American Horror Story returned Tuesday with a seventh season premiere that was both very much like the seasons that came before it — serial killer clowns, anyone? — but also unlike any of the seasons, with its of-the-moment plotline and commentary on our current political climate.
Spoiler warning: Stop here if you haven’t watched the season premiere of American Horror Story: Cult.
Fans were understandably pumped (and nervous) about American Horror Story’s return.
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And once it started, the show did not let up for over an hour. Here are the six biggest moments from the Cult premiere and the best fan reactions from social media.
Ryan Murphy and Co. do not pull any punches right out of the gate. The opening scene starts off with clips of Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton during the campaign, then goes right into election night, with Kai (Evan Peters) celebrating because Trump won and Ally (Sarah Paulson) melting down for the same reason — and people at her house already starting to play the blame game.
Viewers were immediately freaking out at living election night all over again.
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And then Kai spreads actual Cheeto dust on his face to make it orange, because of course he does — this is Ryan Murphy.
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In maybe the most terrifying callback of any AHS season, Cult featured the return of Twisty the Clown (John Carroll Lynch), which is a horrifying nightmare for some viewers and a triumphant return for others — even if it did turn out to be a big fake-out.
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There was a lot going on in during Ally’s seemingly innocuous trip to the local grocery store. First you had Chaz Bono, noted LGBTQ advocate, playing a Trump-supporting checkout boy.
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Then you had Sarah Paulson wasting perfectly good wine on the insane clown posse that invades the store.
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Finally, some produce department clown doggy style, because why not?
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But it all turns out to be a hallucination on Ally’s part … or does it? Later it looks like the clowns were real, but then why does Gary Longstreet (Bono) the checkout guy act like he didn’t see anything? Is he part of it?
Winter (Billie Lourd) and Kai have an interesting relationship. Are they a couple? Are they siblings? Are they both? It’s hard to say.
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But Winter is now the new nanny for Ally and Ivy’s son and fans are disgusted and fascinated with her. They seem particularly offended by her excitement over a Lena Dunham retweet.
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Poor Tom and Marilyn Chang. Taken out by killer clowns in brutal, sadistic fashion. But you know what’s even worse? That a little boy was watching through the window — and that no one will believe him about what he saw. Will Ivy and Ally’s son Ozzy now become a target of the murderous clowns? And would the show go there?
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It wasn’t a “moment,” per se, but people had a lot of feelings about Peters sporting a man-bun and possibly being a Republican (though it seems like he’s more of an anarchist than a Republican).
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But after “Election Night,” the only question is: Will Donald Trump publicly react to the American Horror Story: Cult premiere?
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American Horror Story: Cult airs Tuesdays at 10 p.m. on FX
