"Checking In" episode discussion

[Harry 26,836]

I really liked Gaga's acting and role.

But on a more general view I found some moments in the eps kinda bad. For example the killing scene... Those blood effects and how it was shown was almost amateur like... Or the kids running suddenly appearing and disappearing, it wasn't scary and was anticipated and boring. The opening scene showing details of the hotel was good but the music didn't fit. It was a confusing and disorienting episode. The cuttings were at some points bad. It jumped too much between the scenes. It had too many things going on too fast, and too early on as of the first episode IMO. Feels a little rushed and didn't flow well.

So, I guess I agree with the 61/100 rating atm.

I mean, if it weren't for Gaga I wouldn't be sure about watching the next episode :/ But I have to see her again.

I thought the "this can never happen again" throat cut seemed pretty amateur, but I liked all the other ones.

I think it was supposed to be disorienting. It's kind of trippy and weird, but I'm pretty sure that's the point. It definitely feels like a set-up for the rest of the season. We only really got a real sense of the actual storyline towards the end with the Iris/Donovan/Sally/Countess thing, and also Lowe's family situation. The rest of it felt like a tonal stamp, if that makes sense.

I'm really excited to see episode two to see how much it moves on from here.

[Quasi 10,935]

I really liked Gaga's acting and role.

But on a more general view I found some moments in the eps kinda bad. For example the killing scene... Those blood effects and how it was shown was almost amateur like... Or the kids running suddenly appearing and disappearing, it wasn't scary and was anticipated and boring. The opening scene showing details of the hotel was good but the music didn't fit. It was a confusing and disorienting episode. The cuttings were at some points bad. It jumped too much between the scenes. It had too many things going on too fast, and too early on as of the first episode IMO. Feels a little rushed and didn't flow well.

So, I guess I agree with the 61/100 rating atm.

I mean, if it weren't for Gaga I wouldn't be sure about watching the next episode :/ But I have to see her again.

Disorienting is a good word for it. Overall I loved the episode but as a first time AHS viewer, the way the script is structured, the way the actors deliver their lines, and the camerawork are a little bit odd for me. It's an interesting and stylistic way to film and act that I think I will get used to as time goes by. And another thing I didn't quite like was the scene when SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER Sally falls to her "death" and yet her head stays intact at and after the impact. It's not like there is a no-gore policy on this show so I think they could have been a little more realistic with that scene.

[kaojen 1,571]

Just like all seasons. After watching ab episode I need to take a bath. Haha.

It really felt like a video game to me haha with the cast if characters and setting and atmosphere. Silent Hill and Deadly Premonition with some vamps  thrown in lol. The characters all had an animated sense about them.

The set is gorgeous. I really enjoyed the music choices for various scenes. Vampires really don't scare me so the whole ampire thing takes away the scary to me and just makes it gory and gross. But of course wi th some beautiful pepeople wearing beautiful clothes and delivering lines beautifully.

I thought Gaga did a terrific job and she really fits the bill.  But I hope hope hope her character isn't two dimensional and dosent change very much at all as the season progresses. I want to see some character development and I hope that her character really has a chance to unravel her layers. So far all of the other characters have already let off a layer or two in the first episode.

 

Welp. That's what I think :)

[Pablo 7,808]

First of all let me say that I've only watched two episodes of AHS before. And horror isn't really my thing.

I found myself skipping through all the gory/torment sections. I don't get why anyone finds enjoyment in this . The story wasn't laid out very well either, like gaga's character made no sense so far. It seems like they are relying on the shock factor with all the gore.

 

I guess I'll be checking out on this show because I hate gore/violence for entertainment. Nothing against anyone who watches though.

[TiphEret 1,320]

It was cool to see Gaga in another setting, I was surprised of her s-x scene actually even though it was that explicit comparing to other things but it's odd to see her playing a fictional character in a tv show, need to get used to it ahaha.

The episode was ok, I am expecting more of the others coming and I didn't get all the plots, it seems to go in two many directions at the same time.

[heavyMetalGAGA 65]

Gaga really surprised me in a good way! I love how she's the enigma character this season. It gives her more opportunity to breathe and take some risks. That intro scene with her and Bomer was really kickass with "She Wants Revenge" playing in the background!

[Battle 4 Ur Life 6,716]

FINALLY seen it in proper HD and, well...

It definitely's got style, the art direction and wardrobe are a A+ which I value very much.

the plot of the episode was interesting but definitely not outstanding. maybe it's because all the characters needed to be introduced right on the 1st ep. there were only two standout moments imo. the orgy scene with She Wants Revenge (love that song, miss my teenage years) and when the Countess meets the new owner and his son. those were my faves and Gaga "killed it" on every single one of her scenes. period. so proud of her.  

now I got to talk about the bad part.

that rape scene. W. T. F. no.

that was WAAAAAAAAY too much imo. sick, depraved, cheap, and unnecessary. that was the first miss of the whole season for me, which should have not been on the 1st episode at all imo. 

and the worst thing of this whole situation: I just CANNOT hide the fact that it bothers me to think of the backlash for Gagz, who's given her own voice to make a stand against rape (female and male) just a few weeks ago. even tho the scene didn't envolve her character overall it does feel HELLA AWKWARD when you think about the big picture, to me at least. sometimes I do became mr. politically correct (when I come across those kind of scenes for example) and that's just who I am. not sorry for that.

anyway, still giving this show a go but exclusively because of Gaga who is bringing out her best and really breathing life into this show. not at all saying the other actors aren't good tbh. Kathy Bates and Sarah Paulson are great too but If it wasn't for GAGA I would NEVER be wasting my precious time on this show and that is as true as I can get. no offense to those who loved it very much.

