The writing of American Horror Story has changed. At first, the endings weren't that great, but now random episodes (and even this beginning of AHS: Death Valley) just suuuuuuck. The second part of this episode was the exact same writing as it was in the spin-off 'American Horror Stories'. Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk never swallowed those black pills and this clearly demonstrates why they would turn pale if they did.
101 Reviews
1st part interesting / 2nd part issou
christopherhq30 September 2021
The 1st part with aliens is really interesting. Even if it looks cliché, AHS had always the quality of doing something complex and interesting. I want to see more of that.
And by seeing more of the 1st part, i want to see nothing of the 2nd part. The acting is bad, the dialogues is horrible. They aren't interesting characters, the plot too. We had 5 min of discussion about sex in the restaurant. 5 min of walking in the desert. And 2 min of talking about sex. This should have been 20 min of the 1st part and 9 min of the 2nd.
And by seeing more of the 1st part, i want to see nothing of the 2nd part. The acting is bad, the dialogues is horrible. They aren't interesting characters, the plot too. We had 5 min of discussion about sex in the restaurant. 5 min of walking in the desert. And 2 min of talking about sex. This should have been 20 min of the 1st part and 9 min of the 2nd.
no kaia pls
georgemakrbanks30 September 2021
Please!
safatar77730 September 2021
If Ryan or Brad ever read this, I got only one thing to say: Please drop Kaia Berger! There are plenty of actresses at her age range that are more beautiful and who can actually act, with some being quite good. Give the opportunity to someone who deserves it. Why would you invest on someone who can't do the most basic thing at their profession? Less nepotism please and you will see an improvement on the quality of your product.
PS: Thankfully you didn't cast Paris Jackson, if she shows up later on I will have to cut my wrists.
PS: Thankfully you didn't cast Paris Jackson, if she shows up later on I will have to cut my wrists.
Half Good/Half Bad
the_nephilim712 October 2021
The first part was creepy AF and I loved it. The second half was just plain awful. I hated the four main characters so much that I wanted them to die. Kaia Gerber may be the worst actor I've ever seen on AHS. I can't figure out why she got the job. Why were those 4 characters written to be so vapid, shallow, and annoying?
Started good, ended up in American Horror Stories
mediumdanielbullard30 September 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Enjoyed the black and white start which was well done. As soon as it goes to colour it just got boring and you know what's going to happen. I was also hoping it would be the aliens from Asylum but it's not. Lily Rabe and Sarah Paulson, barely saved the episode.
Pretty okay
rglenn57530 September 2021
Kaia is bad please stop
eh-308091 October 2021
I understand wanting to have name value. But to sacrifice a show for a talentless actress daughter is pathetic. It's unfair to the actual actors that provide depth to have to share a screen with bleh. You can be born beautiful. But please understand you have no acting talent. Just model!!! My god! Stop ruining shows. That episode of stories was harder than painful.
American Horror Stories?
borysshpylka2 October 2021
Setting up the alien arc
hnt_dnl30 September 2021
Warning: Spoilers
This premiere TAKE ME TO YOUR LEADER of the Death Valley arc got off to a great start in the 1954 timeline set in New Mexico with the arrival and discovery of the aliens. In particular, Neal McDonough (as President Dwight D. Eisenhower), Sarah Paulson (as First Lady Mamie Eisenhower), Lily Rabe (as Amelia Earhart) and Rebecca Dayan (as alien-possessed housewife and mother Maria) are all exceptional in their roles. The 1950s arc was so intriguing and compelling that I wish that the episode had stayed in that timeline.
Unfortunately, the episode had to shift to the modern 2021 timeline to potentially connect the two arcs. While, the modern timeline diluted the episode, it's not the fault of the 4 young actors playing the college students, but mostly the fault of the really shortsighted writing. No actor should have to say the awful dialogue that the writers gave these actors in this episode. And I honestly think this quartet did the best they could. There was way too much gross and graphic sex talk that felt completely unnecessary. Is this how Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk think young people talk? These AHS writers really need to get out of their own way and quit it with all this cringe, gross dialogue and agenda-riddled storytelling. They think they are progressive, when it reality they are veering into the realm of disgusting and unwatchable.
In actuality, there WAS an interesting part of the modern day subplot and surprisingly, it was from the character played by the actress everyone riffed in American Horror Stories. I actually thought Kaia Gerber (as science major Kendall) was rather convincing as a girl who shunned technological advancement and her acting was MUCH better than it was in Stories. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't remotely award-worthy or even great acting, but Gerber was very persuasive and made Kendall very likable. I've seen better actors than her who were lead characters get their thunder stolen from them by supporting characters, so the fact she held her own and drew me in to the story is a good start. In fact, her dialogue was much more palatable than the other 3 characters. Hopefully, this is the end of all the awkward dialogue and the last 3 episodes of Death Valley are better.
