American Horror Story: NYC
The eleventh season of the American horror anthology television series American Horror Story, subtitled NYC, takes place in 1980s New York City, and focuses on a string of killings involving gay men and the emergence of a new virus. The ensemble cast includes Russell Tovey, Joe Mantello, Billie Lourd, Denis O'Hare, Charlie Carver, Leslie Grossman, Sandra Bernhard, Isaac Powell, Zachary Quinto, and Patti LuPone, with all returning from previous seasons, except newcomers Tovey, Mantello and Carver.
| American Horror Story: NYC | |
|---|---|
Promotional poster | |
| Starring | |
| Country of origin | United States |
| No. of episodes | 10 |
| Release | |
| Original network | FX |
| Original release | October 19 – November 16, 2022 |
| Season chronology | |
| List of episodes | |
Created by Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk for cable network FX, the series is produced by 20th Century Fox Television. NYC was broadcast between October 19 to November 16, 2022, consisting of 10 episodes. The subtitle was announced in September 2022.[1]
Cast and characters
Main
- Russell Tovey as Patrick Read,[2] a closeted NYPD detective
- Joe Mantello as Gino Barelli,[3] a reporter for the New York Native and Patrick's partner
- Billie Lourd as Dr. Hannah Wells,[3] a scientist and doctor who has discovered a new virus
- Denis O'Hare as Henry Grant,[4] a Brownstone Bar regular and mafia hitman
- Charlie Carver as Adam Carpenter,[3] a gay man disgusted with the apathy of the police
- Leslie Grossman as Barbara Read,[2] a devastated woman going through a harrowing divorce process
- Sandra Bernhard as Fran,[3] a lesbian activist and fortune teller who is trying to solve the constant problems in the city
- Isaac Powell as Theo Graves,[3] a photographer interested in the grotesque
- Zachary Quinto as Sam,[3] a partying man who is involved in the cases
- Patti LuPone as Kathy Pizazz,[3] a cabaret singer, bathhouse owner, former Broadway star
Recurring
- Clara McGregor as KK, a lesbian activist and girlfriend of Fran
- Quei Tann as Lita
- Jeff Hiller as Mr. Whitely, a serial killer with a completely macabre purpose
- Rebecca Dayan as Alana,[5] manager of one of the most frequented gay bars in New York City
- Kyle Beltran as Morris, a gay man with too much euphoria to wear out
- Brian Ray Norris as Det. Mulcahey
- Matthew William Bishop as Big Daddy, a heavily muscular serial killer who has been scaring NYC residents, especially gay people
- Kal Penn as Chief of Detectives Mac Marzara[5]
- Casey Thomas Brown as Hans Henkes (based on real-life performance artist Klaus Nomi)
- Hale Appleman as Daniel Kanowicz
- Gideon Glick as Cameron Dietrich[6]
Guest
- Lee Aaron Rosen as Captain Ross
- Jared Reinfeldt as John "Sully" Sullivan
- Danny Garcia as Chief Manney
- Taylor Bloom as Stewart
- Hannah Jane McMurray as Shachath, the Angel of Death. The character was previously portrayed by Frances Conroy in Asylum.
