'Battle Royale' episode discussion

[lavenderblondee 3,695]

This is my opinion and I hope no one comes for my weave  I'm speaking as someone who has been watching since season one (and who loved s1) and has HOPED for change every season.

But, I am so excited this season is over. It was just painful from episode one. Although, it had it's moments I enjoyed, they were so few and far between.. It just once again IMO, was poorly executed by Ryan Murphy. I have far too many unanswered questions (What were the point of The Countess' children?? They were background objects for maybe two episodes.) I know there is still one episode left and I HOPE some of my questions are answered..but there were no explanations for so many plots, and it made me angry most of the time. One episode Tristan is with The Countess, then the next episode he's been with Liz Taylor for a while ??? But, before we begin to sympathize with the couple, they kill off Tristan? I saw so many flourishing storylines that could of began after episode 1 that I'm still shocked never even became a thing. As for deaths, the Countess had the most anticlimactic death I've seen. She was shot earlier in the episode and survived, but then how does she die in the end? She once again, gets gunned down. I think her death would of been excellent had Liz Taylor and Iris killed her in the beginning of the episode with the gun fire. It would of been hilarious and yet satisfying. I felt nothing when John killed her and I was "surprised" it happened at that moment, it wasn't shocking to me or a twist. Ramona, Liz Taylor and The Countess were such solid characters, that I truly wish they were given better story lines. The characters in this season, besides John and his family, were EXCELLENT and some of the best the writers have come up with. I just wished and hoped they had been given more and better writing.

 

Also, I am upset about Donavan.

 

[ReidOne 12,427]

10 hours ago, Eohl said:

That head of the countess looked fake af. 

Am I the only one who got intense BTW feels from seeing The Countess head on a glass backlit platter?? 

The whole ep gave me BTW feels tbh, especially the bullet-ridden Mother Monster --- i mean, The Countess --- saying she would rather die, so that her kids may live... and the kids telling her they would rather die for her to live because her mission is too important. It's totally BTW-level Mother Monster double-speak! 

[ItsTommyBitch 12,640]

What was the point of them bringing back in a fan favorite from another season just to kill them off in a terrible way

If the supreme doesnt come and burn this ****ing Hotel to the ground, ill be pissed at that lame excuse of a cameo  Why Queenie and not freaking lame-ass Zoe  

The Irony of Madame Laveau getting Queenie though  

~~~~~~~~

Also, I can't even @ The Countess being undone by such a basic predictable character  In true AHS fashion though, she ofc came to her senses about all her evil and realized how she had to change to be a better person before being off'd  Damn this series, the last two episodes are always an uncalled for mess  

Maybe the most unexpected part though was with Ms. Evers like what  Poor ha

[giskardsb 12,565]

I think people over-analyze this show, or just are looking for it to work more like other shows they are used to.  Sort of like Gaga's albums are received by many.  

I like the way this Yahoo reviewer approaches the show:

https://www.yahoo.com/tv/american-horror-story-hotel-season-5-episode-11-154027561.html

"The broken record of testimonials from AHS haters usually has something to do with “but the storytelling is messy!” and the show is therefore “bad.” Well, well, well, lookit all these armchair Robert McKees… Are people legitimately pining for something that they could better predict? Fewer stars? More static camerawork? AHS don’t care! It WILL skitter from storyline to storyline and it WILL feature a scene of Lady Gaga making out with Angela Bassett to The Stone Roses’ “I Wanna Be Adored” and it’s up to us to notice how weird and glorious it all is. Friends, I don’t know if you noticed it or not, but “Battle Royale” was utterly wonderful. Let’s talk about it."

“Battle Royale” was a sad, disgusting, insane, and beautiful hour of television. Again, I’m astonished at just how successful this show’s non-formula formula has been, as it’s kept me on my toes week in and week out. I never really know which character will come to the fore, or which will get a flashback, and simple arcs are even out the window as characters appear and disappear on a whim. Rule-breaking writing is not BAD writing. If we are unsettled, that’s the point. There’s a certain swirling chaos to Hotel, and even if this show may not want to be adored, I surely do adore it anyway.

[Dayman 6,168]

4 hours ago, lavenderblondee said:

This is my opinion and I hope no one comes for my weave  I'm speaking as someone who has been watching since season one (and who loved s1) and has HOPED for change every season.

But, I am so excited this season is over. It was just painful from episode one. Although, it had it's moments I enjoyed, they were so few and far between.. It just once again IMO, was poorly executed by Ryan Murphy. I have far too many unanswered questions (What were the point of The Countess' children?? They were background objects for maybe two episodes.) I know there is still one episode left and I HOPE some of my questions are answered..but there were no explanations for so many plots, and it made me angry most of the time. One episode Tristan is with The Countess, then the next episode he's been with Liz Taylor for a while ??? But, before we begin to sympathize with the couple, they kill off Tristan? I saw so many flourishing storylines that could of began after episode 1 that I'm still shocked never even became a thing. As for deaths, the Countess had the most anticlimactic death I've seen. She was shot earlier in the episode and survived, but then how does she die in the end? She once again, gets gunned down. I think her death would of been excellent had Liz Taylor and Iris killed her in the beginning of the episode with the gun fire. It would of been hilarious and yet satisfying. I felt nothing when John killed her and I was "surprised" it happened at that moment, it wasn't shocking to me or a twist. Ramona, Liz Taylor and The Countess were such solid characters, that I truly wish they were given better story lines. The characters in this season, besides John and his family, were EXCELLENT and some of the best the writers have come up with. I just wished and hoped they had been given more and better writing.

 

Also, I am upset about Donavan.

 

There was no point to them. They were just children she saved and adopted into her "family". I think they were just a red herring to make us think there was something nefarious behind their being there. Seeing how she rescued Wren from an abusive father and how she was near hysterical over the two children having to die to save her life - it seems she actually just truly cared for the children and was trying to give them a safe place in the best way she knew.

[Clip 5,100]

9 hours ago, judxs said:

 

Perhaps the hotel isn't real... i mean how can this hotel still be running in the middle of LA when countless people die visiting it. where are the families wondering where they've disappeared to? If it were to be someone's imagination it'd have to be John's.

I hope it's that one. Some people are saying that if Sally is a transgender she could be Mrs Evers' kidnapped kid but if that was real then it would be 2 truths and 1 lie and that's not what Sarah said

[Clip 5,100]

The only thing I find pretty weird and unnecesary is the fact that The Countess apparently was addicted to coke on the first episode and then on the rest of the episodes she wasn't. This is what made Tristan go to the penthouse screaming "I smell coke" and made him meet Mr March and Donovan, but I still think it's an unnecesary story gap.

[Clip 5,100]

5 hours ago, lavenderblondee said:

This is my opinion and I hope no one comes for my weave  I'm speaking as someone who has been watching since season one (and who loved s1) and has HOPED for change every season.

But, I am so excited this season is over. It was just painful from episode one. Although, it had it's moments I enjoyed, they were so few and far between.. It just once again IMO, was poorly executed by Ryan Murphy. I have far too many unanswered questions (What were the point of The Countess' children?? They were background objects for maybe two episodes.) I know there is still one episode left and I HOPE some of my questions are answered..but there were no explanations for so many plots, and it made me angry most of the time. One episode Tristan is with The Countess, then the next episode he's been with Liz Taylor for a while ??? But, before we begin to sympathize with the couple, they kill off Tristan? I saw so many flourishing storylines that could of began after episode 1 that I'm still shocked never even became a thing. As for deaths, the Countess had the most anticlimactic death I've seen. She was shot earlier in the episode and survived, but then how does she die in the end? She once again, gets gunned down. I think her death would of been excellent had Liz Taylor and Iris killed her in the beginning of the episode with the gun fire. It would of been hilarious and yet satisfying. I felt nothing when John killed her and I was "surprised" it happened at that moment, it wasn't shocking to me or a twist. Ramona, Liz Taylor and The Countess were such solid characters, that I truly wish they were given better story lines. The characters in this season, besides John and his family, were EXCELLENT and some of the best the writers have come up with. I just wished and hoped they had been given more and better writing.

 

Also, I am upset about Donavan.

 

