So is it really a true story?

Since the words, "The following story is based on true events." flashed across my screen, I've been wondering -- could a true story really include rain showers of teeth?

Like the season's theme, whether or not it is a true story remains shrouded in mystery. The statement could simply refer to the season's dramatically different format -- which mimicks a Lifetime TV or Investigation Discovery special, complete with talking heads and dramatic re-enactments. The storytelling method Murphy and his team have chosen this year, points to the 'true story' dramas which have come to embody current narratives of American crimes, or horrors.

The statement could also be an ode to the true happenings of the Roanoke colony, whose disappearance occurred in the 1600's. Interestingly enough, the auctioneer says the house was built sometime in the 1800's, a good two centuries after John White returned to a deserted colony. More on that later!

I'm leaning towards a definitive NO, for the story actually being based in reality, but the story still is based in reality. Yes, you read that right, the fake American Horror Story reality, of course.

It seems like despite prior theories about this season being an anthology within an anthology were wrong; however, it will indeed be a show within a show. Season 6 of American Horror Story is officially titled, American Horror Story: Roanoke -- yet every time we cut to commercial during the episode, a logo for "My Roanoke Nightmare" appeared on the screen.

That being said, Roanoke, North Carolina is a real place -- but we have confirmation that the old farmhouse is not. In fact, it was built especially for the season, in a secluded forest in California. So there you have it, in real life -- it's not true, in AHS life, it is true.

SEASON 6

So, the long awaited season 6 American Horror Story has premiered! As well as, my not-as-anticipated return to blogging! :)

Murphy & Co. kept us on our toes this season, not revealing the theme until minutes into the first episode. As the premiere progressed, I couldn't help but wonder if this season was kept a secret due to it possibly being similar to Murder House in some thematic ways, including the importance of the house itself. In looking at older blog posts from Season 1, I was struck by a comment from Murphy during an interview that each season would focus on some sort of building or entity -- which has held true. Season 1 was obviously the Murder House, while Season 2 is clearly the Asylum. Season 3 focused on the Coven's school house, while Season 4 was primarily based in the grounds of the Freak Show. Season 5, again, based in a hotel. I'm seeing a theme -- are you? That being said, I'm not as disappointed that this first episode seemed so strikingly similar to the Murder House story -- after all, there's so much more to dissect!

Anyway, like many seasons do, we have opening scenes in Los Angeles. The couple falls victim to a gang-related game of knock-out and subsequently tragically miscarries. Like many of our protagonists from seasons past, they decide on a life change and up and leave LA for the country. But wait, before we get into the plot, we need to discuss the back and forth style of the episode!

I personally really enjoyed the mash up of interview and dramatic re-enactments scenes, but that may be my love for Investigation Discovery becoming apparent. I'm also a fan of Cuba Gooding Jr being added to the cast, but I digress. Someone suggested in an article that the entire season may be a combination of various stories surrounding the house, with different characters taking turns being the focus -- essentially an anthology within an anthology. Possible, but doubtful considering the episode ended on a cliff-hanger. I am interested to see if the format with the "dramatic re-enactments" continues, as opposed to the year flashbacks we've become accustomed to in past seasons. The style provides interesting perspectives on the events and seems to be chock full of foreshadowing. A press release indicates that the next five episodes will be titled "Chapter 2," "Chapter 3," and so on, fueling the theory that the storytelling format will last through the season.

The episode centers around Shelby, a yoga instructor, and Matt Miller, a traveling salesman. As we hear from the 'real life' Matt and Shelby (Andre Holland and Lily Rabe, respectively) -- we're treated to dramatic re-enactments depicting the past events, played by Sarah Paulson (a true TV gem) and Cuba Gooding Jr. Essentially, after a series of unfortunate events, the couple up and leaves LA for the east coast, settling in North Carolina. Worth noting, the opening story strikingly resembles the story of the Harmon's moving from Boston to LA in the first episode -- including the miscarriage and need to 'start over.'

Once in North Carolina with Matt's family, the incredibly-in-love couple stumbles upon a centuries old farmhouse, which happens to be up for auction. For a cool 50K, the Millers snag the house and move in immediately. And so it begins...

The creepy comes on full force after this point -- with weird screams in the middle of the night, a damaged lawn, flying trash can, rain shower of teeth -- probably one of the STRANGEST things to ever grace our televisions during AHS, and that's certainly saying a lot. At this point, like many of you, I would be running for the door, not reassuring my husband that I'll be fine as he leaves me alone for three days! But of course, where is the fun in that?

While Matt is away, Shelby decides a soak in the eerie hot-tub is just the ticket to relax her. At some point, she is held underwater, and unfortunately, we are unable to catch a glimpse of her attacker -- the only clue? The torches surrounding the hot tub when she comes to. Matt rushes home, and is greeted by the town's police force, who seems to think Shelby has imbibed a bit too much that evening.

Matt has his concerns about Shelby's mental state, until he finds a dead pig on their front porch, which he promptly buries and hides from Shelby. I'm thinking this is an important part of the story -- though it seems inconspicuous. During the talking-heads, Matt makes a point to tell the audience that he didn't want to tell Shelby about the pig and upset her more. One of my biggest gripes about the Murder House season was, didn't any of the Harmon's talk to each other? Like Violet never came home from school and was like "Hey ma, I think our house is haunted!" Hopefully, this is a way to cover bases -- as it plays out further in the next scenes, with the introduction of Lee, Matt's sister, a former cop with an addiction problem. Both her and Shelby are pitted against each other by someone or something -- with the mysteriously moving knife and tempting bottle of wine.

While Matt is away on business, he sends his sister to stay with Shelby. As the two get into an argument over the aforementioned wine and knife, Matt is alerted by his fancy new security system that someone has entered not only the area, but the house --- and they are none other than pitchfork and torch wielding crazy people. Matt is unable to get a hold of the women, who are lured into the basement by strange noises. They find a TV playing what seems to be a home video of a very scared man who is filming some sort of pig/man being.

When they finally emerge from the basement, the foyer is decorated in some Blair Witch Project-esque angels made of sticks. Shelby freaks out after Matt rushes home to save them, from apparently nothing. She takes off and ends up hitting a woman on the road, as she distracted by Matt's incessant calls. Many have suggested that this woman is indeed the one and only Kathy Bates. Regardless of actress, the woman is dressed in colonial garb. She dusts herself off and takes off into the woods. In one of her worst decision-making moments, Shelby rushes after her, only to get lost in the thick of the forest. Something to keep in mind -- obviously, we don't know how far Shelby got, but we are told when the Millers purchase the house, that it comes with 10 surrounding acres, upon which they cannot build any further. Chances are Shelby didn't make it out of their 10-acres and is still on the 'estate.'

As she runs for her life, she loses sight of the woman she hit, but does find a tree decorated with the same stick-angels, as well as an angry mob of colonists, again with pitch forks and torches. Interestingly enough, the last line of the episode is present-day Shelby saying, "I don't know what it was, and it's still a mystery to me."

On that note, until next time.

If you're wondering why there's been no mention of the Roanoke colony or Billie Jean's infamous Season 1 speech, I'll being address that in detail in an upcoming post. I'm back and I'm here to stay ladies and gentlemen, let's enjoy this scary ride together!

OPPOSING JESSICA LANGE CHARACTER CLUE!

AHS has put out a casting call recently, looking for a season regular named Gia. Said to be arch-nemesis of Jessica Lange's new character (didn't they say that about Zachary Quinto too?) -- the girl in her mid-20's is described in the notice to be, "fierce, ferocious, extremely sexual and dangerous wild-child sexpot who harbors a secret - think Angelina Jolie in Girl, Interrupted." (TVLine.com)

I read a few rumors and ponderings that Angelina Jolie, herself, might play the role -- since she won a grammy for a similar character named Gia. Highly doubt it... what do you think?

Apparently filming doesn't start until mid-July, so they're really trying to nail down the right girl -- counting Gia, we've got four women confirmed (Jessica Lange, Lily Rabe, Sarah Paulson) and two men (Evan Peters & Zachary Quinto). 

I'm wondering if the Girl, Interrupted mention that was quoted from the casting notice was a clue to the location -- Ryan Murphy said that it would be some kind of institution -- my guess is mental -- what's yours?

Can't wait for next season!

POSTER FOR SEASON 2 RELEASED! -- UPDATED

UPDATE: I found out that this is just a SICK fan poster -- whoever you are, great job. :)



Check back for some speculation about season 2!

MORE DETAILS ON SEASON 2 REVEALED BY RYAN MURPHY LAST NIGHT!

