Anastacia Kelley

I really wanted to turn away.......,

 

.......but I just couldn't.

I'll admit, I didn't think about watching something like this. I pretty much shunned it after I saw bits and pieces of it. I thought, "NO way I'm watching anymore of this. It looks disgusting."

My brother was visiting and he wanted me to DVR the 'Asylum' series. I did, thinking I'll just delete them when he's done with them, but I wasn't going to watch this stuff. He went to visit my parents and told me just to watch a couple of episodes just to 'give it a chance'. I promised I would and decided to go ahead and watch, though I had huge reservations about doing so. I prepared for the worst show in history. But......

...........Wow!!! Was I ever thrown for a loop. While gory, sexual, depraved, sick, twisted and jaw dropping, it was something I couldn't look away from. I think Joseph Fiennes as Monsignor Timothy Howard made me want to watch even more. Sexy, sexy, sexy.

The characters were perfectly cast:

Jessica Lange as 'Sister Jude'---I loved watching her battle her own personal demons and her impure thoughts of the Monsignor. "You know, Sister, I can't blame you there." She let her past haunt her almost regularly. Her drinking, smoking and lusty ways. I think she finally got rid of a few demons when she found out she didn't actually kill a certain someone. She was very strict, even leaning toward sadistic at times, in my opinion. I think she treated others terribly because she had trouble facing herself. I'm glad she made peace with herself in the end. 5 stars

Lily Rabe as 'Sister Mary Eunice'---a very complex character. Starting out sweet and innocent, she did catch the eye of the crazed Dr. Arden. After an exorcism gone wrong, the demon left the man but, instead of returning to hell, it entered Mary Eunice. I think because she showed some fear and was making eye contact with it. After that, she switched from pure and sweet to conniving, evil, sexual and even blasphemous. I still think she was a great character and loved the every nuance of her character. 5 stars

Joseph Fiennes as 'Monsignor Timothy Howard'-----a man who gave his body to Christ and loved the church, but was still weak in the flesh. He needed to conquer his own demons as well. It's proved in the episode, "The Name Game", which happens to be a favorite for me. I tried not to think that I'd probably want to steal his virtue, too. I know, I know. It's messed up. But for a man of the cloth, he didn't live up to his title. He did some pretty wicked things. I think he double crossed Sister Jude. He lied to cover his butt many times. How is that doing God's work? He did show a heart breaking vulnerability during his confession to Sister Jude that Sister Mary Eunice stole his virtue. I did feel sorry for him. I know he wasn't all bad. I think Joseph Fiennes did an outstanding job as Monsignor even though I didn't agree with the character's methods or treatment of others. It's a good thing he's so sexy. ;) 5 stars

Zachary Quinto as 'Dr. Oliver Thredson'-----cute, wanting to help(?) and unassuming, I would've never guessed what he was actually capable of. He was messed up a birth. He had a sick fascination with women in what I like to call his "Mommy Issues". It took a few episodes in to find out his 'alter ego'. Sick, but so well done, that's all I have to say. 5 stars

Sarah Paulson as 'Lana Winters'---boy, did she ever get herself into the hottest water possible. 'Curiosity killed the cat' and that's almost what happened to her as she was forced to stay at Briarcliff. Her lover, 'Wendy Peyser', played by Clea Duvall, had no choice but to sign the papers after a visit from Sister Jude, who threatened to expose them as gay lovers. But, it was meant to be. Lana was the only one to be able to take down Briarcliff. But not before her run in with Dr. Thredson, who 'freed' her from Briarcliff only to subject her to even worse horrors. 5 stars

Evan Peters as 'Kit Walker'----this poor guy had it rough from day 1. Labeled 'Bloody Face', he was thrown into Briarcliff. Everyone was sure he had killed his wife, Alma, who was of a different race. No one wanted to believe his story about alien abduction. He was a killer and a crazy loon to them. He was almost starting to believe he had actually killed Alma. He was on the Briarcliff 'medication' and coerced so much, he admitted to Dr. Thredson that he killed Alma if that meant he could live. Kit had no idea what Dr. Thredson planned to do with that confession. 5 stars

James Cromwell and 'Dr. Arthur Arden'-------almost one of the sickest characters in this series. Quite a difference from 'Babe'. He was a doctor whom I consider a quack that experimented on humans. I think it was for his own twisted pleasure. Dr. Arden had quite a secret looming over him from his past. Only Anne Frank knew about him. But, again, she's crazy so no one believes her at first. I think Sister Jude eventually started putting 2 and 2 together. But she didn't really like the Doctor to begin with. Dr. Arden did have a soft spot for the pure Mary Eunice. He didn't like women who acted like, 'whores'. He wanted all women to be pure and untouched. But after 'The Name Game' he knew it could never be. Even then, he could not live or die without Sister Mary Eunice. 5 stars

Naomi Grossman as 'Pepper'-------ah, we can't forget sweet and childlike Pepper. Diagnosed as a Hydrocephalic or 'water on the brain'. Because of her deformity, it was easy to blame her with a terrible crime that she didn't commit. This goes to show you that you don't judge a book by its cover. I think Pepper was a fan favorite. Naomi did a great job. In fact, so great, My brother and I wondered if a real Hydrocephalic was used. 5 stars

 

Frances Conroy as the 'Angel of Death'----------she was on a few episodes. I loved the black wings and the calm way she came in and asked if one was ready to be kissed. The kiss of death. Some fought her and some were more than ready to go. 5 stars

 

Chloe Sevigny as the horny girl, 'Shelley'---------the only reason she was put in Briarcliff is because she just loved sex more than the average person. I see nothing wrong with Shelley except she loved sex with many, many men. She was desperate to leave the hell hole she was in. Unfortunately, Dr. Arden knew she was up to something and eventually tried to rape her. His excuse, "You can't rape a whore." Disgusting. She made the mistake of laughing at his package and he went crazy himself. He ended up 'clipping her wings' and turning her into a monster. 5 stars

 

Lizzie Brocheré as 'Grace'-----------her childhood was very messed up. She did go a bit crazy after what she endured in her home life. She was accused of chopping up her family by her very own sister. She didn't admit to this at first. She became very fond of Kit Walker. She believed his story of alien abduction. She had witnessed this as well and told him that Alma was still alive. Grace ended up giving her life for Kit in an accidental shooting. But, aliens were 'far more advanced' and she didn't stay dead for long. 5 stars

 

Dylan McDermott as 'Ben Harmon'-----did he ever have skeletons in his closet. Fathered by Bloody Face himself, he took after him a little too much. He was on the search for his biological mother to do to her what she did to his dad. But, with the theme of this show, things always get twisted. 5 stars.

 

Others include Adam Levine as 'Leo Morrison' who had a role in the beginning of the show. He and his fiancee were exploring the run down shell that was once known as Briarcliff.

 

Overall 5 stars. I shock even myself. I didn't think I would like to watch a show like this. I can recommend it. Take it from someone who thought the worst of it. I ended up enjoying it and I'm going to set my DVR for 'Coven'.

 

My rating: