‘Grotesquerie’ channels Se7en, Hannibal, Longlegs and religious serial killer thrillers in a riveting two-hander murder mystery.

“The end is near.”

Big questionfor all intents and purposes, season 13 is of American horror storyonly it operates under an original title because the AHS brand has become so contaminated. It honestly feels that way Big question could have been newly developed American horror story season, only for the series to hit mid-production when they realized this might be a lot higher AHS has failed regularly in recent years. At this point I wouldn’t even be surprised if Big question decides to become its own anthology horror series and essentially become the new thing American horror story if it proves to be a success and connect with the audience.

The biggest surprise left Big question is that it’s actually good. It has a lot in common with American horror storyonly it is better, more focused and grounded. It’s also almost entirely missing from camp, which is appreciated for one Ryan Murphy production (although there is a masturbation scene that comes very close). It’s worth pointing out that this is Ryan Murphy’s first production in which he has written every episode, alongside Jon Robin Baitz (Feud: Capote vs. the Swans) And Joe Bakenthe latter of whom wrote two of the best episodes American horror stories’ third season, “Bestie” and “Tapeworm.” It is appreciated that one collaborative team is responsible for the entire season, but… American Horror Story: Delicate’s mediocre results prove that a unified vision and minimal chefs in the kitchen do not always lead to creative success.

Happy, Big question begins with a brave, daring vision that signals a promising serial killer thriller.

Editor’s note: This review covers the first two episodes of the series.

Big question begins with a series of hasty murders reminiscent of that Se7en And Hannibal while indulging in extended murder tableaus, with a touch Longlegs’ occult obstacles thrown in for good measure. These are disturbing images, but Big question is especially successful when it comes to atmosphere. A heavy sense of dread hangs over everything. The brief flashbacks to the Burnside family murders and the details of their tragedy are some of the most disturbing material to appear in a Ryan Murphy production, and that’s saying something. No doubt greater horrors will follow. However, while American horror story can feel sensational and absurd, Big question works carefully to cultivate a dirty patina that makes these murders come across as accurate depictions of human depravity. There’s a shot early on Big question‘s first episode in which a detective vomits on flowers. This mix of beauty and bile feels like a metaphor for the themes of the series.

These tragedies are juxtaposed with scenes of domestic normalcy and peaceful families, as the pendulum swings back and forth between horror and humanity. “It’s inhumane. No, that’s it inhuman”, is an early estimate Niecy Nash-Betts’ Detective Lois Tryon tends to the Burnside family’s brutal crime scene. From the start of the series, there is a chilling feeling that the central serial killer will be a larger-than-life figure. That’s not to say he’ll literally be a supernatural monster, but there’s a good chance he is Big question builds to a grand battle between Detective Tryon and some super destroyer.

Niecy Nash-Betts has spent decades cutting her teeth in comedies, but in between appearances she’s slowly become one of Ryan Murphy’s most capable actors. Shout queens and her Emmy-winning role as Glenda Cleveland in Sample. Nash-Betts translates this success into Detective Tryon, one of Grotesqueries leading roles and a character with layered shades of her previous Ryan Murphy production characters. Big question does not shy away from the worthless hand she has been dealt and the apathy that has seeped into the corners of her life. These crimes, as heinous as they are, wake her up in a very primal way. There is a simple but elegant sequence in which slides of crime scene evidence are thrown over Detective Tryon, enveloping her body as if she has been devoured by these murders. It’s a powerful, albeit a good way to Big question to point out Tryon’s growing obsession with this case.

Nash-Betts’ Detective Tryon and Micaela Diamonds Sister Megan Duval is also an excellent duo that immediately feels the chemistry. Nash-Betts really sells this stuff and excels at it Big questionbut Diamond is a revelation and the early MVP of the series. She brings a coy, squirrely intensity to all her scenes. Tryon and Duval achieve a unique camaraderie, but their dynamic is nothing like other two-handed murder series, such as Real detectiveor any of Ryan Murphy’s previous projects. Sister Duval’s morbid interests may seem atypical at first, but she becomes a welcome conduit for her Big question to deconstruct the idea that cults and crimes have become a new form of faith and religion; a grim fact seemingly borne out by Murphy’s menagerie of TV series, many of which are variations on the same murderous themes. A sliding scale of disaster and insensitivity continues to consume the world as a nun and a priest gossip about their favorite serial killers over burgers.

These first two Big question episodes establish a baseline between Tryon and Duval and it seems like their dynamic will come down to the power of faith, like an alternate version of Mulder and Scully, minus the aliens. That said, both Detective Tryon and Nurse Duval know the truth exists and they are determined to find it. Faith is what keeps Detective Tryon going, whether it’s about this macabre crime or her personal life. Tryon is struggling with an incomplete puzzle at home. Meanwhile, it is no coincidence that Sister Duval later honestly admits, “It seemed right,” after making a prediction about the Burnside massacre, as if mentally piecing together a puzzle. She has skills that are essential to Tryon.

It’s not uncommon for Ryan Murphy series to start strong but then descend into messy mediocrity. It may be naive to think so Big question will be different, but these first two episodes accomplish quite a bit when it comes to character, atmosphere, and storytelling. Big question covers more ground than you might expect while finding an effective rhythm that never feels rushed or too lethargic. It’s still early, though Big question has not succumbed to the typical pitfalls. Big question posits a world where potentially nothing is sacred, but this new show from Ryan Murphy shines brightly, promising a hopeful future where this horror series can actually become something special and stick the landing.