Check out this Video from Bravo -- Ryan Murphy stopped by Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen last night and answered a few burning AHS questions!

I've already posted in great excitement about his confirmation that Jessica Lange will be returning -- we know it won't be in the same role, but at least she will be back! There's been rumors going around that Murphy was in negotiations with two or three of the actors that appeared on season 1 to come back for season 2.

Well we got a bit more clarification last night -- Murphy confirms that he is in negotiations with four of the people who were on the last season -- BUT -- none of them were the Harmon's. I'm assuming this doesn't include Jessica Lange as he confirmed her, but said he couldn't confirm the others since contracts hadn't been signed yet.

Who are you hoping the four will be?

We know it won't be Connie Britton or Dylan McDermott. And if they didn't previously play a Harmon, that pulls Taissa out of the running. My guess? Evan Peters (this was his breakout role in the industry -- why would he leave after just one season????) and Zachary Quinto (simply because the fans loved him THAT much.) The other two? I'm not so sure -- Kate Mara's signed on to another show, Alexandra Breckenridge is signed on for a pilot -- maybe Old Moira will be back? Could Marcy the realtor be back? LOL!

Murphy ALSO told us that the new location will indeed be on the East Coast -- I suppose that debunks many of the Chicago/IL theories out there. There's so much reference to Virginia, especially in the Birth episode, that I wonder if that will be the state. Seems like many of Murphy's hints were clues right in front of our faces that we seemed to miss or neglect to notice over the season -- that I wouldn't be surprised if it was something so obvious (Rubber Man, reveal anyone?!)

Last bit of news? The new location will NOT be a family home, but instead a 'horror institution' -- whatever that means.

October seems so far away! :(

LINK: IT'S OFFICIAL, JESSICA LANGE BACK FOR SEASON 2!

I'm sure most of you are as excited as I am to hear this -- especially after Ms. Lange scored both a Golden Globe and a SAG award for her role as Constance... Ryan Murphy confirms she's coming back for season 2! While we don't know how big of a role she'll have, she'll be there!

"Murphy appeared on US show Watch What Happens Live on Monday February 6th as reported on The Huffington Post, where host Andy Cohen asked if Lange would make an appearence on Season 2 of American Horror Story, Murphy simply replied, "yes."" Read more here.

LINK: AHS Concept Art

Check out this link for some behind-the-scenes looks at the concept art used to create some of our favorite monsters/humans on AHS. Be warned -- creepy pictures of Infantata follow!

"This concept art was created by Jerad Marantz and Tinsley Studio. From Marantz's site:
Here are a few designs I did for American Horror Story through Tinsley Studio. I had a lot of fun resolving Ryan Murfy's and Christian Tinsley's concepts. This was a great project to work on and I love the show. Can't wait to see what they come up with next season!"

I can't wait either!!

LINK: Jessica Lange Signed On For Season 2?! YAY!

Haven't confirmed this anywhere else yet, but this article from the Examiner.com discusses the current casting calls for Season 2 of AHS.

Apparently 2 or 3 familiar faces will be returning for Season 2, as completely different characters -- this article cites Jessica Lange as a definite! Apparently she confirmed this backstage last night at the Golden Globes -- woman wins a Golden Globe for her role, she better be signed on for season 2!

"Jessica Lange will be one of the familiar faces who will be seen in "American Horror Story" season 2. Met backstage at the 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards, the actress revealed she is signing up for the new chapter of the FX horror show. She stated that she will be playing an entirely new character. Two or three other season 1 actors will be returning for the for the second season as completely different characters, creatures, monsters, etc."

LINK: Jessica Lange Wins Golden Globe!!

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AHS's own Jessica Lange won a Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television for her role as Constance.

Congrats, Jessica! You deserved it... Constance was one memorable character.

SO WHERE IS SEASON TWO GOING?

So, we know for sure, as per Ryan Murphy, that season two is going to tell a totally different story set in a new location with a new set of characters -- the Harmon family's story is over.

Murphy had a conference call following the season finale, where he explained (as told by this article on ew.com) that the new season may feature some familiar faces but in completely different roles. He also mentioned that they are in negotiations with several members of this season's cast to return next season, but who will be back? He wouldn't say.

The show itself, is meant to be a horror anthology series - with each season having a 'beginning, middle and end' according to Murphy. He is also quoted as saying that each season will take place in a new building or home, with a different undercurrent theme (ie this season's infidelity theme). The only thing they weren't open to doing? A season focused on vampires -- thank goodness!

