For those of you who don't remember 1968, here's what happened: the moon was in the 7th house and Jupiter aligned with Mars; Richard Nixon, a republican from California, declared his presidential candidacy; Martin Luther King Jr. spent a day at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis and would die there; Andy Warhol is shot by a struggling actress/writer; and a green Shelby Cobra pulled up in front of a familiar Los Angeles house.
"Home Invasion" begins by showing our house as it was back then - a sorority-type house to female students enrolled in nursing school. Three students head out to see The Doors in concert, two students stay home to study. A stranger comes knocking.
These scenes are very well done, as we are treated to old TV shows and old movie music. They go perfectly with the building tension of what's to come.
In present day, we and the new owners of the house, the Harmons, are forced to again deal with the current invaders, Adelaide and Tate. Both intruders appear tame on the surface, although exuding violent tendencies, yet don't show any direct harm to the family itself. Plus, there's a hint of the basement lurker.
Then we see Constance. Jessica Lange. Enough said.
Ben takes on a new patient: Bianca Forest, a struggling actress, who dreams/fears appear odd at first (like Tate's dreams in the first episode) but are later brought to fruition. We also catch a glimpse of Bianca's reason for being in the house. She appears to have more of an interest in it than a couch trip.
Ben avoids his ringing cell phone. We learn who Ben had the fling with a year ago. Enter Hayden, a needy clingy psych student. We also learn the reason for her attachment - she's pregnant. (PAUSE: Hayden is pregnant with Ben's child, yet they have not had contact in over a year - or have they? He lied to his Vivien to return to Boston to support Hayden's decision to have an abortion. Has he lied over the past year to continue to see Hayden?)
During Ben's excursion, Vivian hears the doorbell in the middle of the night. She tells the dog to stay on the bed, which the ankle-biter doesn't seem affected by a late-night visitor. (My dog goes bonkers at a doorbell.) 40 years after the opening scene, another stranger needs help. Three intruders intend on recreating the murders we saw at show's opening, because "'Franklin' was the first. Before Manson. He changed the culture." Some of their words are muffled and not because they begin with masks on.
The house takes care of the intruders, via Addy's playmate downstairs. Three of our favorite cast members clean up the mess. The police have lost track of two intruders - one was found cut in half - but are confident in finding them. Vivian and Violet bond over all they've recently been through; Violet and her missing father, not so much. Vivian ends the episode with the threat of the family moving (again).
Writing/Directing/Editing: 8 (timeframe of pregnancy, choppy editing). Acting: 8 (the invaders muffle some words). Music: 9 (the Psycho nod was awesome).
"Home Invasion" begins by showing our house as it was back then - a sorority-type house to female students enrolled in nursing school. Three students head out to see The Doors in concert, two students stay home to study. A stranger comes knocking.
These scenes are very well done, as we are treated to old TV shows and old movie music. They go perfectly with the building tension of what's to come.
In present day, we and the new owners of the house, the Harmons, are forced to again deal with the current invaders, Adelaide and Tate. Both intruders appear tame on the surface, although exuding violent tendencies, yet don't show any direct harm to the family itself. Plus, there's a hint of the basement lurker.
Then we see Constance. Jessica Lange. Enough said.
Ben takes on a new patient: Bianca Forest, a struggling actress, who dreams/fears appear odd at first (like Tate's dreams in the first episode) but are later brought to fruition. We also catch a glimpse of Bianca's reason for being in the house. She appears to have more of an interest in it than a couch trip.
Ben avoids his ringing cell phone. We learn who Ben had the fling with a year ago. Enter Hayden, a needy clingy psych student. We also learn the reason for her attachment - she's pregnant. (PAUSE: Hayden is pregnant with Ben's child, yet they have not had contact in over a year - or have they? He lied to his Vivien to return to Boston to support Hayden's decision to have an abortion. Has he lied over the past year to continue to see Hayden?)
During Ben's excursion, Vivian hears the doorbell in the middle of the night. She tells the dog to stay on the bed, which the ankle-biter doesn't seem affected by a late-night visitor. (My dog goes bonkers at a doorbell.) 40 years after the opening scene, another stranger needs help. Three intruders intend on recreating the murders we saw at show's opening, because "'Franklin' was the first. Before Manson. He changed the culture." Some of their words are muffled and not because they begin with masks on.
The house takes care of the intruders, via Addy's playmate downstairs. Three of our favorite cast members clean up the mess. The police have lost track of two intruders - one was found cut in half - but are confident in finding them. Vivian and Violet bond over all they've recently been through; Violet and her missing father, not so much. Vivian ends the episode with the threat of the family moving (again).
Writing/Directing/Editing: 8 (timeframe of pregnancy, choppy editing). Acting: 8 (the invaders muffle some words). Music: 9 (the Psycho nod was awesome).