Season 12 of American Horror Story, subtitled Delicate, takes a sharp turn into the realm of body horror and celebrity paranoia, delivering a chilling and thought-provoking experience. While diverging from previous seasons’ overt camp and reliance on familiar faces, Delicate offers a compelling, albeit uneven, descent into the anxieties of motherhood and the sinister forces preying on ambition.
A Glimpse into the Womb of Horror: Assessing Delicate‘s Strengths and Weaknesses
American Horror Story: Delicate is a season of intriguing contrasts. It distinguishes itself from its predecessors through its deliberate pacing and focus on psychological horror over overt gore. This shift is largely attributed to the adaptation of Danielle Valentine’s novel, Delicate Condition, providing a pre-existing narrative structure that’s both a blessing and a curse.
The Good: Eerie Atmosphere and Compelling Performances
One of Delicate‘s strongest assets is its pervasive sense of unease. The cinematography is unsettling, the sound design expertly crafted to create a feeling of constant dread, and the performances, particularly those of Emma Roberts as Anna Alcott, the actress struggling with IVF, and Kim Kardashian as her enigmatic publicist, Siobhan Corbyn, are captivating. Roberts portrays Anna’s increasing paranoia and vulnerability with nuance, while Kardashian brings a surprising level of restraint and calculated ambition to her role, delivering a performance that silences many initial doubts. The supporting cast, including Matt Czuchry as Anna’s detached husband, Dexter, adds layers of ambiguity and suspicion to the narrative.
The season also excels at exploring themes of female ambition, the pressures of motherhood, and the anxieties surrounding fertility. These themes are interwoven with supernatural elements, creating a disturbing exploration of the sacrifices women are often expected to make in the pursuit of both career and family. The unsettling imagery and slow-burn suspense effectively build a chilling atmosphere that lingers long after each episode ends.
The Bad: Pacing Issues and Inconsistencies
However, Delicate is not without its flaws. The deliberate pacing, while intended to build suspense, sometimes veers into tedium. Certain episodes feel unnecessarily drawn out, with plot points recycled and character motivations becoming muddled. The split season format, necessitated by the WGA strike, further exacerbates these issues, disrupting the narrative momentum and leaving viewers waiting months for resolution.
Another criticism leveled against Delicate is its reliance on ambiguity without sufficient payoff. While mystery is essential to horror, the season sometimes leaves too many questions unanswered, leading to a sense of frustration rather than satisfying unease. Certain plot threads feel underdeveloped, and the ultimate resolution, when it arrives, may not satisfy all viewers. The script occasionally struggles to seamlessly blend the real-world anxieties of fertility struggles with the supernatural horror elements, resulting in inconsistencies in tone and logic.
The Verdict: A Divisive Yet Ultimately Engaging Season
Despite its shortcomings, American Horror Story: Delicate offers a compelling and thought-provoking experience. Its focus on psychological horror, coupled with strong performances and unsettling atmosphere, makes it a worthy addition to the AHS canon. While the pacing issues and inconsistencies may frustrate some viewers, the season ultimately delivers a chilling exploration of female ambition, the pressures of motherhood, and the dark forces lurking beneath the surface of contemporary society. It is a successful experiment in a new direction for the series, even if that direction isn’t always perfectly executed.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About American Horror Story: Delicate
Here are 12 frequently asked questions about American Horror Story: Delicate to provide a more comprehensive understanding:
Q1: Is Delicate based on a book?
Yes, American Horror Story: Delicate is based on the novel Delicate Condition by Danielle Valentine. The season closely adapts the book’s core plot, but also introduces original elements and deviations.
Q2: Who are the main cast members of Delicate?
The main cast includes Emma Roberts as Anna Alcott, Kim Kardashian as Siobhan Corbyn, Matt Czuchry as Dexter Harding, Denis O’Hare as Dr. Hill, Billie Lourd as Ashley, and Leslie Grossman as agent, Paola.
Q3: What are the main themes explored in Delicate?
Delicate explores themes of female ambition, the pressures of motherhood, fertility struggles, gaslighting, the commodification of women, and the sinister underbelly of fame and celebrity culture. It also delves into the anxieties surrounding body image and the vulnerability of women in the public eye.
Q4: Is Delicate scarier than previous seasons of American Horror Story?
Delicate leans more towards psychological horror than the overt gore and shock value often found in previous seasons. It relies on building suspense, creating an unsettling atmosphere, and exploring deep-seated anxieties. Whether it’s “scarier” is subjective, depending on individual preferences for horror subgenres.
Q5: What is the significance of the title, Delicate?
The title Delicate refers to the precarious and vulnerable state of both pregnancy and the pursuit of fame. It also alludes to the delicate balance between reality and paranoia, sanity and madness, that Anna experiences throughout the season.
Q6: How does Kim Kardashian’s performance compare to other actors in the show?
Kim Kardashian’s performance as Siobhan Corbyn has been surprisingly well-received. Many critics and viewers have praised her understated and calculated portrayal of the ambitious publicist, noting a level of restraint and subtlety that was unexpected. She holds her own alongside seasoned actors like Emma Roberts and Denis O’Hare.
Q7: Why was Delicate split into two parts?
The season was split into two parts due to the WGA (Writers Guild of America) strike. Production was halted, delaying the release of the remaining episodes.
Q8: Is it necessary to read Delicate Condition to understand the season?
While reading Delicate Condition can provide additional context and insights, it is not necessary to fully understand the season. The show adapts the core plot and themes of the novel, but also introduces original elements.
Q9: What are the supernatural elements present in Delicate?
Delicate incorporates supernatural elements such as ancient rituals, demonic entities, and possible witchcraft. These elements are intertwined with the real-world anxieties of fertility struggles, creating a disturbing and ambiguous narrative.
Q10: Is Delicate connected to previous seasons of American Horror Story?
While American Horror Story is an anthology series, there are often subtle connections and recurring themes across seasons. The extent of Delicate‘s connection to previous seasons is still debated by fans, but some speculate possible links to themes of motherhood, power, and ancient evils explored in earlier installments.
Q11: What criticisms have been leveled against Delicate?
Common criticisms include pacing issues, inconsistencies in tone, underdeveloped plot threads, and a reliance on ambiguity without sufficient payoff. Some viewers have also expressed disappointment with the performance of certain actors or the deviation from the traditional AHS formula.
Q12: Where can I watch American Horror Story: Delicate?
American Horror Story: Delicate is available for streaming on Hulu. Individual episodes can also be purchased on platforms like Amazon Prime Video, Google Play, and Apple TV. Check your local cable provider or streaming service for availability.