Unfortunately, the episode had to shift to the modern 2021 timeline to potentially connect the two arcs. While, the modern timeline diluted the episode, it's not the fault of the 4 young actors playing the college students, but mostly the fault of the really shortsighted writing. No actor should have to say the awful dialogue that the writers gave these actors in this episode. And I honestly think this quartet did the best they could. There was way too much gross and graphic sex talk that felt completely unnecessary. Is this how Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk think young people talk? These AHS writers really need to get out of their own way and quit it with all this cringe, gross dialogue and agenda-riddled storytelling. They think they are progressive, when it reality they are veering into the realm of disgusting and unwatchable.
In actuality, there WAS an interesting part of the modern day subplot and surprisingly, it was from the character played by the actress everyone riffed in American Horror Stories. I actually thought Kaia Gerber (as science major Kendall) was rather convincing as a girl who shunned technological advancement and her acting was MUCH better than it was in Stories. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't remotely award-worthy or even great acting, but Gerber was very persuasive and made Kendall very likable. I've seen better actors than her who were lead characters get their thunder stolen from them by supporting characters, so the fact she held her own and drew me in to the story is a good start. In fact, her dialogue was much more palatable than the other 3 characters. Hopefully, this is the end of all the awkward dialogue and the last 3 episodes of Death Valley are better.
Yeah, okay.
Dexs9730 September 2021
Cautiously optimistic
Drank2230 September 2021
Warning: Spoilers
The scenes set in the 50s were amazing and creepy. Definitely the best part of the episode. Got me really excited for this half... then we had a time jump.
The present day scenes are okay, but there was so much unnecessary dialogue. Some very vulgar dialogue (really cringey) to, which is a big jump in tone from the first part of this season 'Red Tide' and the first half of this episode.
Makes me worried about how the rest of this season is gonna go.
Interesting premise however, and only one episode in so I'm cautiously optimistic. Some really cool scenes, and I really like how it was filmed in black and white there for a bit.
Kaia Gerber has definitely improved from AHS stories, but part of me feels like one of the AHS veterans (Emma, Taissa, Billie, etc) could have been a better choice acting wise. Though, she's doing a good job.
Sarah Paulson, Lily Rabe and Rebecca Dayan really do steal the show this episode despite minimal screen time, so I'm excited to see their characters get more fleshed out.
Overall it was a good episode and very entertaining. Just got me a bit worried with how they're treating the 'present day'. I already feel like this half would be much better if they stuck in the 1950s, but I'll hold my judgement until the end.
I probably would have given this a 9/10, but I really did have to deduct a whole star for the dialogue near the end when the two guys are in bed wondering why they are sick. Wtf was that? Also not a fan of how they introduced the characters with the freeze frames... They've never done something like that before so not sure why they did it now. Sorta took away from the 'realness' of the episode, was totally out of place.
Excited to see what comes next, but also a bit scared (but not in an 'ahhhh' way, more in a 'please don't ruin yet another season with 'campy' dialogue)
The present day scenes are okay, but there was so much unnecessary dialogue. Some very vulgar dialogue (really cringey) to, which is a big jump in tone from the first part of this season 'Red Tide' and the first half of this episode.
Makes me worried about how the rest of this season is gonna go.
Interesting premise however, and only one episode in so I'm cautiously optimistic. Some really cool scenes, and I really like how it was filmed in black and white there for a bit.
Kaia Gerber has definitely improved from AHS stories, but part of me feels like one of the AHS veterans (Emma, Taissa, Billie, etc) could have been a better choice acting wise. Though, she's doing a good job.
Sarah Paulson, Lily Rabe and Rebecca Dayan really do steal the show this episode despite minimal screen time, so I'm excited to see their characters get more fleshed out.
Overall it was a good episode and very entertaining. Just got me a bit worried with how they're treating the 'present day'. I already feel like this half would be much better if they stuck in the 1950s, but I'll hold my judgement until the end.
I probably would have given this a 9/10, but I really did have to deduct a whole star for the dialogue near the end when the two guys are in bed wondering why they are sick. Wtf was that? Also not a fan of how they introduced the characters with the freeze frames... They've never done something like that before so not sure why they did it now. Sorta took away from the 'realness' of the episode, was totally out of place.