- Sis as Dunaway
Episodes
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Prod. code | US viewers (millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 114 | 1 | "Something's Coming" | John J. Gray | Ryan Murphy & Brad Falchuk | October 19, 2022 | BATS01 | 0.38[7] |
| In 1981, local reporter for the New York Native Gino Barelli presses his boyfriend Detective Patrick Read for information regarding a string of killings targeting gay men. Patrick refuses to be Gino's source out of fear of being outed to the police force. Later, at a bar Gino believes the killer frequents, surrealist art collector Henry tells Gino about a suspicious regular with a penchant for Mai Tais. Afterwards, Gino is drugged and captured by an unknown assailant. Meanwhile, Adam Carpenter's roommate disappears in Central Park and a man in leather stalks him. Adam finds a photo of the man and seeks out the photographer, Theo Graves. Theo assures Adam that the man in the photo, Big Daddy, has been dead for two years. On Fire Island, in an effort to contain a new virus discovered by Dr. Hannah Wells, state troopers shoot and kill a herd of deer. | |||||||
| 115 | 2 | "Thank You for Your Service" | Max Winkler | Ned Martel & Charlie Carver & Manny Coto | October 19, 2022 | BATS02 | 0.28[7] |
| Gino's captor, Mr. Whitely, frees him after noticing Gino's Marine tattoo. The next day, Mr. Whitely visits Dr. Wells' office in distress about an incurable rash. Gino tells Adam about his capture and stresses that the police will not help them. Adam convinces him to set up a phone number for people to call with tips. Concerned about the murders, Patrick's ex-wife Barbara presents Gino a box of BDSM gear Patrick kept hidden. The police harass Adam for flyers deriding the force for inaction. That night, Adam has ominous experiences on the subway and at a warehouse party. Gino and Patrick go to a leather bar to look out for the killer. Mr. Whitely orders a man a Mai Tai, stabs him in the neck, and vanishes. Newly hired Native writer Fran meets with Dr. Wells and asserts that the U.S. government is responsible for the virus. Theo's boyfriend, wealthy erotic art curator Sam, holds a young man captive in a cage. The police discover body parts of victims in an alleyway strung up on meat hooks. | |||||||
| 116 | 3 | "Smoke Signals" | John J. Gray | Brad Falchuk & Manny Coto | October 26, 2022 | BATS03 | 0.38[8] |
| Fran elaborates, claiming the virus is a biological weapon. Sam's prisoner, Stewart, escapes. Patrick questions Sam, who insists everything was consensual. A call from Mr. Whitely leads Patrick to a warehouse party. There, he follows a harnessed man into a backroom and whips him. Adam and Theo go on a date at the Ascension Club, where Adam insists Big Daddy is still alive. Whitely orders Adam a Mai Tai before Big Daddy seals the bar doors shut and sets the club ablaze with a Molotov cocktail. Dr. Wells takes blood from Adam and Whitely for testing. Gino and Patrick chase Whitely around the hospital. Whitely restrains Gino in the morgue and locks him in a freezing drawer. | |||||||
| 117 | 4 | "Black Out" | Jennifer Lynch | Ned Martel & Charlie Carver | October 26, 2022 | BATS04 | 0.28[8] |
| Power grid failures cause black outs across the city. Patrick rescues Gino from the morgue. Gino implores Kathy, the proprietor of a local bathhouse, to give a statement regarding the murders to the Native. Hans, the emcee of the warehouse parties, is found dead by his friend Daniel. Theo breaks up with Sam for Adam. Sam intercepts Adam on the street and picks him up for a ride. He declares that Theo will grow bored of him. Patrick comes out to Captain Marzara. Fearing he may be the killer, Barbara shows Gino Patrick's leather mask. Whitely calls Patrick at the station, identifying him by name. In Central Park, Big Daddy hunts Patrick with a chain mace. At a black out warehouse party, Adam and Daniel encourage others to organize. Pleading for the truth, Gino confronts Patrick with the mask and passes out. Daniel and a friend follow Whitely into his apartment complex. The three are in an elevator when the power goes out and Whitely brandishes a knife. | |||||||
| 118 | 5 | "Bad Fortune" | Paris Barclay | Our Lady J & Jennifer Salt | November 2, 2022 | BATS05 | 0.27[9] |
| Kathy hires Fran to read fortunes at her tarot shop. Hannah, Adam and Theo visit the shop and all three are dealt the death card. Gino visits and reads his own fortune. Shachath, The Angel of Death appears and encourages him to kiss her. In the meantime, Hannah visits the doctor and discovers her red blood cell count is low. She confides to Adam that he and the other victims of the Ascension Club fire also have low red blood cell counts. Big Daddy attacks Patrick in Barbara's apartment and later strangles Barbara to death. Mr. Whitely unveils his ultimate plan: displaying a body made out of different victims at the upcoming pride parade to show his contempt and disdain for what he feels is a false sense of community and fellowship within the gay community. | |||||||
