Ryan Murphy, creator of American Horror Story revealed Friday evening that the new installment of the intense show will be subtitled Coven. You can read all about it here. I’m so exited! Witches seems like the perfect fit for this excellent cast. Jessica Lange, Lily Rabe, Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Frances Conroy and Taissa Farmiga will be back and added to this excellent crowd is Kathy Bates. She will be playing a villain, or if the previous seasons are anything to go by, one of the villains. There’s no mentioning of Dylan McDermott but that’s fine by me. To me he has been the weakest link in both seasons. AHS: Coven is partially filmed in New Orleans but will take place in several cities. Wonder if Murphy will make one of them Salem? So, how about it? Are you happy with the theme? Will you tune in to watch?
This Monday we have 2 premieres to look forward to, miniseries Top of the Lake that will be shown on Sundance Channel and A&E’s Bates Motel. I am definitely more exited about Top of the Lake. Written and directed by Jane Campion and starring Elisabeth Moss, Holly Hunter and Peter Mullan it seems rather promising. I’m a big fan of Mad Men and love Elisabeth Moss as the ambitiously proper Peggy Olson. Peter Mullan greatly impressed me in the equally terrifying and amazing but all together deeply disturbing experience that is Tyrannosaur.
Top of the Lake takes place in the outback of New Zealand where a young detective, specialist in dealing with sexual assault played by Moss, try to solve the disappearance of a 12-year-old pregnant girl who also happens to be the daughter of the local drug distributor.
Watching the trailer I’m reminded of Winter’s Bone and Twin Peaks and if I can walk away from the first viewing with those references still in mind, I’m definitely happy. I don’t know what it is with the wilderness and depiction of live in remote areas but when done in the dark drama genre it gets me every time. I guess to me the premise itself is creepy enough, even creepier than killer teens with mother issues. And on that note…
Bates Motel tells the story of the young Norman Bates starring Freddie Highmore in the lead and Vera Farmiga as his mother, Norma Louise Bates. It’s not a prequel to Psycho made for literal Hitchcockians. The classic movie based on the novel with the same name written by Robert Bloch, has not been used as a rule book, just as inspiration. It’s contemporary, a fact that seems to have rubbed quite a few fans the wrong way. I for one can’t say that I mind. A new take on a classic tale doesn’t have to be condemned as heresy. What I do worry about is the fact that they seem to have put focus on a part of the story that I think is best untold.
The reason Psycho is so gripping is not the gore. It’s not even the ever so iconic shower scene. To me the engine of the story-line, the foundation to the turn of events, is the mother-son relationship. It’s not always visible but always there making the story spin. I’ve always thought of the grown Norman Bates as the result of what took place many years earlier between himself and his mother. From watching the movie we understand that their relationship must have been quite disturbing but we are not let in on the details. To take this underlying half-mystery and making it the focal point might possibly make the story weaker, not stronger. I think it is in human nature to, when threatened, search for information about said threat. When there’s non to be found we get uneasy and what the original movie does so well is to capitalize on that instinct leaving us with that queasy feeling. I’d hate to see Hitchcock’s brilliantly asked questions being poorly answered.
This is the place where I’ll be generously sharing my two cents concerning the recent developments in my favorite TV shows. I will also discuss the world of television in a more general sense, and if this world indeed is the best of all possible worlds you will let me know what you think, and we can get at good discussion going.
Right now I’m very exited about the upcoming seasons of Game of Thrones and Mad Men. I love period pieces and often watch rather crappy ones just for the visuals. Another series I’m highly anticipating is the last ever episodes of Breaking Bad, even though there’s a few more months waiting left.
I certainly don’t want to give you the impression that I only watch what can be described as “quality” TV, it couldn’t be farther from the truth. I mean, I don’t even shy away from bravo. I’m proud to present YouBetterWatchIt as a place where you can reference Leibniz and still care about a real housewife’s new Malibu beach house.
Let me know if there’s any topic in particular you want me to write about.
