After seasons about witches, aliens, the apocalypse, and pills that stop writer’s block, it felt inevitable thatAmerican Horror Storywould visit the intense world of New York City.American Horror Storyseason 11 is set in this beloved city and stars Zachary Quinto, Issac Powell, Joe Mantello, Billie Lord, and Russell Tovey.
American Horror Storyseason 11 aired in October and November 2022. This season is very different from previous seasons, especially when it comes to the tone. While there is a horror element at the core of it since, of course, this is the franchise that fans know and love, it delves into some serious themes.
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What Is American Horror Story Season 11 About?
American Horror Storyseason 11 is set in New York City and takes viewers back to the 1980s. Gay men are being murdered, and the main characters want to find out who the serial killer is. In the first episode, “Something’s Coming,” the two main storylines are introduced: the serial killer and a virus that has appeared in Fire Island.American Horror Story: Hotelhad real-life inspirationand so did season 11. The decision to explore the HIV/AIDs epidemic in a season ofAmerican Horror Storymakes it a very sad group of episodes. While the characters are fictional, each character arc is a sobering reminder of the real-life AIDs epidemic.
Patrick Read (Tovey) and Gino Barelli (Mantello) are introduced. Read is a detective who hasn’t come out and Gino writes for a newspaper called theNew York Native. After spending time at a bar, someone gives Gino drugs and kidnaps him. Next, viewers meet Adam Carpenter, who is being followed by a man named Big Daddy (Matthew William Bishop). While Theo (Issac Powell) tells Adam that Big Daddy isn’t alive anymore, Adam is still understandably scared. Big Daddy is ascaryAmerican Horror Storyvillainbut isn’t actually real. He represents the virus that is infecting people in NYC.
The rest ofAmerican Horror Storyseason 11 focuses on the victims of the serial killer as everyone tries to find out the killer’s identity. Episode 4, “Black Out,” is the most memorable since Gino and Adam are searching for the truth in the midst of a terrible power outage. In episode 7, “The Sentinel,” Patrick and Gino to Whitely’s (Jeff Hiller) apartment and realize he is the killer. He is also called The Mai Tai Killer throughoutAmerican Horror Storyseason 11. Episode 8, “Fire Island,” has a scary and heartbreaking plotline as Big Daddy tries to kill Adam and Gino and Patrick attempts to stop Big Daddy.
How Does American Horror Story Season 11 End?
American Horror Storyseason 11 has a two-part finale that is as emotional as it is scary. This season is definitely more serious than previous seasons andAHSseason 11 has similar themes toDahmer. There is more than one scene that is upsetting to watch. In “Requiem 1981/1987 Part One,” the characters attend a funeral for Theo in 1981 and Sam has some strange hallucinations. Sam (Zachary Quinto) takes Big Daddy’s mask off and thinks of him as much more benevolent than he appears to be. Sam also hears from Theo, who looks like a doctor, that he has pneumonia and is going to pass away.
The timeline shifts to a few years later in 1987 and Gino looks after Patrick, who is very sick and who is going to lose his eyesight. Patrick passes away after viewers see several moments from Patrick’s romantic and professional life. Patrick is one of thesaddest deaths inAmerican Horror Storyand viewers have gotten to know him well.
“Requiem 1981/1987 Part Two” moves between 1981 and 1987 as well. The 1981 timeline finds Adam realizing that Hannah (Billie Lourd) has died after getting the virus. He learns that if someone is infected with the virus and sleeps with someone, they will pass it along. Hannah got sick because he gave her his sperm. Adam feels terrible in what is one of the most gripping moments of the whole season. When the timeframe moves to 1987 again, Gino has the virus but is able to survive until 1991. Viewers see a montage with Big Daddy spreading the virus to gay men and Gino keeping his distance. Adam speaks at the funeral that is held for Gino, which is very sad to watch.
WhileAmerican Horror Storyseason 11 has an emotional core, it is still genuinely scary and has some fast-paced moments. There are manyhorror movies similar toAHSseason 11that share the same theme or take place in the 1980s. After several seasons that feature some campy elements,American Horror Storyseason 11 stands out and tells a powerful and important story.
