WARNING: Possible spoilers for American Horror Story: Cult’s season premiere ahead
The return of American Horror Story might be one of the most highly-anticipated in the show’s history, if only because of Ryan Murphy’s early hint that this season will follow the 2016 election. While most of that anticipation was likely similar to rubber necking while passing a car crash, the promotional build for the show has shown that the election is only the underlying spark for the season and the cult full of clowns seems to be the real threat.
Well… if there was any doubt about how the creator of #AHSCult felt about the election, it's cleared up now. pic.twitter.com/hzPmGXfgWf
— Thank you, but *no thank you* (@mel2717) September 6, 2017
https://twitter.com/jakegyllenussy/status/905259022886076421
Evan Peters playing his role a little too well. Gonna have me hating him in real life soon…smh #AHSCult pic.twitter.com/7bS4Oa8Trw
— Kimmy Kasi (@Kimmykasi) September 6, 2017
https://twitter.com/catecrawley/status/905296306809208832
This is literally how I felt when I found out Satan won the presidency😢 too soon #AHSCult https://t.co/8jk0wP6l2e
— Kye (@ASoutheastSoul) September 6, 2017
That’s not to say the season premiere didn’t bring back some shocks from Election Night 2016 for those tuning in, allowing people relive all the highs and lows of the evening through Sarah Paulson and Evan Peters, but the rest of the premiere actually had many thinking back to previous seasons of the shows and how they might end being connected. There is already plenty of reasons to think such things given how each season has introduced some connection to the former, with Cult bringing back Twisty the Clown for more fun this season.
It's rude to refuse a gift… #AHSCult pic.twitter.com/B47X1zy7U8
— AmericanHorrorStory (@AHSFX) September 6, 2017
https://twitter.com/risingessence/status/905257361903947777
https://twitter.com/shanruss07/status/905262785214468096
https://twitter.com/IzzoKendall/status/905254077226934272
https://twitter.com/Tyra267/status/905253643963727872
Some felt that Paulson’s character set a tone that might also reach back to the second season of the series, Asylum. The interesting part there is that the last time Asylum was connected to another season was Freak Show, the fourth season that introduced Twisty The Clown. While it is definitely a long shot given that Briarcliff Mental Institution is out in Massachusetts and this series takes place in Michigan, but that doesn’t mean we couldn’t get a few slight thematic connections.
https://twitter.com/JirehJoan/status/905264368442413057
https://twitter.com/keegann__/status/905262480171118593
Ivy: "have you been taking your medicine?"
Ally: #AHSCult pic.twitter.com/a0nFKsn3jo— jewels (@jules_veraldi) September 6, 2017
#ahscult Sarah Paulson, every season of AHS: pic.twitter.com/qL7ruXEYUy
— edgar allan hoe (@alleycat_____) September 6, 2017
But the big takeaway from this premiere? Clowns are frightening and they’ve likely ruined trips to the grocery store. While the clowns seen by Paulson’s character may not have been real, the terror they created was and they did it right in front the watermelons. While the grocery store can be a terrifying experience as it is, killer clowns with their brains showing might be worse.
Ice cream, ice cream, we all scream for ice cream. #AHSCult pic.twitter.com/0FdOa95JJp
— AmericanHorrorStory (@AHSFX) September 6, 2017
really? right in front of my watermelons? #AHSCult pic.twitter.com/FdxlJHojEH
— 𝚖𝚞𝚏𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚘𝚙 🇱🇧 (@markthegemini) September 6, 2017
Sara when she saw the clowns bussin it down #AHSCult pic.twitter.com/lDmYRKIWOd
— Your Mother Shops @ SAKS (@Jezzeecuuh) September 6, 2017
#AHSCult Sarah Paulson throwing wine bottles
Me: pic.twitter.com/L7xPAeSMDd— Joanne (@tic_tac_jo) September 6, 2017
https://twitter.com/kennyykinkk/status/905299739033391105
what is up with all these horny clowns??? #AHSCult pic.twitter.com/8ZcMyILTop
— bethany (@bethanyjoannn) September 6, 2017
https://twitter.com/Wellthats_true/status/905256055613120512
If I was her, I would've left that store the moment I seen no one else there. #AHSCult pic.twitter.com/pSHwYQKXtS
— Raven Bias🦚 (@Artful_Rae) September 6, 2017
If one thing is certain, it seems this was another successful opening to a season of American Horror Story. Let’s hope it continues that way until the very end.
https://twitter.com/OatsFull/status/905274021692002304