The theme for season 8 of American Horror Story has been announced, but I honestly don’t give a shit unless Jessica Lange is returning to the series. That theme is “Apocalypse”, by the way, and will feature a mash-up of the worlds of both Murder House (season 1) and Coven (season 3).
FX has released some appropriately creepy concept art to go along with the announcement:
— AmericanHorrorStory (@AHSFX) July 20, 2018
Many of the AHS repertory players will be returning, such as Sarah Paulson, Emma Roberts, Evan Peters, and Kathy Bates. Joining them is the legendary Joan Collins, an exciting new addition to the AHS roster. But seriously though, where is Jessica Lange? The actress, who played nosy neighbor Constance Langdon in season one and Supreme witch Fiona Goode in season 3 has yet to be announced, although rumors are swirling that she will make an appearance. The prospect of another Lange-less season is less than inspiring.
Ryan Murphy has said that season 8 will be less dark than recent seasons, and more of a return to the lighter, campier nature of the early seasons. In an increasingly dark and bitter world, I long for the over-the-top absurdity that those early seasons gave us. And no one embodied that high camp better than Jessica Motherfucking Lange. Whether she’s swilling vodka and spying on her neighbors, stealing anti-christ children, shooting her husbands, or murdering Emma Roberts, I am on board with whatever sass and drama Lange brings to the occasion.
Since Lange left the series after season 4, American Horror Story just hasn’t been the same. Sure, there’s still the rampant batshittery that made the series iconic, but its sense of fun and whimsy vanished with Lange. The show became ponderous and self serious, focusing too much on gore and not enough on the macabre comedy. Although, credit where credit is due, season 7’s Cult gave us the delicious schadenfreude of watching a Jill Stein voter get terrorized (damn you, Ryan Murphy! You got me again!).
While the series boasts an impressive roster of talented actors, Jessica Lange was always its most engaging personality. She embodies the ethos of American Horror Story in a way that no one else can. Fingers crossed she comes back and shows everyone how it’s done.
(via Collider, image: FX)
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