American Horror Story: Hotel

Normally I watch AHS in 24 hours. I have stayed up overnight watching the series because it's so good and engaging. This time, either it changed or I did, and I wasn't hooked by this series as I normally am.I had a lot of expectations for this because Lady Gaga was in it, and she won and Emmy for her role, and I suppose I expected a lot. I hadn't seen it by the time she won. Now I've seen it and I say with 100% confidence: she didn't deserve it. Lady Gaga is a terrible actress, and it's made even more obvious when she's in a show with great actors like Chloe Sevigny, Evan Peters, Angela Bassett, Sarah Paulson, and Kathy Bates. I felt like all she did was pose while playing herself and wearing fancy costumes. It's not a stretch. Sadly, almost all of these actors didn't have great roles in this season. The story just wasn't as strong, I guess, or the characters were too 1-dimensional. As a horror story, this time the season felt more along the lines of "Saw" than previous versions of AHS.The one saving grace of this season was Evan Peters as Mr. March. For him alone, I'd give this 5-stars. His portrayal was amazing and I watch clips of him as Mr March on YouTube all the time.

First of all, this is by far the most lavish and insightful episode of the entire American Horror Story series. The plot is cleverly humorous as it is genuinely shocking and at times indeed horrifying.The production values are visually stunning which is not a contrivance to obscure the absence of Jessica Lange nor do they provide a setting to exclusively showcase Lady Gaga for the cachet of her fame and create an overblown music video-like pot boiler to parade her around like a mindless Barbie Doll in $50K couture gowns.This would be a grotesque insult to Lady GaGa and if the production had in fact proven to be a deliberate deception to use her in this manner she would have had every right to go “John Lowe” on the writers and director.While we’re on the subject of John Lowe, who in fact is one of the most pivotal and intriguing characters of “Hotel”; I must laud Wes Bentley’s amazing portrayal of a man impaired with a severe psychiatric condition; Multiple Personality Disorder (Dissociative Identity Disorder) delivering a brilliant and definitive performance for which he should have received an Emmy Award.It is no small task to convey a completely convincing portrayal of the “Jekyll & Hyde” nature of his serial killer personae vs. the police detective and grieving father obsessed with finding his lost son.Even his preference to mete out justice as the "10 Commandments" serial killer, reveals the connection between his 2 personalities as we witness his detective character angrily bemoaning the loopholes in the justice system that permit law beakers to go free without punishment.I’ll take a moment to deviate and point out that the exterior of the Hotel Cortez; more specifically the neon sign bearing it’s name, is identical to the neon sign of the old Hotel Chelsea in NYC (or more colloquially the Chelsea or Chelsea Hotel); although the interior of the Chelsea was anything but glamorous and nothing like the sumptuous Art Deco period sets designed for the lobby and bar of the Cortez.The Chelsea Hotel was home for many accomplished musicians, authors and artists alike.The implied association of the two very old hotels is not meaningless since they were both residential and the spiritual identities, both literally and figuratively, were essentially artistic and spectral in nature; yes I am implying but deplore the use of the word “ghosts”.Designer Will Drake (Cheyenne Jackson), fashion editor Claudia (Naomi Campbell) and certain aspects of “The Countess” (Lady GaGa) are the catalytic elements that define the artistic elements of the Cortez.Evan Peters who plays Mr. March, is an actor who honors his craft with an outstanding portrayal of the “Sweeney Todd” musical inspired character of the same name.Mare Winningham portrays the ever suffering "Miss Evans" with a perfect touch of poignancy and tragic sentimentality channelling the roll of Sweeney Todd's "Mrs. Lovett".I would like to think that the portrayals of Mr. March and Miss Evans might even evoke a nod of approval from Stephen Sondheim.The same can be said of Denis O’Hare in his characterization of “Liz taylor”.The ever reliable Kathy Bates delivers a solid performance with with bulls eye precision as “Iris”.Sarah Paulson shines as the bitter mainlining junkie, “Sally” and the clairvoyant, Billie Dean Howard who regrettably contacts the band of serial killers.Angela Basset is hallmarked by her razor sharp and scheming demeanor that distinguishes her performance of “Ramona”.This is not your typical vampire movie and there are amusing quips alluding to the universal nature of vampirism is all of it's aspects, whether it's a traditional depiction of inhuman blood sucking creatures or greedy, parasitic insignificant-other boy or girlfriends who are "gas lighting" their partners; which is a clever allusion to the antics of season 1.Lady GaGa treats us to a reenactment of Bianca Jaggers', Lady Godiva inspired entrance on a white horse at Studio 54 and comments that back in the heyday of the 70's, we were all vampires; an observation mirroring the famous Bram Stoker/Dracula, admiration filled comment about the nocturnal "children of the night" .The installment of the Rudolph Valentino story as the background story explaining how GaGa is turned vampire would have benefitted from a more focused and aggressive editing of this necessary subtext which is excessively drawn out and laborious.All in all, this production is ambitious to say the least and is an indisputable triumph.

