Monsters Among Us

Last updated
"Monsters Among Us"
American Horror Story episode
AHS Freack show.jpg
Conjoined twins Bette and Dot Tattler
Episode no.Season 4
Episode 1
Directed by Ryan Murphy
Written byRyan Murphy
Brad Falchuk
Featured music
Production code4ATS01
Original air dateOctober 8, 2014 (2014-10-08)
Running time64 minutes
Guest appearances
Episode chronology
← Previous
"The Seven Wonders"		Next →
"Massacres and Matinees"
American Horror Story: Freak Show
List of episodes

"Monsters Among Us" is the premiere episode of the fourth season of the anthology television series American Horror Story , which premiered on October 8, 2014, on the cable network FX. It was co-written by creators Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk and directed by Murphy. [1]

Contents

The episode introduces Elsa Mars who runs one of the last remaining freak shows in the United States in the hamlet of Jupiter, Florida, and her recruitment of conjoined twins Bette and Dot Tattler. It also introduces the rest of her traveling performers, and the murderous clown known as Twisty. [2] This is the first episode of American Horror Story to break the anthology format, which includes the character Pepper (Naomi Grossman), who was previously featured in American Horror Story: Asylum (2012-2013). [3]

"Monsters Among Us" is the second longest episode in the series' history, at just over one hour without commercials. It received critical acclaim and positive reviews from critics who praised the characters, acting, setting, its horror elements, and the story's tone. Critics noted the character buildup, particularly that of the Tattler Twins and Elsa Mars, and Elsa Mars' performance of David Bowie's "Life on Mars?" as the episode's highlights. The episode obtained the highest ratings of any episode in the series, and is currently the most-watched American Horror Story episode. [4]

Jyoti Amge, currently the world's smallest living woman, has her American TV debut in this episode. [5] [6]

Plot

In Jupiter, Florida, in 1952, conjoined twins Bette and Dot Tattler are taken to a hospital after a milkman finds them injured in their home, near their mother, who was brutally murdered. News spread of the twins' existence, leading local carnival freak show owner Elsa Mars attempting to recruit them to join her troupe. Although skeptical, the twins agree. Elsa's troupe of freaks include Jimmy Darling, a boy with syndactyly, and his mother Ethel Darling, a bearded lady.

Twisty, a killer clown, murders a teenage girl's boyfriend and a young boy's parents and imprisons the young boy and teen girl in an old bus. Jimmy kills a detective after he threatens to arrest the twins for their mother's murder. Elsa's group puts on their first show with Bette and Dot as "The Siamese Twins," there are only two attendees, a wealthy but shallow socialite Gloria Mott and her dangerously disturbed son Dandy. Dandy bargains with Elsa to buy Bette and Dot, but the twins refuse. Elsa later tells Ethel that she brought the twins aboard to get more attention for the show and boost her fame. As Elsa prepares for bed, it's revealed that she is an amputee, legless below the knees.

Reception

"Monsters Among Us" was met with critical acclaim, and received praise from numerous television critics. Review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes holds an approval rating of 92% based on 12 reviews. The critical consensus reads: "Freak Show sets the template for a compelling character-driven narrative with thoughtful pacing and creepy scares." [7] Looper ranked the episode twenty-sixth in their "30 Best American Horror Story Episodes Ranked" list. [8]

Erik Adams of The A.V. Club gave the episode a B+. [1] IGN reviewer Matt Fowler gave the episode a 7.6 out of 10, praising the setup of the characters and the killer clown, although he felt that the introductory elements with Elsa and the twins was overlong. [9] Critics have also praised the performances of the cast, particularly Jessica Lange and Sarah Paulson. Verne Gay of Newsday wrote: "Paulson's performance is so memorable that it's not a completely incidental question. Then, of course, there's Lange." [10]

Ratings

The episode received a total audience of 6.13 million viewers, making it the series' most watched season premiere and the series' most watched episode ever. [11] As a result of these particular high ratings, the show was immediately renewed for a fifth season. [4]

Related Research Articles

<i>Freaks</i> (1932 film) 1932 American horror film by Tod Browning

Freaks is a 1932 American pre-Code drama horror film produced and directed by Tod Browning, starring Wallace Ford, Leila Hyams, Olga Baclanova, and Roscoe Ates.

