With American Horror Story: NYC’s season finale in two parts, the first part, “Requiem 1981/1987 Part One” leaves us with a lot to unpack and uncover. It even takes an exploratory “dream ballet” approach, if you will, as creator Ryan Murphy explores more artistic ways to convey the struggles of some of the show’s most intriguing characters.
The first half of the episode focuses on Sam, played by Zachary Quinto (American Horror Story: Asylum, Star Trek), as he unpacks his life after dealing with the death of Theo, played by Isaac Powell (American Horror Story: Double Feature, American Horror Stories). In a dream sequence of sorts, Theo acts as Sam’s guide as he shows him various parts of his past which have presumably led him to becoming the man that he is today.
As he sees all of his ghosts and people that he’s wronged, body after body in a hospital, Sam utters the words “I would never be left to rot like this. I have people who love me.”
But does he? It’s one thing to be celebrated at a party, but it’s entirely another thing to be celebrated than to be loved.
Theo eventually leads Sam to a scene that shows his abuse with his father and the abuse he experienced from his first boss – both men that shamed him for his sexuality. After re-living these horrible enterprises, we realize that Sam is dying. This is him watching the cardinal moments of his life flash before his eyes. He passes away, also seeing all of his victims
It sounds incredibly strange, but it fits in the context of the episode.
Jumping forward to Patrick, played by Russell Tovey (Sherlock, Doctor Who), in 1987, we learn that he’s in a hospital for an undisclosed reason, that is, until he opens his eyes. He’s blind, diagnosed with something called cytomegalovirus. The blindness is permanent, with his retinas detached from the rest of his skull. With this, Patrick embarks on his own “A Christmas Carol,” ghosts of the past adventure, this time with his ex-wife Barbara, played by Leslie Grossman (American Horror Story: Apocalypse), as his guide.
Through his life review, we see all of the problems Patrick has faced while living as a closeted gay man for most of his life. All he experienced a lot of the time was lots of shame and tons of violence towards members of his own community, just to make sure that he himself was not outed.
Patrick ends up dying as well, which only makes me feel incredibly sad for Gino, who really cannot seem to catch a break.
I love how Ryan Murphy chooses to delve into the lives of Sam and Patrick, both complex characters, right before their deaths. He demonstrates some of their most problematic past moments when we’re currently seeing them at their weakest, leaving us to question whether or not their actions can/should be justified. This episode sets us up for a grand finale in Part Two, leaving us still wondering who the leather man actually is/represents, and who will still remain alive at the end of the season?
Rating 8.0/10.0