I'm addicted to AMERICAN HORROR STORY and love every season. It's fun to see actors return in different roles each season and to see new actors appear. Let me make it clear. AMERICAN HORROR STORY is not for everyone and many people will be unnerved by all of the murder, mayhem and torture. If you like an other world sort of show, nothing can been AMERICAN HORRY STORY.In HOTEL, the evil-doings take place in the HOTEL CORTEZ. Its ART DECO lobby is very inviting though some of the rooms are not very welcoming. The series takes us right into the murders. It's amazing how many guests check into the HOTEL CORTEZ only to stay for eternity. I am too logical at times wondering why the police never make any connection to the dozens of people missing in Los Angeles to the Hotel Cortez. Then there is the 10 Commandments Serial Killer. This season takes us all over the map and sometimes that can be too overwhelming. There are just too many stories and subplots to follow. I do find fun in the back stories as to how people came up the CORTEZ to become eternal residents.One of the confusing parts of HOTEL is figuring out who is dead and who is in some form of altered state of existence. That brings us to Lady Gaga and her stable of men. Gaga is gorgeous and her look and hairstyle reminded me of Argentina's First Lady Eva Peron. Gaga is mistress of the Hotel Cortez and she is some sort of modified vampire. There is a virus that infects the blood that creates an everlastingly young but still human vampire. (Yes, they can be killed) Evil Gaga goes on killing sprees with her razor sharp fingernail creating more vampires. Here is where it gets unnerving and HOTEL really and starts to cross the line. Children are turned into vampires and go on killing sprees.Ending up at the Cortez isn't always bad. Eternal youth can be fun if you are a young guy "stuck" with two gorgeous and eager Swedish tourists.Not everyone who dies at the Cortez seems to be seen again though maybe the writers just couldn't squeeze everyone in.Kathy Bates as Iris and Denis O'Hare as Liz Taylor are the only human permanent residents of the hotel. Yes, it gets confusing as they know what is going on and somehow coexist with the lost souls and vampires inhabiting the hotel--never warning guests of their potential fate. Rude or immoral guests seem to be fair game yet what about the average tourists looking for a room for the night? O'Hare is an interesting addition this year as transvestite Liz Taylor. Her back story and how she came to the Cortez and finally find a place to express her inner female is interesting.This is an odd yet interesting season with a wealth of stories and characters. And if you are a main character killed off, you just come back as silent film heartthrob Rudolph Valentino--yes, they seem to be stretching all aspects of the story here. The first episodes are especially gruesome and graphic in violence and sexual nature. It can all get overwhelming but the story and the characters demand attention. If you are easily upset or stay away from this hotel. These stories will haunt your nightmares. Yes, HOTEL can lose its way at times but it is pure American Horror.

With echoes of The Shining’s Overview and shades of Psychoes Bates Motel I found this the best of the series, of the popular bloodthirsty series. For Hotel we check in to the Californian downtown Cortez, an art décor grand hotel which has seen better days! As this is American Horror Story its full of surprises, I found every episode led me up a roller coaster higher and higher, meeting superb characters of the Cortez predominantly from the spirit world. Lady Gaga amazing, as the flamboyant timeless countess, in a roll she was made to play and rocketed to her Golden globe award for this part! Also AHS favourites Evan Peters plays an astonishing part as the 1920’s eccentric owner, Kathy Bates, Angela Bassett and Sarah Paulson also star. There’s so much activity at the grisly Cortez, the humour dark! With a transvestite, bartender, a housekeeper from the 1920s a cameo appearance from Naomi Campbell. Many times the80s 90s backing pop tracks seemed more like an MTV pop video! Residents check in but never check out alive! You need an open mind for AHS Hotel as its sexy, camp, stylish and downright gory. There’s vampires, immortal serial killers……. and a whole lot of fun. The best of the series!!!!

I am a big fan of American Horror Story which I find utterly refreshing, politically incorrect and quirky. Season 5 is different as Jessica Lange is no longer in the cast. In previous seasons Jessica Lange has owned the show: this is not to say the other actors are also really good. Maybe it is her absence, maybe it is the general slowness of the storyline...but for some reason season 5 is not pushing all the right buttons for me. It still is highly visual and entertaining, if not only for hotel Cortez and Lady Gaga character's 1940's style. Looking forward to season 6 and new surprises.

Why on earth Salt wasn't fired after she took over the second half of Freak Show is beyond me. Hotel desperately wants to be high brow performance art but completely fails being boring to the point of unwatchable.The usual Jenifer Salt chip on the shoulder rubbish - blah blah blah female empowerment blah blah blah men are weak blah blah blah if you don't like my show you must be unintelligent.

I have enjoyed every season of the show so far; some are better than others. Hotel was a memorable season and a welcome addition, for me. It is a stronger season than Roanoke - on a par with Cult - weaker than seasons 1-4. I really enjoyed Lady Gaga's performance.

Not got the fluency of previous series and no Jessica Lange. The two are connected.