This article is a great summation of what Murphy has said about season two -- breaks it down by new location, theme, cast and a few other topics of discussion.

Murphy also said there are clues in the last three episodes of season 1 hinting at where the next season will be taking place. Today, ew.com is exclusively reporting that Murphy said there is a frame in Viv's labor scene that is a clue to the next season. He's quoted as saying, "Go through it frame by frame. I planted it in there. I will never reveal it.”

I haven't checked it out yet -- comment if you do!

LINK: INTERVIEW WITH RYAN MURPHY, HINTS ABOUT FINALE!

Came across this article on ew.com -- interview by Tim Stack with Ryan Murphy on what they have in store for us with season 2 and the finale. 

Some of my favorite excerpts:

"So when Violet shut her eyes and said “Go away” to Tate, does that mean he’s been banished from the house? Will he be back in the finale?
No, he does come back in the finale, and their relationship is played out in the finale. But for the most part that was the conclusion of the relationship. I love what Zach Quinto says to Taissa in the basement like people come up with spells and exorcisms and burning sage in a house. I’ve done that in a new house. They’re just rituals and things to make you feel safer and make you feel there is a logic and an order to the world.

I’m such a Billie Dean fan. Does she know that Tate is evil?
Yes. I think what we’re establishing with Billie Dean is a lot of people keep saying, Is she a fake? I think that she’s both. I do think there are people in the world that have that gift. So I think she’s both legitimate and she’s also a fraud because she does think the Kroatoan spell works when of course it doesn’t. I love how Sarah played it because she played it with such confidence that you believe her in everything that she’s saying."

"From the finale, will we know more about season 2? Any clues?
I think so. I think that when people watch the finale next week that they will definitely have a sense of where the series is headed, but if they don’t, I will be happy to tell them. Yes, I think people will have an idea."

I'm not sure what I'm more excited about -- seeing Ben finally realize he's been living in crazytown for the past six months, or finding out what season 2 is going to be like. There's been so much talk of 'resetting' the whole show, I'm getting a little nervous -- I can't do without Constance or Tate!

LINK: Recap with an interesting twist!

I hadn't really picked up on this until I read this recap over on cliqueclack.com, writer Keith McDuffee brings up a rather interesting point about the cribs.

"Now to the cribs. I found it interesting that the cribs the two guys put together were two different colors and styles, and they clearly had a good/evil vibe going on. It was as though you could put God in one and the Devil in the other, with the red crib being rather pointed, the white one clean and smooth. After Vivien gave birth to the babies — the first, smaller one being stillborn — Chad is seen burning the red crib in the basement furnace. I’m wondering if that was symbolic of the stillborn baby being the baby meant for the red crib — Tate’s son — and the one that survived being Ben’s. Reading too much into it? Will we find out soon if the surviving child is Ben’s? And will that stillborn baby forever “live” on at Murder House now?"

Completely right about the two different gifts, and particularly interesting that Chad was burning the red crib with no white one in-site. Do you think it was symbolic that Tate's son was actually the one that was still-born? I thought it was interesting that Dr. Montgomery gave Nora the first baby, especially after she told Tate that she would take the baby, not caring about Violet. 

SPOILER: Episode 12, The Finale -- Afterbirth

There are some interesting spoiler pictures in this article on cinemablend.com about 'Afterbirth.' Definitely misleading I'm thinking...

Check it out.. :)

"GO AWAY!"

So, after Violet is dead (and doesn't know it yet) Tate tells her that if the ghosts scare her to close her eyes and tell them "go away" and they can't hurt her.

In episode 11, 'Birth' we witness Tate learn to do this from Nora Montgomery. Tate's a little boy, just throwing his toy truck down into the basement... when Thaddeus attacks him. Nora comes out of nowhere, and emphatically tells Thaddeus NO. He backs away and she hugs Tate and asks his name. Gives him the same advice he would later give Violet.

Ok, so we know the statement works if you're alive or dead because it would work for Tate as an alive little kid and Violet, even though she 's a ghost. But does the statement last?

Violet tells Tate to go away at the end of the episode, it takes a few tries, but he eventually disappears crying hysterically. Viv tells her that she was brave and comforts her -- but this can't banish Tate from good from her life, can it? Why else would they all be looking for a way to get rid of Chad and Patrick when they were worried about them trying to take their babies.

