Why American Horror Story Cult Doesnt Deserve Its Bad Reputation

Why American Horror Story: Cult Doesn’t Deserve Its Bad Reputation

American Horror Story: Cult has received a bad reputation from critics and fans for several reasons, but it doesn’t entirely deserve it – here’s why.

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Why American Horror Story Cult Doesnt Deserve Its Bad Reputation

As with any series, there’s always one season fans prefer more than another, but Ryan Murphy’s American Horror Story: Cult (season 7) has an exceedingly bad reputation that it doesn’t necessarily deserve. Since premiering in 2011, the horror anthology series has dealt with numerous social and political issues. In season 7, the showrunner may have had an issue with timing, as Cult detailed the aftermath of the 2016 United States presidential election as well as the impact it had on specific groups of people. While the season’s release was perhaps poorly timed, American Horror Story: Cult doesn’t deserve its bad reputation, and has started to overcome its initial critiques in the years after release.

Ryan Murphy has delved into several very serious topics over the years. He’s created numerous shows that unpack specific moments in history that are relevant today, such as Pose and Hollywood. Ryan Murphy’s expansive filmography proves he doesn’t shy away from discourses surrounding homosexuality, racism, sexism, misogyny, and more. Traditionally, however, American Horror Story’s seasons aren’t blanketed by such a divisive issue like that of the 2016 election. For instance, AHS: Murder House featured one of their most controversial storylines – a mass school shooting – and its reputation doesn’t even compare to that of AHS: Cult. American Horror Story season 7 also featured some of America’s most nefarious cult leaders – like Charles Manson and Marshall Applewhite – and Valerie Solanas, who authored the famous SCUM Manifesto and shot Andy Warhol.

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Perhaps the most unsettling aspect of AHS: Cult was its use of the political division that came from the 2016 election, which saw the rise in extremist politics – often compared to cults and cult-like mentalities by psychologists – which Murphy clearly featured in season 7. Kai Anderson (Evan Peters) builds an army of devoted followers who share his egregious political belief system, all while targeting a woman in his community, Ally Mayfair-Richards (Sarah Paulson). The rhetoric that the season features may have been entirely too soon, as a year hadn’t even passed since the 2016 election when Cult released. Had AHS: Cult released in 2021 or later, it’s likely it wouldn’t have the same bad reputation because of how far removed the events are today.

There are countless examples of movies and television shows that have released far too soon based on their content, which has often caused negative backlash or middling reviews as a result. The most recent miniseries adaptation of Stephen King’s The Stand – which released in 2020 – garnered mixed reviews largely due to the fact that it’s about a highly contagious and lethal virus. Episodes released in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, which seemed too close to home and all too soon for many viewers. While some pandemic-inspired movies do work, such as Shudder’s Host, they have to be timed properly and deal with the subject matter in a very particular way. In the case of AHS: Cult, this wasn’t the approach.

Cult’s entire storyline is about how divisive and dangerous politics can be when violent rhetoric sweeps through the nation, influencing people everywhere to pick a side and fight for it, no matter the cost. Critics largely accredit season 7’s failure to its inability to stick to a plot, which is true in several instances, but it ignores what Murphy was trying to accomplish. The showrunner wanted to encompass numerous perspectives and highlight the complex emotions felt by people across the nation, which did become shaky at times, but made an impact on the season. There’s been heavy criticism on his use of sexism as well, but its inclusion was meant to highlight what was actually happening during an integral moment in American history.

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Cult doesn’t really deserve its bad reputation, as it did include very important subjects which could have gone ignored — the show started a conversation. However, had American Horror Story: Cult released several years after the 2016 election’s aftermath instead, its points may have been more effective. They may have even been perceived as a valiant effort to unpack and call attention to the harmful rhetoric that exists to this day against women, the LGBTQIA+ community, and Black people. Unfortunately, it just couldn’t be seen for its larger merits when the content struck too close to home.

Link Source : https://screenrant.com/american-horror-story-cult-rewatch-not-worst-season-why/

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