"American Horror Story" seems to borrow heavily from multiple well-known scary movies, making it easy for horror fans to recognize established themes and anticipate the outcome. Added with the in-your-face hints, it is often easy to predict major plot points. The Rubberman reveal, Vivien's mysterious pregnancy and Violet's new reality all appeared to follow familiar paths, but predictability does not ruin the viewing experience.
Rubberman Unmasked
The many alternating images of Tate and Rubberman were a strong sign Tate was Rubberman, but it was so painfully obvious that I hoped for a different outcome. Shamefully, Dwight Schrute's method for solving a murder mystery game somewhat mirrored my thinking. He said, "It's never the ones you most suspect. It's also not the ones you least expect, since anyone with half a brain would suspect them. Therefore, it has to be Phyllis, or Beatrice, the one I most medium suspect."
Although I wanted Rubberman to be a living being or darker entity--perhaps a manifestation of the house itself--instead of a costumed ghost, it was not a disappointment. The identity of Rubberman immediately became inconsequential as I suddenly needed to know more about his motives and the fate of Vivien's growing offspring. This complication also keeps the focus on the Harmons and gives Violet a chance to show whether she truly has the fearless strength her parents and Constance admire.
Evil Incarnate
A "Rosemary's Baby" scenario began to develop early on. Vivien's creepy doctors seemed so strange and disconnected. The Boston doctor gave her a mysterious herbal remedy and her current doctor insisted she stay in the house after the home invasion. This predictable course continued, making it appear they and the offal-toting Constance conspired to cultivate an evil entity in Vivien's womb.
Cynically expecting "Rosemary's Baby" led to a nice surprise as the show took a different path and presented a darker scenario with Tate fathering one of the twins. This creates even more frightening possibilities as we wait to see the results. Psychic Billie Dean warned of the birth of the antichrist, but there are many opportunities for other scenarios. Will one twin overtake the other before birth? Will the baby-hungry ghosts claim one or both babies for themselves?
Pushing Up Daisies
"Smoldering Children" revealed that young Violet actually died when she took too many sleeping pills. Recent episodes offered repeated clues with a heavy emphasis on Violet's absence from school. She had new ghostly interactions, her relationship with Tate changed, and she stayed confined to the property. She even referred to the menagerie of ghosts as the others, an obvious nod to "The Others."
Despite feeling certain Violet was dead, the on-screen revelation was surprisingly powerful. Violet thought she was protecting Tate from news of his death, but it was he who shielded her. Presumably, Violet now has abilities to rival Tate. How will she react when she finally realizes how he oscillates between helping and hurting her in their twisted relationship?
The emotional and visual experience of seeing the mysteries unfold on "American Horror Story" exceeds my expectations whether or not I anticipate the revelation. Every apparent answer leads to more questions as the Harmon's fictional world actually reflects the complexities of real life where there are no easy answers.