[Prometheus 1,494]

I hope Gaga's character is explained more because she's quite...monotonous. She doesn't really have much inflection in her voice or anything. I hope it's a character thing and not just bad acting. I think what they did wrong was say HEY LET'S INTRODUCE ALL OF THESE CHARACTERS WITHOUT MUCH BACKSTORY! They should try and replicate what they did with Murder House. The pacing was good. The introductions and backstories came naturally. This felt so...forced. Like, hey! Don't be fooled. We have a LOT in store. Don't jump ship yet!

[My Little Phoney 658]

I thought was about okay for a first episode.They took their time to introduce the characters and storylines, but the episode missed pace. Also, a lot of what happened had already been given away in the teasers. I feel like this season has potential to be really good, and what I've seen from Gaga was promising, but the episode didn't give me the epic rush that some AHS episodes have. We'll have to wait and see I guess.

[My Little Phoney 658]

FINALLY seen it in proper HD and, well...

It definitely's got style, the art direction and wardrobe are a A+ which I value very much.

the plot of the episode was interesting but definitely not outstanding. maybe it's because all the characters needed to be introduced right on the 1st ep. there were only two standout moments imo. the orgy scene with She Wants Revenge (love that song, miss my teenage years) and when the Countess meets the new owner and his son. those were my faves and Gaga "killed it" on every single one of her scenes. period. so proud of her.  

now I got to talk about the bad part.

that rape scene. W. T. F. no.

that was WAAAAAAAAY too much imo. sick, depraved, cheap, and unnecessary. that was the first miss of the whole season for me, which should have not been on the 1st episode at all imo. 

and the worst thing of this whole situation: I just CANNOT hide the fact that it bothers me to think of the backlash for Gagz, who's given her own voice to make a stand against rape (female and male) just a few weeks ago. even tho the scene didn't envolve her character overall it does feel HELLA AWKWARD when you think about the big picture, to me at least. sometimes I do became mr. politically correct (when I come across those kind of scenes for example) and that's just who I am. not sorry for that.

anyway, still giving this show a go but exclusively because of Gaga who is bringing out her best and really breathing life into this show. not at all saying the other actors aren't good tbh. Kathy Bates and Sarah Paulson are great too but If it wasn't for GAGA I would NEVER be wasting my precious time on this show and that is as true as I can get. no offense to those who loved it very much.

The rape in the show is fictitious and in no way glorified, so I don't think you have a point. 

[Guest]

Guys is fiction...and it's AHS, not her music video or something..

Btw I have to say I really enjoyed the episode and the locations are pure perfection. I liked also the fish-eye scenes BUT a bit to much used imo. I didn't like the men murdered with their intestines out, I felt it unecessary and bad executed.

Gaga was so good, expecially her appereance in the cemetery. 

Unpopular opinion: her entrance in the orgy scene was really bad...sort of cheap..odd..I hate that. 

[Rat Boy 43,585]

Loved it! Her acting was on point. This may be my favorite season yet.

[GagaSkeletonWay 2,080]

First of all let me say that I've only watched two episodes of AHS before. And horror isn't really my thing.

I found myself skipping through all the gory/torment sections. I don't get why anyone finds enjoyment in this . The story wasn't laid out very well either, like gaga's character made no sense so far. It seems like they are relying on the shock factor with all the gore.

 

I guess I'll be checking out on this show because I hate gore/violence for entertainment. Nothing against anyone who watches though.

Many things on AHS don't make sense at first, you gotta be patient 

[filsns 173]

Like I said before, I had no doubts in Gaga's performance on the show and she delivered as always. The whole cast is the strongest pillar of AHS. 

My only concern is this season's story line and this kinda messy pace of the first episode. 

All of the characters besides detective and his family seem too superficial atm, but I'm sure Ryan will give everyone a great background story in the following episodes.

And I'm not sure if it's me being totally used to the horror genre, but I didn't find anything scary in the first episode. The smelly screaming guy coming out of the mattress was more comical than scary imo.

So far, Murder House and Asylum were way more scarier! 

Loved the fashion, the makeup, the art, overall beautifully shot episode.   

 

[Clip 5,100]

The things I didn't liked:

-The blood was sort of weird, I mean, Gaga's blood from the Paparazzi performance was more realistic

-The only people that seemed to act like normal human beings when they enter a weird hotel are the detective and the two foregin girls.

-I didn't know if this was set in the 80s or in the present. The girls talk about current things (wifi, Yelp reviews...) but the rest (the cinema, the clothing, the videogames inside the kids room...) looked retro.

The rest was a really good episode to me and I hope we find out more about the characters in the next episodes (and I can't wait for Angela Basset to appear)