As I mentioned on the other thread, I decided this time rather than just reading a thread and commenting on things I haven’t watched, that I would watch along with everyone here instead. I’m in Australia and am unsure if the release schedule is the same so I won’t read a lot of the responses above yet to avoid potential spoilers, and hope I don’t just repeat what everyone else has said.

Watched the first two episodes (all that is available here so far) and I am really surprised, because… I am enjoying it so far! I don’t have a good history with this show, I have never really liked the tone of it, the way the performances are pitched, the mess of plotting, the over-egging, etc. so I’ve never really bothered before. 1984 is the only series I have completed, and that was just to see it through, it was kinda bad.

But this seemed a lot more toned down, less campy, more serious, and I liked that. I also recently watched [italic]Cruising[/italic], and loved it, so it was fun seeing it referenced here too. I mean, it was more than just a reference, wasn’t it? Huge pieces of these episodes were taken straight from the movie, like the music, or the naked cowboy. I could see that this would irritate others, but I got a kick out of it.

I’m not scared, but there is a kind of successful unsettling feeling, I think because we know something is coming and what that something is. I’ve always found the leather scene to be a bit unsettling too (covered faces particularly). But it’s also surprisingly tame in what it shows. Less really is more, sometimes and this is good in this case. There are quite a few threads and characters and sometimes when Billie Lourd turns up, I literally forget she has been in it, haha. I know people don’t like her much here, and she isn’t the best actress, but I find her likable too, you know? I think she’s probably best when being campy rather than serious however. Zachary Quinto is the one I’m not interested in watching so much. The boy in the cage was fiiiiine, though, hehe.

Needs more Sandra Bernhard and Patti LuPone (wonder if she is just going to sing, or have more to do?). Has Leslie Grossman had work done? What I find interesting are all the references. I am not really knowledgeable about gay history or this period, but have picked out a few references like [italic]Cruising[/italic], Patti LuPone is like a Bette Midler character, Russell Tovey’s boyfriend I wonder if he’s a kind of Larry Kramer type character maybe? Obviously there’s the Haitian Robert Mapplethorpe too. I think Sandra’s character is going to bring up the conspiracy theories about the origin of AIDS (Hep B vaccines, maybe?). I am curious what other references will show up or there is that I don’t know yet?

Also, I [italic]like[/italic] most of these characters, I am willing to go on this ride with them. Previous AHS series have just had people be smarmy and catty and treacherous to my eyes. It’s so nice to have a change. Plus this is a better representation of a variety of gay men than the usual focus on stereotypes, which I’ve seen a lot of lately.

I wish I could go to a bathhouse like that. Don’t think we have anything like that here anymore. This was incidentally set the year of my birth, so much has changed!

I’m going to be even more annoyed now when it goes full Ryan Murphy because I am liking this and looking forward to next week! Enjoyed the soundtrack too.