<i>American Horror Story</i> Anthology television series

American Horror Story (AHS) is an American horror anthology television series created by Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk for the cable network FX. The first installment in the American Story media franchise, seasons of AHS are mostly conceived as self-contained miniseries, following a different set of characters in a new setting within the same fictional universe, and a storyline with its own "beginning, middle, and end." Some plot elements of each season are loosely inspired by true events.

"Edward Mordrake" is a two-part episode, consisting of the third and fourth episodes of the fourth season of the anthology television series American Horror Story. The first part aired on October 22, 2014, and the second on October 29, 2014, on the cable network FX. The first part was written by James Wong and directed by Michael Uppendahl and the second part was written by Jennifer Salt and directed by Howard Deutch.

"Gods & Monsters" is a song by American singer and songwriter Lana Del Rey from her third extended play Paradise and the reissue of her second album Born to Die, Born to Die: The Paradise Edition. "Gods & Monsters" was released on November 9, 2012, with the rest of the Paradise EP.

<i>American Horror Story: Freak Show</i> Fourth season of American Horror Story

The fourth season of the American horror anthology television series American Horror Story, subtitled Freak Show, is set in 1952 Jupiter, Florida, telling the story of one of the last remaining freak shows in the United States and their struggle for survival. The ensemble cast includes Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Michael Chiklis, Frances Conroy, Emma Roberts, Denis O'Hare, Finn Wittrock, Angela Bassett, Kathy Bates, and Jessica Lange, with all returning from previous seasons, except newcomers Chiklis and Wittrock. The season marks the first not to be strictly anthological, with Lily Rabe, Naomi Grossman, and James Cromwell reprising their roles from the series' second cycle, Asylum.

"Massacres and Matinees" is the second episode of the fourth season of the anthology television series American Horror Story, which premiered on October 15, 2014, on the cable network FX. In this episode, a curfew is placed on Jupiter, as the police investigate the freak show when they suspect that a police officer was murdered on the premises. It was written by Tim Minear and directed by Alfonso Gomez-Rejon.

"Pink Cupcakes" is the fifth episode of the fourth season of the anthology television series American Horror Story, which premiered on November 5, 2014, on the cable network FX. It was written by Jessica Sharzer and directed by Michael Uppendahl. In this episode, Stanley and Elsa have their own ideas on getting rid of Bette and Dot as Dandy finds his first victim.

"Bullseye" is the sixth episode of the fourth season of the anthology television series American Horror Story, which premiered on November 12, 2014, on the cable network FX. It was written by John J. Gray and directed by Howard Deutch. In this episode, Elsa prepares to work in television by starting a new act and the sisters settle in their new home.

"Test of Strength" is the seventh episode of the fourth season of the anthology television series American Horror Story, which premiered on November 19, 2014, on the cable television network FX. It was written by Crystal Liu, directed by Anthony Hemingway and focuses on the camp girls planning revenge on Dell.

"Blood Bath" is the eighth episode of the fourth season of the anthology television series American Horror Story, which premiered on December 3, 2014, on the cable network FX. It was written by Ryan Murphy and directed by Bradley Buecker. In this episode, the performers mourn the death of one of their own as Elsa brings in a new performer.

"Orphans" is the tenth episode of the fourth season of the anthology television series American Horror Story, which premiered on December 17, 2014, on the cable network FX. It was written by James Wong and directed by Bradley Buecker.

"Magical Thinking" is the eleventh episode of the fourth season of the anthology television series American Horror Story, which premiered on January 7, 2015, on the cable network FX. It was written by Jennifer Salt and directed by Michael Goi.

"Tupperware Party Massacre", initially reported with the title "The Fat Lady Sings", is the ninth episode of the fourth season of the anthology television series American Horror Story, which premiered on December 10, 2014, on the cable network FX. It was written by Brad Falchuk and directed by Loni Peristere.

