American Horror Story Season 10 Episode 1 Recap

Okay, Let's Talk American Horror Story: Double Feature, Shall We?

So, Season 10, Episode 1, "Cape Fear." Did it scare me? Not really. Did it intrigue me enough to keep watching? Absolutely! And maybe that's the point, right?

We meet Harry and Doris. They're a writer and his pregnant wife. They move to Provincetown for some inspiration. Let's just say, P-town is not your average beach town.

Writer's Block From Hell

Harry's got writer's block. Big time. It's like he's staring at a blank page daring it to write itself. Sound familiar to any other writers out there? I feel you, buddy.

Then he bumps into Austin Sommers and Belle Noir. These two are... eccentric, to say the least. They offer Harry a little something to help him get the creative juices flowing. A mysterious black pill.

Suddenly, Harry's spewing out pages. Like, amazing pages. It's as if Stephen King and Edgar Allan Poe had a baby. But there's a catch, of course. There's always a catch!

The Pale People... What ARE They?

Okay, let's talk about the Pale People. These creatures are creepy. They're pale (duh), bald, and have these crazy sharp teeth. They lurk in the shadows.

They seem to be a side effect of not being... talented enough for the black pill. You either become a genius or a bloodthirsty ghoul. Harsh, but fair? Maybe.

Doris, bless her heart, is NOT feeling Provincetown. She's pregnant and painting. This town's giving her major anxiety. Can't say I blame her.

The Black Pill: Genius or Ghoul?

The whole black pill thing is a great metaphor. For what, exactly? Fame? Success? The price we pay for creativity? All of the above? Ryan Murphy, you sly dog!

We see the pill transform Harry. He becomes driven. Focused. But also... kind of a jerk. He ignores Doris's concerns. All that matters is his writing.

Belle Noir seems to be the puppet master. She seems to enjoy the chaos. Is she evil? Probably. But also, kind of fabulous?

An Unpopular Opinion Alert!

Okay, unpopular opinion time! I actually liked this episode. I know, I know. Some people found it slow. But I thought it was a good setup. It had that classic American Horror Story weirdness we all crave.

The performances were great. Finn Wittrock is always fantastic. Lily Rabe is chillingly perfect. The black pill? An interesting element.

Yes, the Pale People could've been scarier. But hey, it's only episode one. They have time to grow on me. Or under my bed. Whichever comes first.

The pacing felt deliberate. Not rushed. It allowed us to get to know the characters (somewhat) before the crazy really hit the fan. A slow burn is sometimes the best burn!

Final Thoughts (For Now...)

Overall, "Cape Fear" was a solid start to Double Feature. It wasn't the scariest episode AHS has ever done. But it definitely set the stage for some good old-fashioned horror. And let's be real, that's all we really want, right?

I'm excited to see where this season goes. Will Harry become a literary legend? Will Doris survive Provincetown? Will the Pale People finally get some moisturizer? Only time will tell!

What did you think of the premiere? Let me know in the comments! And don't forget to hide your black pills. Just in case. You never know when inspiration might strike... or bite.