It seems to me that it makes them disappear for awhile, but eventually they will run into you again. Who knows!

Regardless, I don't think this is last of what we'll see between 'Violate' as they've been dubbed, interestingly enough.

What do you think? How does 'GO AWAY' in the infamous Murder House work?

LINK: Golden Globe Nominations! UPDATED!

Check out this article on the Golden Globe Nominations.

American Horror Story was nominated for Best Drama Series, while the amazing Jessica Lange has been nominated for her role as Constance for Best Supporting Actress!

YAY. Glad to see Jessica Lange credited, as she really is just fabulous as Constance.

This article discusses Ryan Murphy's thoughts on the nominations, he even jokes he's bringing Rubber Man as his date! :)

Thaddeus (or the Infantata) + Tate + Nora = WOW.

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Well, we certainly did learn a bit more about the infantata, in last night's episode, the Birth.

We also got a full front of the creepy little thing!!

Before I dive into the topic of the infantata and his relationship with Tate-- I want to make sure everyone knows about this awesome site: http://www.youregoingtodieinthere.com/ -- it's a site by FX that allows you to explore different rooms in the house, each room with it's own set of clues about a murder dating back to the 1940's with a dead bride -- seems as though there are at least 5 murders that have occurred in the house that we have yet to learn about.

What's really interesting to us, for this discussion, is the 1970's -- this was when Tate was a baby and judging from last night, apparently living in the house. I always knew there was something going on between the Infantata and Tate -- as he is the only ghost we see interact with him in the basement during scare tactics for high school bullies. Basically it's a room in the attic with a couple of different clues.

The first thing that will grab your attention is the projector screen, playing a movie on loop -- it's a movie of a little girl dressed in what looks to be a princess outfit. There's someone making a shadow puppet on the screen -- horns. We cut to a scene at the beach, which looks like there's a boy and a girl, here the shadow starts strangling the screen or what looks to be the little girl? We'll get back to this.

The next clue is a painting on the far left wall of a boy and a girl who look pretty close in age. There's blood splattered over the painting. Notice that the blood is only around the girl, there's none over the little boy.

Next clue: Blood stained ice skates? Creepy and gross.

The next clue is a mummified creature, that looks like a rabbit?!

Now the best clues of all are on the right hand wall. It's a story written and drawn by what seems like a little kid taped to the wall. Check out the screen shot of the stories.

The full story reads, "Alex was really small and didn’t know how to talk yet. But he had friends. Every night when his mom would put him in bed, he would play with a small monster with a really dark face. Alex wasn’t afraid of the monster because the monster told Alex all about dying and that it wasn’t that bad. When Alex told his mom about the monster she sent him away to camp to get rid of his bad ideas. Alex hated the camp, but it was ok because the dark monster came with him. After a week of trying to be a better baby. Alex got to go home. He promised his mom he wouldn’t talk to the monster again and Alex really tried. But the monster knew so many things. He taught Alex things that most babies don’t know and Alex liked that. So they kept playing. And then the dark monster invited other friends to play. A black cat and a rhinoceros. They were great animals and Alex loved them. But the dark monster told Alex that he had to kill them or else he would tell his mom about their playtime. So Alex asked that dark monster for a knife and he cut up the animals and put them in his drawer. No one ever found the animals even though they looked and looked for twenty four hours. It was hopeless but Alex knew where they were. And the dark monster never told Alex’s mom about what he did, EVER."

Watching the episode last night, I was convinced that the little boy Alex in the story was Tate, but as I read it over I'm beginning to wonder -- if this is in the 1970's, wasn't the flashback of Tate (presumably) meeting Thad for the first time in 1984? That wouldn't make sense. What do you think? Is Tate Alex in the story? Was Tate corrupted by the infantata at a young age?

I really think so. I want to talk a bit about the scene -- I thought it was telling the way Constance was passed out on the couch and Tate was running around the house, as if he was by himself. The door opening was comparable to the scene where Tate is popping up around the house in Piggy Piggy and the basement door opens inviting Violet to go downstairs. 

Regardless, baby Tate drops his truck downstairs and when he goes to retrieve is treated with a full view of the infantata, who starts grabbing at him. Who comes to save him in just the nick of time? Nora of course, acknowledging -- she yells at Thaddeus to go away -- which means she knows that is her former son and that he resides in the house. 

