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‘AHS: Roanoke’ is really ‘Murder House’ 2.0
After watching “Chapter 2” from “American Horror Story: Roanoke” — which aired on Wednesday (Sept. 21) — we’re left with one glaring realization: This season is the most like “Murder House” since, well, “Murder House.” And yes, this isn’t the first time we’ve made assertions that Season 1 and Season 6 would connect, but it’s very evident now that Ryan Murphy is beginning to officially connect the dots.
He may have previously told THR that this would be the real culmination in that connection, but with the two writers rooms building storylines for “Roanoke,” we are left with so many questions. Instead of jumping into those inquiries, though, let’s take a step back and reflect on Miranda (Maya Berko) and Bridget (Kristen Rakes), those two murderous nurses.
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If you’ll recall, Season 1 had its own nurse motif, which was explored in the episode titled, “Home Invasion.” Instead of two killer nurses, though, the nursing students in question — Maria and Gladys — fall victim to a serial killer named R. Franklin (Jamie Harris). Inspired by the real life crimes of Richard Speck, the two ladies ended up haunting the Harmon household and showed up randomly throughout Season 1.
Season 6, however, seems to be presenting a completely different perspective on the nurse/murder theme. This time around, we are given more of a glimpse into the sinister backstory of Miranda and Bridget. Through an old video taped confession, one Dr. Elias Cunningham (Denis O’Hare) informs Matt (Cuba Gooding, Jr.), Shelby (Sarah Paulson) and the audience at large, about the evil acts of the two nurses.
Preying on the elderly, the two created a truly awful version of a nursing home in the very house the present day married couple decided to move into. Picking their victims based on the letters of their first names, the nurses proceeded to spell out the word “MURDER” with each kill. If ever there was a blatant shout out to “Murder House,” it would have to be the single visual of that word painted in blood on the wall of this house.
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Between that, and the Piggy Man that seems to be roaming the woods, it feels like this season is going the most organic and unpredictable route with the twisted twists it is taking. And if what Cunningham said is correct, then we believe that pig monstrosity is the exact thing that has imprisoned these spirits in the house and its outlying areas.
And what of the multiple pigs we’ve seen so far? In many religions, the pig is viewed as a symbol of abundance and fertility. Is it possible these mysterious colonists have taken things one step further? We can only assume that sacrifice we witnessed at the beginning of the episode has a connection to some sort of god the group believes in.
With the ground writhing underneath Shelby in “Chapter 1” and the really animalistic nature in which Lady Gaga has been presented in “Chapter 2,” we have a feeling the pop singer may very well be the god-like being the group is making kills for.
Then again, this is a Ryan Murphy show we’re talking about. As soon as we begin thinking our theories are too bonkers, he throws a wrench into the whole thing and takes the story into a different sort of maniacal territory. Will “Roanoke” stray from that pattern? By the looks of things, we don’t think so.
“American Horror Story: Roanoke” airs Wednesdays at 10 p.m. ET/PT on FX.