REVIEW - American Horror Story Season 2 Episode 1

American Horror Story has an extremely successful debut season, bringing true horror back to television and adding in some sexy cable extras, saw the formula rise to international success and praise from the toughest critics.

This season instead of continuing a story, the show has done the next best thing and re-invented itself in a whole new haunted house, new characters and story. Set in an abandoned asylum a pair of newly-weds are on a honeymoon horror tour of the most haunted places in America. Leo (Adam Levine Maroon 5, The Voice) and Theresa (Jenna Dewan) head to Briarcliff, the abandoned asylum in search of the famous serial killer Bloodyface. 

After an unfortunate accident, we are whipped back to 1964 when the Asylum was fully functional and holding some insane criminals. The main protagonist is led by Sister Jude (Jessica Lange) a strict yet dark nun who is in charge with Sister Eunice (Lilly Rabe) and the experimental doctor with power issues Dr Arden (James Cromwell). All worthy characters for a new season, Lange as always is fabulous and showcases her acting abilities and is built for the horror genre. Rabe displays a wide-eyed innocence and willingness to submit to authority, she does this with such ease and believability. Cromwell is a great addition to this show, bringing the science element to it, with a complete disregard for women in authority.

Using the mental asylum as the centre of the story, has allowed the directors to really mess with the audience's mind. There are a lot of surreal moments in this episode when you question if it's real or not. It is done so flawlessly and sharply that it is hard to tell what is real and what isn't.

I don't want to reveal any spoilers or talk too much about the plot, apart from the fact that it is a completely different show to last season, it has built on some strong roots and with a higher budget, and cleverly mapped out plot this season is already greater than the previous.

American Horror Story is showing at 10 on FX

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REVIEW - The New Normal S01, E04 "Obama Mama"

The New Normal takes a new (cough cough) turn this week, so far we have seen the gender, gay marriage and child adoption played out and it was only a matter of time before it turned political.

Bryan and David are attending more and more school events with Shania to really grasp just how this child thing works with schooling etc. They attend Shania's school where they are holding a mock vote, similar to the upcoming US Election.

Bryan and David discover that Goldie is voting for Cheyney and not Obama and set out trying to convince her that she is wrong. After getting wind of this Jane steps in and challenges the boys beliefs and says that they are racist for not having black friends.

The boys hold a staged dinner party with black actors posing as their friends to put on a good facade. This is the first time that we get a good look into the life of Jane and why she is the way she is. We see flashbacks to her childhood, campaigning for Nixon as a teenager in an amusing flashback.

At the end of the episode when Jane discovers that this is all for show the boys are forced to look at their own lives and realise that they need to vote for the person that represents all of their beliefs, not just one. It is a very powerful and important message that turns the show into serious territory this week.

Still this show is worth every second and I look forward to regular hilarity programming next week.

Review by Arrow

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REVIEW The New Normal - S01E02

The New Normal is NBC's answer to ABC's hit comedy Modern Family, the difference is The New Normal is very political and in your face which unfortunately may turn some viewers away.

In Episode 2 the story continues as Shania is accused of drawing an imitation of Clay's facial expressions on his antique leather lounge. Clay decides to deal with the situation himself due to his impending fatherhood and results in forming a bond with the british impersonator.

Meanwhile Goldie gets successfully impregnated and Clay and David attempt to re-kindle their relationship at a club and realise that starting a family means moving on from the party/club lifestyle they used to be a part of.

This episode echoes how many feel about gay people becoming parents, the constant media and societal image of club and image obsessed drug users doesn't depict people that would be ideal parents and this show is doing a great job of depicting that.

That being said Ryan Murphy's in your face and often confrontational characters still play in this episode with Ellen Barkin providing the laughs as the Grandmother is funny but at times very politically incorrect.

This show seems to be getting funnier and more interesting with each episode. The ratings are good for an NBC show and should strengthen as the show finds it place in the NBC comedy register.

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The New Normal - REVIEW

Ryan Murphy has had a lot of success in television over the past few years with hits like Glee and American Horror Story, it is now time for him to turn to the sitcom territory with the New Normal.

The New Normal is the newest comedy on the NBC comedy block, in the style of NBC comedies like 30 Rock, Parks & Recreation and Up All Night.

The comedy is centred around gay couple David & Clay (Jayson Blair and Justin Bartha) who are trying desperately to adopt a child of their own. Fortunately for them Goldie (Georgia King) and her daughter Shania (BeBe Wood) are living with her grandmother played by Ellen Barking, a racist homophobe who has a tight grip on her great-grandaughters life.

Finding a balance between 6 diverse and crazy characters is no easy feat, and as proven with Glee Murphy manages to find the perfect blend of characters. Intertwining some socially confronting subjects and mixing them with comedy is a fine line and this show manages to find a happy medium in between the two.

The New Normal has already premiered online, you can watch it below, look out for new episodes on September 11 on NBC.

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