I've been reading that people are suggesting the infantata did indeed die and is a ghost, not a living being. Tate gives Violet the same advice Nora gave him years before: "Close your eyes and tell them to go away" when the ghosts seem to be frightening her. Doesn't this only work with ghosts? Could Nora have killed the re-made baby Thaddeus when she attacked him with a letter opener? Maybe she just didn't realize he was dead after she did that because he immediately turned into a ghost. I'm going with the theory that the infantata is a ghost, but with some special evil powers of his known.

It's clear in the story above that the dark little monster is indeed the infantata -- but who does he corrupt? I'm really leaning towards the theory that he corrupted Tate and he doesn't remember certain events that the infantata was controlling him. What do you think?

I enjoyed learning the back-story of Tate and Nora's relationship. To the people who were suggesting he was in love with her, no way. Never thought that for a moment, he definitely does share a maternal connection with her, as it seems in that scene, she was one of the first to ever protect him and treat him like a son. Pausing for a moment, don't you sort of feel bad for Tate? His mother was an abusive, drunken psycho who killed his father, his mother's boy-toy killed his brother, he was a little boy meeting ghosts and evil demons in the basement, he had no guidance. I really do sort of feel bad for him, is it any wonder he's so screwed up?

I want to go back to the fact that Nora acknowledged Thaddeus as her son and that Tate needed protecting from him, but yet in present day when Tate walks in, she doesn't know him. Does Nora still know that Thaddeus is in the house? Do we maybe not know the real reason she wants a baby so bad? We've never seen her and Dr. Montgomery interact until last night's episode, when he hands her the still-born baby. 

Seems to me like there's a lot more to this... at least we know why Tate was so dead-set on pleasing Nora, which he know apparently regrets since he's in love with Violet. Here's to hoping we explore Tate and the infantata's relationship in the finale!

So what do you think? Does the story from youregoingtodieinthere.com have anything to do with Tate? Are Tate's evil ways a product of the Infantata? Why have we never seen Nora acknowledge the creep in the basement that's her son in present day? Is there another reason other than her sheer desire for a baby that is causing Nora to cry and be obsessed with a baby?

LINK: Murder House for Sale?!

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Are you ready to be the next family to move in after the Harmon's? Well if you've got 4.5 million laying around, you could be!

Check out the article about the Murder House being up for sale!

UPDATE!!

Here's an even better article on huffingtonpost.com with a 26-photo tour of the place!

LINK: Interview with Connie Britton, Viv **UPDATED**

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Check out this interview from EW.com with Connie Britton who plays Viv. Love her comment about life imitating art for her & glad her baby is NOT the antichrist haha. Despite a little too much screaming in my opinion, Connie Britton really did an amazing job in this episode.

Thought this was the funniest moment (Kate Mara's comment especially!) of the interview:

"You don’t have to worry about costume changes anymore.
No, but that’s what’s so funny. I sorta thought that too. Somebody, maybe it was Kate Mara, said, “No no no no. Apparently, all the ghosts have complete wardrobes.” It’s true. In the last episode, I have never had more wardrobe changes and, by the way, several of them couture. I don’t know where these ghosts go shopping."

BTW - does her refusal to talk about next season and her suggestion that she's taking time off mean we will be Viv-less in season 2? :(!

Here's another article concerning the interview with Connie Britton -- we learn that Viv was written to be a heroic character, and will hopefully prevail as a ghost in the finale!

RECAP ROUNDUP: EPISODE 11, BIRTH

What an episode! The second to last installment of the first season of American Horror Story, surely did not dissapoint this week. Check out the links below to the best recaps I've found on the web about last night's episode. Feel free to comment with your own additions!

AfterElton.com -- A nice clean recap of everything that happened in 'Birth' -- Brian Juergens injects his own humor and snide comments into this recap that's sure to make you crack a smile.

Washington Post Entertainment -- Another one of my weekly favorites-- Jen Chaney and Paul Williams raise a number of different questions stemming from last night's episode -- a good read for sure.

NJ.com -- This recap is a little different than we're used to -- writer James Queally offers his opinion of the show and what direction season 2 should go in.

WallStreetJournal -- A tidy little recap about the episode written by Gwen Orel, which insinuates at the end that Tate knows what he did.

Infantata, Thaddeus, Vampire-Frankenstein-Demon-Baby, Whatever You Want to Call The Thing in The Basement!

