"American Horror Story: Delicate" Episode 1 Review

“American Horror Story” has been an FX staple since 2011 when “Murder House” debuted. Ever since fans have waited patiently each year for the next story the horror anthology will tell.

In the past few years, the hype revolving around the show has dwindled as each season tends to lack originality and lackluster writing. Some fans had lost hope until earlier this year it was announced that the new season, “American Horror Story: Delicate,” would feature Emma Roberts, an “AHS” pro, and the one and only Kim Kardashian.

That’s right. Superstar Kim Kardashian was gracing the “AHS” lineup as a series regular. This isn’t the first time the show has done this, notably, many fans were bewildered to see Lady Gaga appear in ”Hotel” a few years prior.

Fans were finally excited for a new addition to the series. But did the premiere of “Delicate” hold up to the hype? Honestly, yes it did.

This premiere was by no means amazing, but it had some very strong moments and was helped by a fantastic performance by Emma Roberts… and Kim Kardashian. That’s right, believe it or not, Kim Kardashian delivered an impressive acting performance that was quite humorous and believable.

Emma Roberts plays Anna, an actress past her prime, who has finally entered the spotlight again. At this time Anna and her husband Dexter (Matt Czuchry) are also trying to have a child with help from a pregnancy clinic. After going to treatment, odd things begin to occur in Anna’s life with no explanation.

Roberts is very believable in the role and is impressive in the more subdued moments interacting through her daily life as a celebrity. She is very personable and the audience easily begins to root for Anna. Roberts is also able to impress during the more horrific scenes. A lot of strange acts occur during the premiere and Roberts sells the fear and confusion Anna has during these moments.

The premiere does an amazing job adding suspense to each scene, with help from the haunting score. The cinematography for these harrowing scenes is also done in a very engaging manner for the audience. There are many striking visuals that lead to the confusion Anna is going through. The audience is going on this ride and is just as confused as Anna.

Kim Kardashian also shines in her scenes. Her character Siobhan is a very entertaining character. She is loud-mouthed, a good friend, great at her job and very funny. Kim K sells her scenes quite well and very believably plays Siobhan. The character was a highlight of the premiere and had the potential to be an iconic character.

This premiere had a pretty strong plot, setting up many questions for the audience such as who is the mysterious woman (played by Cara Delevingne), why is the old woman following Anna, and what is going on with Anna.

There are many moments of confusion that are done in a very believable way. Everything that is happening is deliberate and although the audience may not know what is happening, the plot is strong enough that it leaves people wanting more.

Another highlight of the premiere was the horror. There were some genuinely freaky moments, one especially towards the end of the episode, that are quite unsettling. The one scare in particular has become one of the freakiest moments in the show's history.

This was a very strong premiere that set up a potential highlight season of the show. With strong acting, genuinely terrifying moments, and an enticing story we are in for a wild ride that will surely be an iconic season.

Although there are already clear inspirations for movies such as “Rosemary’s Baby” this season feels fresh and unlike any season of the show we have seen. Hopefully, this season can keep up the moment this premiere set up, but this episode is worth watching for any AHS fans.

Jack Freiser is a fourth-year majoring in telecommunications. To contact him, email jef5614@psu.edu