| 119 | 6 | "The Body" | John J. Gray | Brad Falchuk & Manny Coto & Our Lady J | November 2, 2022 | BATS06 | 0.19[9] |
| Two men find a body wearing a leather hood on a beach on Fire Island and call Patrick. Henry accosts Gino in his apartment and threatens him, claiming Native articles on the murders have hindered local businesses. Gino spots Patrick getting into a car with Sam. Gino and Henry follow Patrick and Sam to Fire Island, where Patrick reveals that he met Sam in 1979. They had a threesome with a young man who ended up suffocating. Sam called Henry to dispose of the body for them. Henry brought along Mr. Whitely to dismember the corpse. Patrick deduces that Henry's associate must be the Mai Tai killer, remarking upon the precision of the cuts in comparison to the killer's victims. Henry and Gino lure Whitely to a bar with a job proposition. Inside, Henry follows Whitely into the bathroom and Whitely stabs him in the neck with a sedative. Gino calls Patrick asking for help. | |||||||
| 120 | 7 | "The Sentinel" | Paris Barclay | Our Lady J & Manny Coto | November 9, 2022 | BATS07 | 0.27[10] |
| Gino and Patrick enter Whitely's place, a meat processing facility. Whitley immediately knocks them out and handcuffs them to tables. Henry manages to slip one hand out. He admits to being aware that Whitley was the killer before sawing off his other hand to free Gino. Gino frees Patrick and Whitley desperately attempts to defend his motives before Patrick shoots him in the head. Finally having caught the Mai Tai killer, Patrick denounces the NYPD in a newspaper article and quits the force. He also begins seeing visions of Barbara. Feeling increasingly ill, Hannah asks her mother if she can stay with her. Adam notes to Gino that there must still be a killer at large, considering Whitley only killed seven people. | |||||||
| 121 | 8 | "Fire Island" | Jennifer Lynch | Ned Martel & Charlie Carver & Our Lady J | November 9, 2022 | BATS08 | 0.15[10] |
| On a boat en route to Fire Island, Adam is concerned about Theo being sick. On the island, Patrick dismisses Gino's concerns about abnormal growths on both of their bodies. He later has another vision of Barbara. Henry confesses to Gino that he is in love with him. Fran and her friends manage to fend off Big Daddy. Patrick shoots Big Daddy in the head after he attacks Gino and Adam, but he disappears. Sam drugs Theo's drink and ties him up in the woods to be taken advantage of by Henry; however, Big Daddy scares Henry off and the souls of gay victims lovingly embrace Theo. | |||||||
| 122 | 9 | "Requiem 1981/1987 Part One" | Our Lady J | Our Lady J | November 16, 2022 | BATS09 | 0.28[11] |
| 123 | 10 | "Requiem 1981/1987 Part Two" | Jennifer Lynch | Ned Martel & Charlie Carver | November 16, 2022 | BATS10 | 0.19[11] |
Production
Development
On January 9, 2020, American Horror Story was renewed for up to a thirteenth season.[12] In February 2022, FX chairman John Landgraf stated that the eleventh season would feature only one story, unlike Double Feature, though it would take place "in different timelines".[13] On September 29, 2022, the official title of the season was revealed to be NYC and that the season would premiere on October 19, 2022.[2] On October 6, 2022, a teaser trailer for the season was released on the show's social media pages.[14]
Casting
Ahead of any official cast announcements, Billie Lourd, Charlie Carver, Isaac Cole Powell, and Sandra Bernhard were seen filming on set. Additionally, Zachary Quinto, Patti LuPone, and Joe Mantello were reported to be appearing in the season.[3] On August 30, 2022, series veteran Denis O'Hare confirmed his appearance on Twitter.[4] Leslie Grossman, Russell Tovey, Rebecca Dayan, Kal Penn and Gideon Glick also appeared in the season.[2][5][6][15]
Filming
Filming officially began in New York on June 14, 2022, and concluded on October 28, 2022.[16]
Release
The season premiered on October 19, 2022.[1] For the first time in the show's history, two episodes aired each week instead of only one.[17]
Reception
Streaming viewership
