The most disturbing kind of horror arises from the cruelty people inflict on one another under the guise of faith and prejudice. What’s truly upsetting about this series is realizing that such deeply ingrained racism and brutality still exists in our world today. I’ve nearly completed the first season, and it's remarkable—brutal, violent, and essential viewing at a time when bigotry and religious dogma are used to distort history and deceive us into believing we are the problem for refusing to remain silent. Given that some people are attempting to erase historical accounts from schools, works of fiction like this should be required viewing. It’s more impactful than simply reading about it; watching allows everyone to feel disgusted by the racism and violence perpetrated by religious white individuals throughout history. This series offered a welcome change after enduring films like *The Nun* (2018), *The Nun II* (2023), the initial portion of *The First Omen* (2024), and *Tarot* (2024)—all of which were disappointing. I watched the first season of *American Horror Story* and immediately dismissed it. I often tell people that my only memory from that season is a character who was simply attractive, because everything else felt so lifeless. Despite my love for horror, even when desperate for something to watch, I can’t bring myself to revisit *American Horror Story*, which now has nine seasons. This isn't anything like *American Horror Story*. However, I will say that episode 9 of the first season doesn't quite have the same impact as the rest. The transformation of racist farmer John into a racist demon-farmer John feels uninspired. The episode seems repetitive, which is perhaps an accurate reflection of how bigotry manifests—the same awful behavior just presented differently. I commend Amazon for funding this project, although I wish they would treat their employees with more respect. P.S.: Alison Pill has such a lovely smile; it’s almost disarming enough to make you forget how terrible Betty is. Speaking of Betty, the writers did an excellent job making her sympathetic through that single scene involving her parents. I didn't anticipate feeling any connection to Betty, but here I am. I’ve finished season 2 and returned to share my thoughts. It leans more into supernatural elements than the first season, yet the social commentary remains present. It’s striking how many layers of prejudice and discrimination are piled on top of each other throughout this series—it feels incredibly realistic! This season explores the consequences of child abuse and neglect that continue into adulthood, critiques the failings within the foster care system, exposes police misconduct and secret societies within law enforcement, illustrates how even those who have experienced discrimination can sometimes be quick to react defensively and offensively instead of listening (I particularly appreciated the interaction between Athena and Kyong-Ah), highlights how capitalism overshadows decency, and so on. Contrary to what some might think, the violence depicted is necessary because we currently tend to soften and downplay everything, pretending that people aren’t actively supporting acts of bigotry and brutality. I'm eagerly awaiting a third season if it ever happens. Little Marvin is an effective storyteller, and I want more of this. Less performative displays of moral righteousness like those seen in *FBI*, and instead a straightforward presentation of the ugliness and its effects on people—it’s a useful way to identify and expose racists. P.S.: I was pleased to see Pam Grier appear here. It was satisfying that they gave her that defiant "You mother!@#$er!" line near the end. Although it would have been unrealistic for her to launch into a full-blown Kung Fu fight with spinning kicks, I wouldn’t have minded!

Source on TMDB