The Unmissed Opportunity: Why American Horror Story Season 12 Should Have Been Made

Article Overview

American Horror Story: Delicate was utterly disappointing due to its slow and predictable storyline, making it incredibly boring. The inclusion of Kim Kardashian as a stunt casting choice was a misguided decision right from the beginning.

Delicate heavily relied on borrowing elements from Rosemary's Baby, resulting in a painfully predictable plot. The lack of originality in the show ultimately let down the viewers, as it failed to offer any surprises.

American Horror Story is in dire need of more diversity. The show has marginalized characters of color and neglected queer characters. Season 12 had the opportunity to rectify these mistakes but opted for an unoriginal storyline instead.

The recent revelation that Ryan Murphy scrapped a season of American Horror Story that aimed to be more inclusive only amplifies the shortcomings of American Horror Story: Delicate Part 1. American Horror Story: Delicate faced numerous challenges. Firstly, Murphy's horror anthology series has been steadily losing viewers, critical acclaim, and even its core cast members over the years. As the show witnessed a gradual exodus of stars, its reviews have steadily declined. To compound the issue, American Horror Story season 12 took a bold stance by taking additional creative risks.

American Horror Story Season 12 Part 1 Was A Disappointment

American Horror Story season 12 not only had a new showrunner but also marked the series' first adaptation from a book. Delicate Condition, written by Danielle Valentine and described as a modern feminist take on Rosemary's Baby, served as the inspiration for the season. The story revolved around Anna Alcott, a rising actress who suspected that her pregnancy journey had been manipulated by mysterious forces. Emma Roberts portrayed Alcott, while Kim Kardashian took on the role of Siobhan Corbyn, Alcott's best friend and a fading star. Despite the potential risks associated with Kardashian's casting, her performance turned out to be the least of the issues faced by Delicate Condition.

American Horror Story: Delicate was not as fast-paced or frenetic as previous seasons, but this was not a positive aspect. The decision to cast Kim Kardashian in a role for season 12 of American Horror Story was shamelessly gimmicky, but it was overshadowed by the slow and predictable nature of the season's storyline. Surprisingly, American Horror Story: Delicate transformed the narrative about a secretive cult exchanging demonic babies for material success into a tiresome experience. The sluggish progression of the show meant that viewers were always a few steps ahead of the main character.

Meanwhile, the fact that Delicate clearly borrowed from a well-known horror movie only exacerbated the situation. There is nothing inherently wrong with drawing inspiration from horror history, as it can be an effective tool. However, American Horror Story: Delicate's undeniable debt to Rosemary's Baby made the season's plot painfully predictable. In Part 1 of Delicate, the storyline essentially mirrored that of Rosemary's Baby, with Anna coming to the horrifying realization that her friends and partner were all involved in a sinister plan to exploit her pregnancy for something sinister and malevolent.

American Horror Story's Missing Season Would Have Avoided Delicate's Big Problems

Ross and Murphy's suggested collaboration would have been far superior to American Horror Story: Delicate. It would have felt less derivative and injected the long-standing series with an exciting new direction. Not only would Ross have made a comeback to American Horror Story, but his correspondence with Murphy also unveiled plans to cast Gabourey Sidibe in a leading role and include Keke Palmer in the ensemble. Additionally, Ross proposed esteemed talents such as Lupita Nyong'o, Viola Davis, and Kerry Washington to complete the lineup.

American Horror Story Needs More Diversity

This cast would have been far less risky compared to American Horror Story season 12, which lacks exciting new faces. The show’s few additions to its usual lineup were mostly overshadowed by Kardashian, who had a main role despite her lack of acting experience. Although Kardashian surprisingly delivered a solid performance, her funny supporting work couldn't salvage Delicate’s overly familiar story. With a slow and repetitive storyline, American Horror Story: Delicate Part 1 failed to surpass the potential of a season that could have featured a star-studded cast of newcomers as well as Ross’s return.

Thus far, the lead actors in American Horror Story have predominantly consisted of individuals of Caucasian descent. However, despite the show's exploration of the AIDS crisis in its recent eleventh season, opting for an African American transgender protagonist would have been a bolder choice for season 12. In contrast, Mike Flanagan's horror series on Netflix utilized a diverse ensemble to tackle a wide array of narratives, encompassing subjects such as mental health, addiction, LGBTQIA+ rights, and access to healthcare. Regrettably, American Horror Story has frequently sidelined characters of color and failed to fully leverage the potential of promising queer individuals, oftentimes leading to their premature demise.

Ross's correspondence with Murphy demonstrates the possibility for the horror anthology show to rectify its previous mistakes in season 12. By embracing the showrunner's initial intentions rather than opting for an overly familiar, sluggish, and foreseeable pregnancy horror narrative, American Horror Story season 12 had the potential to enhance its critical acclaim and retain its devoted fanbase. Unfortunately, the current state of American Horror Story: Delicate appears to be further contributing to the show's continual decline in critical reception.

Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z fan, I feel disappointed and frustrated with the cancellation of American Horror Story Season 12. The show has been losing its touch in recent seasons, and Delicate was a prime example of this decline. The storyline was slow, predictable, and unoriginal, and the casting of Kim Kardashian was a misguided attempt to generate buzz.

I am particularly disappointed that American Horror Story has not done more to address its lack of diversity. The show has marginalized characters of color and neglected queer characters, and Season 12 was a missed opportunity to rectify these mistakes. The proposed season that Ryan Murphy scrapped, which would have been more inclusive and featured a cast of talented black actresses, would have been a much better use of the show's resources.

Overall, I feel that American Horror Story has lost its way and needs to make some major changes if it wants to continue to be successful. I hope that the show's creators will take the time to listen to fan feedback and make the necessary improvements to ensure that future seasons are more diverse, original, and exciting.