According to Whip Media's viewership tracking app TV Time, American Horror Story was the fifth most anticipated returning television series of October 2022.[18] According to the streaming aggregator Reelgood, American Horror Story: NYC was the tenth most streamed program across all platforms, during the week ending October 26, 2022.[19][20] According to the streaming aggregator JustWatch, American Horror Story: NYC was the fifth most streamed television series across all platforms in the United States, during the week of October 24, 2022, to October 30, 2022,[21] the sixth during the week of October 31, 2022, to November 6, 2022,[22] and the seventh during the week of November 7, 2022, to November 13, 2022.[23]
Critical response
The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reports a 71% approval rating, based on 7 reviews for the season, with an average rating of 6.80/10.[24]
Emma Stefansky of The Daily Beast stated, "There is an air of unknown doom that hangs about the show even in its first episodes, with people repeatedly mentioning a feeling of ominousness permeating the city, muttering things like, “Something dark is coming.” Isn't it always? AHS: NYC has all the Murphy-esque signatures, and more: It's sexy, it's salacious, and it's subversive—not least because of the era and the community in which it's set. Like most seasons of this show, NYC starts strong, though it's difficult at this point to say exactly what's going on. Who is the leather mask daddy with a murderous streak? Is this perhaps an origin story for the rubber man ghost from all the way back in Season 1? As a horror-tinged dramatization of the oppression that urban marginalized communities faced in Reagan's America, it works, so far.”[25] Kayla Cobb of Decider wrote, "American Horror Story: NYC has been the most realistic this series has ever been. Instead of witches, ghosts, and vampires, this installment is all about serial killers and incompetent cops. But just because this show has a newfound dedication to realism, that doesn't mean there weren't some over-the-top flourishes."[26]
Magdalene Taylor of Vulture said, "For now, we can rely on one thing about this season: It will be sexy. AHS almost always is, but the queer ’80s New York City setting offers far more creative and erotic fodder than, say, the dilapidated North Carolina colonial farmhouse of AHS: Roanoke. The leather, the coke, the soundtrack — even if the plot this season fails us, at least we’ll be fed aesthetically. There are not yet any ghosts, vampires, witches, or demons, but if this season is entirely grounded in reality, it’s at least a gritty and exciting one to see. Though this might not be as big of a hit as Dahmer or The Watcher, AHS fans likely won’t be starved of the campy theatricalism we’ve come to adore."[27] Ron Hogan of Den of Geek gave American Horror Story: NYC a grade of 4 out of 5 stars, asserting, "Now that sort of wild conspiracy theory feels more like the AHS I’m used to. People on the hunt for a serial killer is all well and good, and can be very fun, but it wouldn’t be Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk without something crazier than shirtless hunks in cages to really liven things up. NYC might be more David Fincher’s Zodiac than a take on William Lustig’s Maniac for the moment, but there’s always that undercurrent of weirdness to everything American Horror Story does that’s just waiting to move from a subplot to the main feature."[28]
Accolades
In its eleventh season, the series has been nominated for one award.
| Year | Association | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | GLAAD Media Award | Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series | American Horror Story: NYC | Nominated | [29][30] |
References
- ^ a b Kohnke, Peter (September 26, 2022). "We Finally Know The Title of 'American Horror Story' Season 11". We Got This Covered. from the original on September 27, 2022. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
- ^ a b c d Petski, Denise (September 29, 2022). "'American Horror Story: New York City' Gets FX Premiere Date, Key Art". Deadline Hollywood. from the original on September 29, 2022. Retrieved September 29, 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Andreeva, Nellie (August 10, 2022). "'American Horror Story' Season 11 Cast Comes Into Focus With Franchise Favorites Returning". Deadline Hollywood. from the original on August 11, 2022. Retrieved August 10, 2022.
- ^ a b O'Hare, Denis [@denisohare] (August 29, 2022). "Oops—caught!" (Tweet). Retrieved September 14, 2022 – via Twitter.
- ^ a b c Rude, Mey (September 29, 2022). "The 'American Horror Story: NYC' Promo Art Is So Sexy It's Scary". Out. from the original on September 30, 2022. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
- ^ a b Klein, Brennan (September 28, 2022). "American Horror Story Season 11 Theme Seemingly Confirmed By Star". Screen Rant. from the original on September 30, 2022. Retrieved October 1, 2022.