"Show Stoppers" is the twelfth episode of the fourth season of the anthology television series American Horror Story, which premiered on January 14, 2015, on the cable network FX. It was written by Jessica Sharzer and directed by Loni Peristere.

"Curtain Call" is the thirteenth and final episode of the fourth season of the anthology television series American Horror Story, which premiered on January 21, 2015, on the cable network FX. It was written by John J. Gray and directed by Bradley Buecker.

"Checking In" is the premiere episode of the fifth season of the anthology television series American Horror Story. It aired on October 7, 2015, on the cable network FX. The episode was co-written by creators Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk and directed by Murphy.

<i>American Horror Story: Cult</i> Seventh season of American Horror Story

The seventh season of the American horror anthology television series American Horror Story, subtitled Cult, takes place in the fictional suburb of Brookfield Heights, Michigan, during the year 2017, and centers on a cult terrorizing the residents in the aftermath of Donald Trump winning the 2016 U.S. presidential election. It is a season that does not present supernatural elements. The smallest ensemble cast of the series, it includes Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Billie Lourd, Cheyenne Jackson, and Alison Pill, with all returning from previous seasons, except newcomers Lourd and Pill. This season marks the first to not feature cast mainstay Lily Rabe and Emma Roberts.

"Election Night" is the first episode and season premiere of the seventh season of the American horror anthology television series American Horror Story, subtitled Cult. It aired on September 5, 2017, on the cable network FX. The episode was written by Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk, and directed by Bradley Buecker.

"Holes" is the fifth episode of the seventh season of the anthology television series American Horror Story. It aired on October 3, 2017, on the cable network FX. The episode was written by Crystal Liu, and directed by Maggie Kiley.

FräuleinElsa Mars is a fictional character and protagonist appearing in FX's American Horror Story:Freak Show. She was primarily created by Ryan Murphy and portrayed by Jessica Lange, debuting in the 2014 episode "Monsters Among Us". Often portrayed as a villain by her fictional troupe of freaks, Elsa serves as one of the main characters during the events of Freak Show who tries to introduce her fame to the world of "monsters." She is the fourth and last character portrayed by Lange in American Horror Story, with the exception of Constance Langdon, who she reprised in American Horror Story: Apocalypse.

References

  1. 1 2 Adams, Erik (October 8, 2014). "Review: American Horror Story: Freak Show: 'Monsters Among Us'". The A.V. Club.
  2. ↑ Lovett, Jamie (October 1, 2014). "American Horror Story Trailer Introduces Twisty The Clown". Comic Book.
  3. ↑ Weber, Lindsey; Abell, Tara (December 18, 2014). "What We Learned Last Night About American Horror Story's Expanded Universe". Vulture . Retrieved August 12, 2023.
  4. 1 2 Stack, Tim. "'American Horror Story' renewed for fifth season after setting ratings record", Entertainment Weekly , 13 October 2014.
  5. ↑ "Meet the World's Shortest Woman (and American Horror Story: Freak Show Star!)". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved 16 October 2014.
  6. ↑ Eggertsen, Chris (August 13, 2014). "Newest American Horror Story Co-Star Is the World's Smallest Woman". HitFix.
  7. ↑ American Horror Story: Freak Show, Episode 1 , retrieved 2021-11-25
  8. ↑ Roe-Owen, Kristi (2021-10-13). "30 Best American Horror Story Episodes Ranked". Looper.com. Retrieved 2021-11-25.
  9. ↑ "American Horror Story: Freak Show – "Monsters Among Us" Review". IGN. 9 October 2014. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  10. ↑ "'American Horror Story: Freak Show' review: Creepy creatures". Newsday. Retrieved 16 October 2014.
  11. ↑ Kondolojy, Amanda (October 9, 2014). "Wednesday Cable Ratings: 'American Horror Story' Tops Night + 'South Park' 'Teen Mom II', 'The Daily Show, 'Key & Peele' & More". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on October 11, 2014. Retrieved October 9, 2014.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.