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As Ryan Murphy calls it, "The Infantata" -- that creepy thing in the basement that he says lives in the basement and drinks blood for sustenance. Gross.

"I love the infantata flashback. Love that his name is Thaddeus. Why is he bloodthirsty? Is that to keep him alive?
Yes. I think with any sort of horror show, you get what is the myth of that creature? And I think the approach we took to that is it’s sort of half-Frankenstein, half-Dracula. Left by himself in the house. Bloodthirsty. We’ve shown in other episodes where he’s been eating possums and bugs to sustain himself." (Source)

Ryan Murphy tells EW.com in an interview, quoted above, that the infantata is supposed to be half-frankenstein, half-dracula. Isn't Dr. Montgomery described by the tour operator as having a Frankentstein complex? Funny, considering he really did make a Frankenstein.. From what we learned in flashbacks, and from Tate -- it seems as thought the infantata is made up of more than just baby parts, but animal parts as well.

Side Note: I was reading the American Horror Story Wiki page on the infantata, which stated "After the pieces were returned to the Doctor Montgomery in jars, he lost his mind and attempted to sew his son back together, bringing Thaddeus back as the Infantata. For this, he told Nora he used "the beating heart of one of our girls", presumably referring to an almost fully developed fetus he removed from one of the patients." I was under the impression it was one of the girls, that was going there to receive his 'services.' What do you think?

Regardless, the infantata is most definitely a frankenstein old-apparently-baby, made up various different parts. We also know for sure, besides that Ryan Murphy tells us, that it feeds on blood. We see the dead possums in the house, as well as the twins presumably get killed by it in the pilot episode. I thought it was interesting that Dr. Montgomery was behind the Black Dahlia murders -- he tells the Dentist that he drains the blood for easy transportation, but what if he drained it to feed the infantata? Which leads me to wonder if any of the other ghosts in the house have a relationship with it besides Tate? 

Brief backstory on the infantata to for the sake of it: Thaddeus was born to Charles and Nora Montgomery -- it seems Nora wanted very little to do with the baby while it was alive. Nevertheless, Nora and Dr. Montgomery weren't such great people and were operation a shady abortion business out of their basement, turns out one of the boyfriends found out and was pissed. He took baby Thaddeus one night declaring "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth" and returned him in jars full of baby pieces. Dr. Montgomery already had a habit of 'operating' on animals, putting bat wings on pigs and stuff, so he decided to put Thaddeus back together. He apparently used 'a heart from one of the girls' and brought 'it' back to life. He told a bewildered Nora there would be no funeral and sent her upstairs to see the baby. Only, the baby was no longer a normal baby. She tried to nurse it, and it apparently did not want milk, but blood instead -- judging by the claw marks on her chest. Nora then freaked and tried to kill it with a letter opener, of all things, but did not succeed -- it would not die. So now it hangs in the basement, feeding on whatever blood it can find. 

The American Horror Story Wiki page tells us, as well as interviews with Ryan Murphy -- "Concerning Infantata's design, Ryan Murphy states that the mouth is based off of a leech mouth. The character's overall "look" is inspired by the genetic disease Progeria, and the character's clothing is inspired by one worn by the Lindbergh Baby." 

Grossss --- so Progeria is basically this disease where you age way faster than you are supposed to, as well as in many cases have a disproportional head -- much smaller face than head. Back story on the Lindenbergh Baby courtesy of wikipedia: "The kidnapping of Charles Augustus Lindbergh, Jr., was the abduction of the son of aviator Charles Lindbergh and Anne Morrow Lindbergh. The toddler, 18 months old at the time, was abducted from his family home in East Amwell, New Jersey, near the town of Hopewell, New Jersey, on the evening of March 1, 1932. Over two months later, on May 12, 1932, his body was discovered a short distance from the Lindberghs' home. A medical examination determined that the cause of death was a massive skull fracture." Apparently after a long drawn out investigation and lengthy trial, newspaper columnist H L Mencken called the fiasco the 'biggest story since the Resurrection.' Interesting, I wonder if the infantata is really the antichrist -- I wonder if Billie is right about the Pope's box, just interpreting it wrong. The infantata was made of spirit and human if you think about it, right? Or am I just totally losing it?

Anyway, I've heard we get a reveal concerning the infantata tonight, so look forward to a Part 2 of this post... :) I'll update what we know about it as well as explore the infantata's relationship with Tate.