Sidney Joel Stokes: Spencer Joel, WELCOME BACK!!! We are reaching the halfway point of the season. Normally (sadly) in years past the show typically goes off the rails at this point, so – at this point – what are your thoughts on the next part of the season and thoughts on the first part overall?
Spencer Joel Williams: Sidney Joel! I am happy to be back! I am so happy with how this season is going. I don’t really feel like we are going off the tracks yet! So far, I have really enjoyed it.
SJS: The first four episodes were somewhat of an introduction to the show, so let’s discuss the last two episodes since the writer for this site who covers it totally slacked off the last two weeks and … I mean … let’s just talk about the last two episodes. What do you think the best part of the last two have been?
SJW: Hah! Girl, we all know recapping is the most stressful job in the game. What was the best part in the last two episodes? Honestly, I have enjoyed the story of Liz Taylor so much! Denis O’hare has really been performing this year.
SJS: I hear that and agree! Denis O’Jare has been incredible and I’m so very happy they are letting him shine this season, because he’s been so misused for so long. Remember when he was barely allowed to act in Coven?
SJW: They literally cut out his tongue.
SJS: Awful, wasteful and dumb … and wasteful.
SJW: To be honest I feel bad because I didn’t realize his potential until this season. He is amazing!
SJS: Did you see his performance in True Blood?
SJW: ….nooo….
SJS: The show became terrible, but he was tremendous on it.
SJS: Has the show taken a direction you didn’t expect at the outset?
SJW: I think that the show is predictable. It has a similar plot to “Murder House” which is really obvious – but somehow it still works. The fact that Gaga is kind of this Empress who rules this empire of vampires brings such an interesting twist on a unoriginal story.
SJS: Yeah, I remember when Ryan Murphy said he would “never do vampires” for the show. So I’m glad he gave us something new, yet retro – giving us a very 70’s Euro vampire film vibe. I’m not quite sure how to feel about the scene at the school from last week; it seems like that won’t come back for a while, if at all.
SJW: I was shocked watching that scene. It was kind of amazing. I feel like the show has really stepped up on the shock factor this year. In a time of constant school shootings, it was so crazy that we touched on violence in schools via vampires.
SJS: True, but I couldn’t tell if it was done as a major piece of horror filmmaking or for shock value. I feel it’s going to come down to how much it matters. If this goes somewhere, it might have been a great horror moment for the show.
SJW: I thought for sure The Countess was going to find out and destroy Alex. But at this moment we are good. Okay can we just talk about Chloe?
SJS: Yeah, might as well get the worst part outta the way sooner.
SJW: Okay I had such high hopes for Chloe. I love Chloe Sevigny. But she has just not be performing to her full potential. BUT, ever since she turned, she has been doing so much better!
SJS: Yeah, she’s bland. It’s both terrible acting and a poorly written/developed character. John Lowe isn’t far behind her for me, tbh.
SJW: Okay John Lowe is my least favorite. His character is beyond pointless. I want it to end. What makes it even worse is that I have to watch him hook up with Sarah Paulson. No, make this stop. Sarah does not deserve this.
SJS: Oh yeah, poor Sarah Paulson, she’s getting back of the line here.
SJW: I feel bad because it looks like she needs Jessica Lange to be relevant, but really Sarah is one of the best actresses on this show and she needs a Emmy damn it!
SJS: Which is so not the case. Lange and Paulson worked with each other. I wish they gave her more of something run with or at the very least, the chance to.
SJW: I rather wish Sarah and Gaga switched roles.
SJW: She is amazing. I mean the gowns, the gloves, the way she talks. I mean the part where she was talking to Liz … I felt like I was watching her speak at the Monster Ball all over again.
SJS: I love that they progressively make her more sinister and didn’t force us to accept her as the villain right away … but after tonight … after tonight I’d say we have the sinister side they have been prepping us for.
SJW: I am so ready for it! We need to start it off easy and then release the beast! I will try to keep my fan girl calm.
SJS: The Countess’ Child, what was that? Like, was that necessary?
SJW: See that’s the part that confused me. The connection came so quick and completely caught me off guard, so I thought that maybe that this child was Jessica’s from Season 1 – but that wouldn’t make sense at all because it couldn’t leave the house in that case. So … I am not sure. My prediction is that it’s the creation of Gaga and Mr.March, which is literally the spawn of evil.
SJS: Oh yeah, it’s totally their kid, without question. I just hope that’s really all we see of it. I hope they don’t keep going back to it.
SJW: I want to have some sort of closure on the monster though. This episode was rapid fire on “unexplained”and WTF’s.
SJS: Speaking of people getting a chance to shine….
SJW: Gaga is doing very well in my eyes. I am not sure if I am just too big of a Little Monster, but she is really delivering.
SJS: No I agree. I am still waiting for one BIG moment from her but she’s got the characterization down. She’s used so well that you keep waiting for her to show up. I think she’s easily one of the best characters this show has given us.
SJS: Did you expect the love story between Liz and Tristan?
SJW: Okay Tristan and Liz … Where did that come from. Did I miss an episode?
SJS: No, it was shoe-horned in this episode. No build up. Which is fitting considering that’s what they’ve done to Finn Wittrock this season.
SJW: Yeah it was just kind of weird to me. What is it about this hotel that just makes everyone horny … okay stupid question … obviously it’s Gaga. But stilll … we were just getting into Liz’s character and now she is going to change completely already.
SJS: Well I think it’s one of those ways they got Gaga to the next level.
SJW: I won’t miss Finn though, honestly.
SJS: Before our final thoughts, let me ask: how much did you pop when you saw where Gaga went at the start of the episode?
SJW Same. I thought it was a really cool tie-in. Personally, I prefer the tie-ins to be sublte rather than complex. So this did it for me.
SJS: All right Spencer, final thoughts?
SJW: Sidney Joel, this is one of my favorite seasons. I am so excited for the rest – I have high hopes and expectations. Though we will never get to see Jessica, Sarah, and the rest of the Coven together in all black, at least we have the next best thing … Gaga drinking your blood and coming for your boyfriend.
SJS:Yeah, I am interested in the Ramona/Donavan/Iris stuff. Kathy Bates finally showed up and combined with the rest of what I’m loving, I am hoping for the show to be exciting to the end. That might be asking a lot, but we can always hope!
SJW: I think we are in for a great ride … assuming John Lowe gets rubbed out soon. Thank you for having me Sidney Joel!
SJS: Thank YOU Spencer Joel, come back anytime!
Keep geek and stylish.
#TeamSJ.
