'AHS: Cult' Podcast Discussion

With a new season of American Horror Story, comes new challenges. It seems that every season I start off with this defensive wall up that I'm actively daring Ryan Murphy to knock down over the course of the season's episodes. Sometimes this happens, sometimes it doesn't. The frustrating part of this, aside from the fact that this is one of the only shows I watch that I do this with, is that it's taken me several seasons to relinquish that defensive mindset and just go along with whatever story Murphy chooses to tell at that time. I know I cannot be the only one that goes through this each season, but I understand how strange my approach to watching a show I claim to love can be compared to others' blind devotion to anything that is created under the American Horror Story banner.

With that in mind, the Critics w/o Credentials are taking it upon themselves to discuss every episode of this season in detail. This serves a purpose on several levels:

1. It allows us to have a running dialogue from episode to episode about what we enjoyed, hated, were disturbed about and just didn't understand in terms of the show. It also has helped me tremendously as a fan to hear another and often different perspective on the show.
2. It is a form of twisted therapy where we are able to do a deep dive on particular moments that stood out to us from each episode. The result being a long form conversation with one of my friends about a show we both enjoy.

The first episode is always a tough one to pin down and discuss because, as we all should be aware by now with Murphy, the show could literally go anywhere from this point onwards, and we are at its mercy. That is part of the philosophy that helps me endure some of the larger eye-roll moments from AHS; just shut up and enjoy the ride. You might just like what you experience. Sure it won't all be perfect, often sloppy, but in the end you will have things that both entertained you as well as disturbed you and that is a far better place to be than just stuck watching a bland paint-by-numbers TV show.

I will get off of my soapbox now...

The link to the Critics w/o Credentials podcast is listed below. We will be coming out with a podcast discussion on each and every episode of AHS:Cult after it airs. To be fair and honest, it's a no frills podcast, so don't expect the production value you've been spoiled with from other pods. It simply will be a conversation between two friends who really like the show and always seem to approach it from different angles. Hope you enjoy!

In the Podcast, We Discuss:

• Sarah Paulson's cry-face being typecasted
• Cheetohs and their impact on society moving forward after this episode
• Honoring Our Nation's Clowns (see below)
• How the show is handling depicting both sides of the party lines
• Just where the heck will the show take us from here
• Predictions: We offer some predictions on what this season might bring us. Trust us, they are crazy, but befitting for such an atypical program

LISTEN HERE

Below is the commercial that I mentioned deep into the podcast. I am almost embarrassed to admit how much I laughed at this, but am confident enough with myself to admit that I almost peed my pants. I know it won't be overtly hilarious to most who view it out of context, but if you saw it during the airing of the episode it was perfectly executed as the first commercial after the scene in the Chang's home of the murderous clowns. I have never seen an episode of Baskets, and this promo doesn't do anything to make me want to, however, it was one of the most brilliantly placed ads that parleys a rising clown outcry for work as a result of the marketing strategy of AHS:Cult and uses it to its benefit. Good on you Baskets...I am also not ashamed to admit that I have watched this promo upwards of 15 times. #noregertsnotasingleone