfectly Lange would have played that part. I’m not a fan of Gaga. I spent the entirety of episodes one and two wanting and trying to like her but I just couldn’t do it. I feel like all her character is offering is a heaping dose of sexuality that’s getting really old really freaking quick. Once I see some genuine acting from her, this opinion might change but for the time being give me Lange or give me death!!!

boohoo

^^^ LOVE HER!

All in all, I quite enjoyed this episode. Anything was an improvement from the season premiere and “Chutes and Ladders” was just what I needed to restore my faith in the show. I rate episode two with: three stars.

So I Told You What I Thought, What I Really Really Thought about episode two of American Horror Story: Hotel “Chutes and Ladders” and now it’s your turn. How did everyone feel about the newest episode? Who is your favorite character in the Hotel so far? I wanna hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct15

American Horror Story: Hotel “Chutes and Ladders”

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American Horror Story: Hotel “Chutes and Ladders”

Hey there everyone and welcome to the synopsis of the second episode of American Horror Story: Hotel “Chutes and Ladders”. Sorry this post didn’t come to you earlier but with the episode being an hour and forty minutes long, I was so ready for bed by the time it was done! We were introduced to quite a few new characters and learned some new intel on some of the residents of the Cortez whom we met during the season premiere, so let’s discuss:

Claudia Bankson (Naomi Campbell): Thanks to a fashion show party that Will Drake put on at the Cortez, we got to meet Claudia Bankson – a big wig magazine editor who has an eye on John Lowe…don’t we all? That’s about all we know so far on Miss Bankson so we’ll have to stay tuned for more on this fashionista.

Tristan (Finn Wittrock): The Will Drake fashion show introduced us to my dearly beloved Finn Wittrock, who plays Tristan, the edgy male model with a passion for coke and the seductive Countess. During the fashion show, a doped up Tristan acts out on the runway which results in a tussle with an audience member. As he struts his stuff, he locks eyes on The Countess and he impregnates her with his gaze…Just kidding, but they definitely had eye sex. ANYWAYS, a furious Will Drake enters the backstage area to scold Tristan, but he just ends up taking a knife and cutting his own cheek and says that he’s done modeling. Afterwards, he goes on a little jaunt through the Cortez and breaks into The Countess’s room in search of coke and some hanky panky.

Tristan gets caught shortly after he enters the room by The Countess’s lover, Donovan. Tristan gets a good old fashion ass whooping and is about to be strangled when The Countess walks in and prevents Donovan from doing so. Terrified, Tristan runs out of the room and into the elevator where he gets stuck on the seventh floor. He pulls apart the elevator doors and runs down the hall and straight into a room with the creator of the Cortez, James Patrick March (Evan Peters).

James Patrick March (Evan Peters): We meet Mr. March thanks to Tristan stumbling upon him after his encounter with Donovan. Our first scene with March is a friendly one, in which he encourages Tristan to shoot a prostitute dead. The hooker is provided by the maid, Miss Evers (Mare Winningham). When Tristan refuses, March shoots the girl himself, and Tristan evacuates the room. The following information that we learned about James March is from a chat at the bar that John Lowe has with Iris:

According to Iris, James Patrick March “put every atom of evil in his being into building this hotel” in 1925. The Cortez is “a perfectly designed torture chamber” thanks to the secret hallways, chutes leading to a basement to hold dead bodies, and a willing maid to clean up all of the messes (with her “secret ingredient – love”). We see a montage of the Cortez being built and lots of murders committed by James March, some of them in the company of his wife whose face is not shown but I’m assuming is The Countess. ANYWHO, we continue to see the suave serial killer do his thang and sometimes do his victims until we learn of his demise. A sloppy mistake of leaving a napkin from the hotel with the initials JPM at a crime scene points directly to March as the murderer. Miss Evers enters March’s room to tell him the police are at the hotel and then March kills Miss Evers with a gun at her request and then slits his own throat. Some people think that March’s wife turned on him, despite his incriminating sloppiness, to inherit his vast fortune. CRAZY STUFF!

Miss Evers (Mare Winningham): Our story of the Cortez taught us a lot about the dedicated maid, Miss Evers, but it also confirmed the suspicion that her, as well as James March, are dead.

ahsh

So what else did we learn this episode?

Scarlett finds out that Holden is still alive: During the fashion show, Will Drakes son, Glocklin, takes Scarlett on an adventure through the Cortez. He takes her to a secret room that contains the coffins of the sleeping vampire children, one of which contains the cute as can be Holden. Scarlett returns to the hotel after sneaking away from the cop assigned to keep an eye on her and finds the playroom of the vampire kids.

Holden is the only little one in the room and he adorably says “Scah-lett” when his sister asks if he knows who she is. She shows Holden family pictures and her little brother recognizes that Scarlett looks different to which she replies, “I grew up, why didn’t you?” Scarlett says “let’s go home” and her brother refuses, “I am home. I like it here. You can come and visit whenever you want”. Big sis Scarlett attempts to take a picture with her little brother and he tries to bite her. Scar gets scared and runs out of the room and straight into the arms of Sally with a mouth full of blood and her teeth falling out. When Scarlett makes her way back home, her house is swarming with police because she has been gone for five hours. She tells her parents she saw Holden, which deeply upsets them, she then shows her dad the picture she took that has her smiling face and Holden who shows up as a blonde blur.

Tristan gets turned: Once Tristan exits the room with James March, he ends up in an elevator with The Countess. She turns Tristan and then they have a wild night of banging and heart to hearts. We find out that The Countess was born in 1904 and that she was a big fan of the late 70’s, “I was the disco queen. I still am” she says. Her romp with Tristan is interrupted when Donovan enters the room. She asks Tristan to give them some privacy and then she kicks Donovan out and urges him to pack up his stuff. SHE’S SO COLD!!! The end of “Chutes and Ladders” is compliments of The Countess and Tristan as she flicks her bean to her new beau drinking the blood of his first kill. With a blood soaked face he kisses the vampiress and says, “I need more”.

John Lowe fun facts: We find out that Lowe is a recovering alcoholic AND he’s staying in the room that served as James March’s office…Room 64. DUN DUN DUNNNNN. Lowe also begins to investigate the serial killings of James March and discovers that a lot of them were in fashion of the Ten Commandments. He hated “religion and regulations” Iris stated. He then looks further into the murders happening currently that are similar in fashion and realizes that the person he’s hunting after could be a copycat killer.

“Skinny jeans are out, ponchos are in, fringe is forever.” -Cleopatra

So there you have it, this week’s episode review of American Horror Story: Hotel “Chutes and Ladders”. What did everyone think of the newest episode? How do you feel about the new characters that were introduced? I wanna hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah