Written by Ryan Murphy And Brad Falchuk
Directed by Loni Peristere
Andi: "You just murdered four girls. We need to talk about your feelings about this."
Scarlett: "Why? I've never felt better in my whole life."
In 2020 we went without American Horror Story and this year, not only do we get a new series starting late next month but before then, it's spin off time where we can rethread some rather familiar territory for good measure.
In terms of spin offs, I was of the opinion that this anthology per episode series probably should've happened after the parent show itself ended but now that it's here, we're off to a revisit of the infamous Murder House for this opening two part story.
House flippers Michael (Matt Bomer) and Troy (Gavin Creel) have bought the worst house to live and die in and have moved in with their daughter, Scarlett (Sierra McCormick). Scarlett is going through the motions, coming to terms with her sexuality and interest in sadism and it's not long before she attracts the attention of popular girl Maya (Paris Jackson) and the latter's bitchy friends.
A sleepover at Maya's has Scarlett going from thinking she's about to lose her virginity to having all of her not so hidden desires publicly livestreamed. Believing her high school life is over, Scarlett gets her revenge and Maya and her friends wind up being added to the array of ghosts in the murder house.
Keeping with the title of the episode, it's Scarlett who becomes the titular Rubber Woman of the piece but the original Rubber Man also makes an appearance. Sierra McCormick does a good job with the character as the suit's influence on Scarlett feels gradual enough throughout the episode itself.
As for Michael and Troy, they're less focused on than expected but given that this is a two parter, it's likely we'll get more on them in the second half. They do seem to try to be good parents to Scarlett, even getting a therapist (Merrin Dungey) to help their daughter but it doesn't end so well for the therapist.
- I didn't spot either Tate or Violet but Ben was briefly referenced and we did see Rubber Man himself. No reference to Constance though.
- We got a flashback to Scarlett being kidnapped as a child by a grieving mother.
- The title sequence certainly played into the rubber suit theme. It's going to be fun seeing individual title sequences per episode.
- Chronology: Safe to assume it's 2021. Michael and Troy were watching the last season of The Crown at one point in the episode.
Rubber (wo)Man, Part 1 doesn't do anything too innovative and going by the look at the second episode, it does feel more like a more queer version of the parent series first season. I'll watch the second part later tonight for a more full review.
Rating: 7 out of 10
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