I loved the idea of Elizabeth survived after the first shot, but I agree with you that Her actual death was pretty crappy. I think she gives up when John shoots her because, if she was so weak after getting the bullets removed, she knew she obviously wasn't  going to manage to survive after taking 6 more bullets. Also, John cutting her head from her body make it difficult for her to escape crawling on the floor like last time

[JEANBO 364]

4 hours ago, giskardsb said:

I think people over-analyze this show, or just are looking for it to work more like other shows they are used to.  Sort of like Gaga's albums are received by many.  

I like the way this Yahoo reviewer approaches the show:

https://www.yahoo.com/tv/american-horror-story-hotel-season-5-episode-11-154027561.html

"The broken record of testimonials from AHS haters usually has something to do with “but the storytelling is messy!” and the show is therefore “bad.” Well, well, well, lookit all these armchair Robert McKees… Are people legitimately pining for something that they could better predict? Fewer stars? More static camerawork? AHS don’t care! It WILL skitter from storyline to storyline and it WILL feature a scene of Lady Gaga making out with Angela Bassett to The Stone Roses’ “I Wanna Be Adored” and it’s up to us to notice how weird and glorious it all is. Friends, I don’t know if you noticed it or not, but “Battle Royale” was utterly wonderful. Let’s talk about it."

“Battle Royale” was a sad, disgusting, insane, and beautiful hour of television. Again, I’m astonished at just how successful this show’s non-formula formula has been, as it’s kept me on my toes week in and week out. I never really know which character will come to the fore, or which will get a flashback, and simple arcs are even out the window as characters appear and disappear on a whim. Rule-breaking writing is not BAD writing. If we are unsettled, that’s the point. There’s a certain swirling chaos to Hotel, and even if this show may not want to be adored, I surely do adore it anyway.

Yahoo can be very messy, but BLESS them for this article.

[PartySick 159,824]

On 1/7/2016 at 4:40 AM, gagzus said:

kinda wish she hadn't died kinda glad she did, but i thought a much more gore filled death would've been appropriate tbh

I wanted her and Ramona to have this f*ck fest then a bloody fight with some smart ass comment right before Ramona plunged a knife into Gags' heart  I wanted to hear more blood curdling screams and line delivery but I guess the boring guy shooting her from inside the elevator is ok too...it was cool seeing her head mounted, though. I wonder if she'll find March's display and ghost-murder him or something.

On 1/7/2016 at 4:49 AM, monketsharona said:

In AHS, 95% of the characters die in all seasons (especially the lead lady lol) 

Jessica Lange died in all seasons (except season 1 in which she wasn't really the lead)

So it was kinda sure for everyone that the Countess would have been killed at the end ^^

Well that and she literally told Ryan that she wanted to die in the show

[XoXoJoanneGaga 629]

5 hours ago, giskardsb said:

I think people over-analyze this show, or just are looking for it to work more like other shows they are used to.  Sort of like Gaga's albums are received by many.  

I like the way this Yahoo reviewer approaches the show:

https://www.yahoo.com/tv/american-horror-story-hotel-season-5-episode-11-154027561.html

"The broken record of testimonials from AHS haters usually has something to do with “but the storytelling is messy!” and the show is therefore “bad.” Well, well, well, lookit all these armchair Robert McKees… Are people legitimately pining for something that they could better predict? Fewer stars? More static camerawork? AHS don’t care! It WILL skitter from storyline to storyline and it WILL feature a scene of Lady Gaga making out with Angela Bassett to The Stone Roses’ “I Wanna Be Adored” and it’s up to us to notice how weird and glorious it all is. Friends, I don’t know if you noticed it or not, but “Battle Royale” was utterly wonderful. Let’s talk about it."

“Battle Royale” was a sad, disgusting, insane, and beautiful hour of television. Again, I’m astonished at just how successful this show’s non-formula formula has been, as it’s kept me on my toes week in and week out. I never really know which character will come to the fore, or which will get a flashback, and simple arcs are even out the window as characters appear and disappear on a whim. Rule-breaking writing is not BAD writing. If we are unsettled, that’s the point. There’s a certain swirling chaos to Hotel, and even if this show may not want to be adored, I surely do adore it anyway.

Yea the idea of television breaking conventional storytelling and structural conventions certainly isn't a novel concept, you can trace it back to 1990 with Twin Peaks for example (one of the most influential shows of all time, and a big influence on AHS), but that is in no way an excuse to hand-wave valid criticisms of weak writing, characterization, pacing, world-building, etc...

Asylum was AHS using that model well. Hotel just didn't have any of the sympathetic and strongly realized characters with actual consistency and proper arcs, narrative momentum or urgency, excellent acting or strong sense of atmosphere and tone to render it effective. It didn't work as a drama, horror or even comedy. Just a totally bland, lazily written season of television. I'd actually forgotten that the season hadn't already ended until I came on this site and saw threads about a new episode  At least it was a slight step up from Coven and Freak Show.

[Free Bitch 106]

I think its weird Donovan didnt turn into a ghost, because Sally jumped the window and died on the street, and she did turn into a ghost.

 

Could this be an oversight? 

[REALITY 76,270]

Is anyone else just annoyed that out of all the characters in AHS: Hotel, it was John that killed The Countess. I'd literally be okay if it was any other character, like Liz and Iris, but I guess it's my own bias. I just don't like John. 

[Alcina Dimitrescu 1,156]

1 hour ago, Free Bitch said:

I think its weird Donovan didnt turn into a ghost, because Sally jumped the window and died on the street, and she did turn into a ghost.

 

Could this be an oversight? 

i guess the alley counted but the front street didnt

4 hours ago, Clip said:

The only thing I find pretty weird and unnecesary is the fact that The Countess apparently was addicted to coke on the first episode and then on the rest of the episodes she wasn't. This is what made Tristan go to the penthouse screaming "I smell coke" and made him meet Mr March and Donovan, but I still think it's an unnecesary story gap.

she probably is but since she was a blood drinking monster i can see why they didnt focus on that a lot. Fiona from Coven also did coke.

5 hours ago, Dayman said:

There was no point to them. They were just children she saved and adopted into her "family". I think they were just a red herring to make us think there was something nefarious behind their being there. Seeing how she rescued Wren from an abusive father and how she was near hysterical over the two children having to die to save her life - it seems she actually just truly cared for the children and was trying to give them a safe place in the best way she knew.

This, although she ocassionally used them as a blood refinery from what we can see

[monketsharona 80,322]

10 hours ago, giskardsb said:

Rule-breaking writing is not BAD writing. If we are unsettled, that’s the point.