- ^ a b Salem, Mitch (October 20, 2022). "ShowBuzzDaily's Wednesday 10.19.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
- ^ a b Metcalf, Mitch (October 27, 2022). "ShowBuzzDaily's Wednesday 10.26.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
- ^ a b Metcalf, Mitch (November 3, 2022). "ShowBuzzDaily's Wednesday 11.2.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
- ^ a b Salem, Mitch (November 10, 2022). "ShowBuzzDaily's Wednesday 11.9.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
- ^ a b Metcalf, Mitch (November 17, 2022). "ShowBuzzDaily's Wednesday 11.16.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved November 17, 2022.
- ^ White, Peter (January 9, 2020). "'American Horror Story': FX Renews Anthology Series For Three More Seasons – TCA". Deadline Hollywood. from the original on January 9, 2020. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
- ^ Maglio, Tony (February 18, 2022). "'AHS' Season 11 Will Not Be a 'Double Feature' (Exclusive)". The Wrap. from the original on June 18, 2022. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
- ^ Guy, Zoe (October 6, 2022). "AHS: NYC? I'm OMW". Vulture. from the original on October 6, 2022. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
- ^ Outlaw, Kofi (September 29, 2022). "American Horror Story Season 11: New York City Premiere Date & Key Art". ComicBook.com. from the original on October 1, 2022. Retrieved October 1, 2022.
- ^ Hankin, Toby (May 19, 2022). "Is American Horror Story Season 11 Set On New York's Fire Island?". ScreenRant. from the original on July 20, 2022. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
- ^ Huff, Lauren (September 29, 2022). "American Horror Story heads to NYC for season 11: 'New City. New Fears'". Entertainment Weekly. from the original on September 30, 2022. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
- ^ Prange, Stephanie (October 3, 2022). "Whip: 'Interview With the Vampire' Top New Show, 'White Lotus' Top Returning Show Anticipated in October". Media Play News. Retrieved October 29, 2022.
- ^ Team, Mashable (October 28, 2022). "The most watched movies and TV of the week are guaranteed to creep you out". Mashable. Retrieved October 28, 2022.
- ^ Gruenwedel, Erik (October 28, 2022). "Reelgood: Netflix's 'The Watcher' Tops Streaming Content for Second Consecutive Week". Media Play News. Retrieved October 28, 2022.
- ^ Gruenwedel, Erik (November 4, 2022). "JustWatch: Netflix's 'Barbarian,' HBO Max's 'House of the Dragon' Dominated Streaming Through Oct. 30". Media Play News. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
- ^ Gruenwedel, Erik (November 9, 2022). "JustWatch: Original 'Halloween', 'House of the Dragon' Top Weekly Streaming Through Nov. 6". Media Play News. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
- ^ Gruenwedel, Erik (November 16, 2022). "JustWatch: 'Don't Worry Darling', 'The Crown' Top Weekly Streaming Through Nov. 13". Media Play News. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
- ^ "America Horror Story". Rotten Tomatoes.
- ^ Stefansky, Emma (October 20, 2022). "'American Horror Story: NYC' Is Off to a Killer Start". The Daily Beast. Retrieved October 23, 2022.
- ^ "'American Horror Story: NYC': 5 Things You Missed in Episodes 5 and 6 | Decider". Retrieved November 8, 2022.
- ^ Taylor, Magdalene (October 20, 2022). "American Horror Story: NYC Season-Premiere Recap: Scary Island". Vulture. Retrieved October 23, 2022.
- ^ Hogan, Ron (October 20, 2022). "American Horror Story: NYC Feels Like Nothing AHS Has Ever Attempted". Den of Geek. Retrieved October 23, 2022.
- ^ Complex, Valerie (January 18, 2023). "GLAAD Announces Nominees For The 34th Annual GLAAD Media Awards". Deadline. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
- ^ "The Nominees for the 34th Annual GLAAD Media Awards". GLAAD. January 17, 2023. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
External links
- Official website
- American Horror Story at IMDb