Excited to see what comes next, but also a bit scared (but not in an 'ahhhh' way, more in a 'please don't ruin yet another season with 'campy' dialogue)
Just to grab my attention is worth seven stars
tacomamma19738 October 2021
What happened to AHS?!?!?!?
mike-8221830 September 2021
Either Ryan Murphy is making poor material lately or his casting director needs to be terminated asap. The first half rocked while the second half made you want to wish you could turn back time. The acting was so bad that at some points you think it's an SNL skit. Sad direction that AHS is taking. Hoping it gets back to its roots of having a stellar cast with a kicking storyline.
Unpopular Opinion I guess...
landerdevos1 October 2021
The episode was not that bad. At all...
To start with the 50s part: this was definitely the superior part. It had suspense, a great cinematic feel and Lily Rabe once again stole the spotlight for me. The visual effects and the alien itself don't look too realistic, but it fits with the 50s vibe and tone.
The modern part has a drop in writing, I will admit that, however, it is still interesting and not to be taken too seriously. Kaia Gerber is *fine*, but the rest of the young cast is really not that bad. They have a great chemistry and dynamic. I think the storyline of the present day has potential and could be great.
I am giving the episode an 8/10, because it is intriguing, the 50s part is near perfection and the episode itself was really enjoyable.
To start with the 50s part: this was definitely the superior part. It had suspense, a great cinematic feel and Lily Rabe once again stole the spotlight for me. The visual effects and the alien itself don't look too realistic, but it fits with the 50s vibe and tone.
The modern part has a drop in writing, I will admit that, however, it is still interesting and not to be taken too seriously. Kaia Gerber is *fine*, but the rest of the young cast is really not that bad. They have a great chemistry and dynamic. I think the storyline of the present day has potential and could be great.
I am giving the episode an 8/10, because it is intriguing, the 50s part is near perfection and the episode itself was really enjoyable.
Well Ryan, you had us in the first half...
dwl2330 September 2021
What started off as a great 1950s alien abduction story with amazing potential immediately turned into a poorly written cringe worthy episode of the lame spinoff series American Horror Stories.
Ryan always struggles at knowing how to edit down his ideas, but this was a whole other level of bad idea. He literally said, "What if I take a super stylized 50s sci-fi horror story and merge it with a group of obnoxious teenage influencers talking about their sex lives at nauseating levels?"
Can we just cut the remaining modern-day plot out of the season and just focus on the 50s please?
Ryan always struggles at knowing how to edit down his ideas, but this was a whole other level of bad idea. He literally said, "What if I take a super stylized 50s sci-fi horror story and merge it with a group of obnoxious teenage influencers talking about their sex lives at nauseating levels?"
Can we just cut the remaining modern-day plot out of the season and just focus on the 50s please?
50's Sci-Fi B-Movie Style!!
Unocrew2 October 2021
It's really not that bad you guys
jorgejune501 October 2021
As far as a first episode goes, this is not bad. I see a lot of people criticizing Ms Gerber's acting but I really think she's okay. She only has room to improve and I think AHS is her first acting gig. Also I don't really expect her to be a main character for the entirety of the season since people get dropped like flies in AHS but we will see. I liked her in AHS Stories. I'm really excited to see where they take this alien story and tie it into other seasons.
Black and White - Amazing
rcuk-365102 October 2021
First half - okay; Second half - please make it stop
gfgjksgpb30 September 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Ryan Murphy has apparently decided having the children of famous celebrities is more important than good dialogue or acting, and this is very evident in the latter half of this episode. Between iconic lines such as "hey babe when was the last time I ate your a**?" and alien-induced pregnancies amongst characters introduced as "Princeton Grad", the show seems to be more of an attempt of older generations attempting to write how they think 20 year olds act and lecturing on the use of smartphones/technology rather than focusing on character development or a strong storyline. Massive disappointment.
Cautiously optimistic
folkloreandfablesfarm30 September 2021
Pregnant
ZegMaarJus20 April 2023
Warning: Spoilers
This Episode begins with Timmy, he changed into a monster. Maria has been hypnotized by Timmy. Maria kills her husband. It is 1954 and Ike is golfing. Ike is named the president. A ufo has landed in the middle of nowhere. There is one survivor after the ufo crash, Amelia tells Ike all the information that she has. Ike tells to Amelia that he is the president of the United States. Amelia has not been seen for 20 years, she has to be 60 years old by now. Amelia is pregnant. Two forensics got killed by a mysterious monster. Cal, Jamie, Troy and Kendall meet up at the restaurant. Troy and Cal are a couple. Kendall, Cal Jamie and Troy are pregnant. Solid Episode of American Horror Story Season 10, what a shock. The four friends are pregnant!
Starts Good, Immediately Crashes and Burns
lhurzele30 September 2021
First half was incredible
erinjanedalrymple30 September 2021
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