"American Horror Story" Election Night (TV Episode 2017) Poster

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7/10
Yes people, it is satire!
alextaylor-2611523 September 2018
If you think "I need to hear it from Rachel Maddow, shes the only one I trus"t wasn't satirical then I don't think there's hope for you. That line set the expectation that this would be over the top hysteria. That said, I think it should have been more subtle, she's getting too annoying about it.
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6/10
It needs to get better fast...
JimE-36-6685226 September 2017
Warning: Spoilers
One of the worst episodes ever, the writing has dropped to an all time low with this episode, the whole episode revolves around Sarah Paulson's character Ally having a meltdown after Trump wins the election. We later find out that she didn't even vote for Hillary, her wife Ivy (Alison Pill) just needs to slap her up side the face and send her back to the asylum for the remainder of the season.

Evan Peters plays Kai, a Trump supporter who also goes too far, filling a condom with urine and tossing it at a group of day workers and having someone record the beating he so rightly receives, from the group.

Billy Lourd is good as Evan Peters creepy sister Winter (also a Hillary Supporter) who talks her way into a nanny job with Allu and Ivy, she then exposes their child to the dark web and the horrors hidden there.

Finally Clowns are prevalent though the whole episode, Ally has a fear of clowns and her son Oz reads horror comics featuring clowns, she sees them in the supermarket, they murder the family across the street. The highlight of the episode is the return of Twisty the Clown.

It needs to get better fast or this may be the last we see of American Horror Story.
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7/10
It's either going to a great parody of US paranoia...
Radu_A8 September 2017
...or a cash-in on progressive angst, as the other reviews say. For non-Americans, it's a test of patience how much more US neurosis one can take with one's entertainment. There are some signs that this could become a great parody, given how over the top Sarah Paulson's character is (that orgasmic beam on her face when she says "and then Barack got elected"). And Evan Peters' character could become a great parody of supremacist basement boys, because he's got a few great lines of derangement and genuinely scary strategies.

But this could also become another play on hyping paranoia if it presents itself as serious social commentary, which is what ruined "Get Out" for me - because in that case the rampant misogyny of the writing would also be serious (the psycho sis; Lesbian super-neurotic time-bomb, butch = masculine, stable, sane; femme = feminine, weak, deranged). Jessica Lange and Taissa Farmiga gave AHS some pretty awesome female characters in the past, but lately the writing's been the only horror in this show.

Update: I thought it would turn real ugly but halfway in, I got to say they've really dared to swing the series towards social parody, and Paulson's character is less of a stereotype now. It's still waaaay over the top compared to the narratives of earlier days. But I keep watching for the sake of the huge risk the team is taking.
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Hilarious
alienf3tus5 September 2017
Wow. This was a so bad it's good type episode. I was laughing almost the entire time because of how incredibly ridiculous it was. I can't believe that Ryan Murphy expects us to take this seriously - this honestly has to be some kind of satire. The writing was absolutely atrocious, seemingly in a failed attempt at being edgy and cool. I can't identify with such unlikable and poorly written characters, none of the characters in this had any of my respect since they are all so stupid and over-the-top. Billie Lourd is playing the exact same character from Scream Queens, which worked for that since it's tongue-in-cheek, but I can't take it seriously in AHS. Also why did Paulson agree to this? She is so much better than whatever this was trying to be, as proved in People v. OJ. The ending actually looked almost promising, but the last few seconds completely destroyed my intrigue.

I'll keep watching the season for the so bad it's good cringe factor, but I don't expect it to get any better. I hated Roanoke the most out of all the AHS seasons, but now I kind of miss it.
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7/10
Election Night
CinderFall5 September 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Going into American Horror Story CULT episode 1, I was a bit nervous that they were going to be very preachy about opinions and stuff, but I was happy to see that they weren't. They had perspectives of both sides of the spectrum and that's exactly what I would want in a show about politics. But that's just it. Only in a show about politics. CULT's opening episode is stronger than a few other seasons first episodes, so it gets the benefit of the doubt, but it meanders too much on the result of the election rather than showing the effect on Ally's character. Although it did show SOME effect on Ally (Sarah Paulson makes the return as: Crying Screaming Lead Woman) it didn't really hold up except for two moments. It did show the phobia scene in the psychologist's office really well, so I can give them the thumbs up on that one. Another thing I want to point out is the whole idea of the clown troupe. Are they real or are they a figment of Ally's imagination? And if they're fake, is Ally's phobia leaking over into her son's mind and now he is starting to see it. Like as if the mother is going crazy over something that isn't there and the negative effects are now rubbing off onto her child. That question is something I really enjoyed being asked. Murder House was simple, Asylum was overtly complex, Coven was well made, Freak Show was repetitive, Hotel is just weird, and Roanoke is wasted potential. What exactly would be used to describe Cult?

I'm hoping they don't go the route of Freak Show and have an exposition dump within the first four episodes and then have gore galore for the remainder of the season. I'm excited for whatever CULT has to offer.
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9/10
You are what you think you are
jandy-rollo20 August 2018
This is the scariest season ever, because it has YOU as the main character . It doesn't matter if you're left or right. I know I'm right. Violence? You are the clown. You need to THINK!
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7/10
This season was very good.
jabandrade21 October 2023
This season was very good. An excellent portrait of the situation that the USA experienced shortly after Trump's election and the paranoid and hateful behavior that took over the average and/or ignorant American. The country really went crazy. And it hasn't improved much 7 years later, since whoever succeeded him, Biden, a weakling, hasn't improved the lives of the 36 million Americans who live in extreme poverty today. After all, his focus is solely on enriching the weapons industry. That said, we have this season of AHS dealing with the topic in a very convincing and faithful way, showing how irresponsible politicians can indoctrinate a large part of a population, especially those Intellectually unprepared for a civilized debate and understanding of political contexts. Once again Sarah Paulson delivers a great performance, with great help from the excellent Evan Peters and Adina Porter. Apart from that, we have the "AHS brand" section, the graphic violence that always excites, despite trying very hard to link fictional violence to political issues. Still worth it. My average rating for the season is 8.
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1/10
Less entertaining than the news.
ladysilverhawk7 September 2017
This show has officially jumped the shark with stereotypes and fear mongering over the presidential election. The writers must have quit and the interns have taken over. After not being able to watch Roanoke to the finish, and the Gaga series the year before, it is sad to lose something I used to look forward to watching. Not surprising that this year viewership is down almost 30 percent. Script is so predictable, characters are over the top, Sarah Paulson's acting and script might as well be a old recycled Clinton campaign ad. Evan Peters deserves better, and he should leave after this joke of a series. Not bothering to watch any more.
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10/10
Get over yourselves, this was actually really good
tinusa00713 September 2017
I don't really leave reviews on individual episodes, but when I saw the rating at first I was shocked and than I was like how more obvious can people be? I personally loved the premiere and I think it was most chilling than most of the other episodes. This was in an extreme way mirroring real life more than any other season and I finally got some tense feelings. It might be partly because I just hate clowns.

Sure it was a very politically driven episode, but this world is very politically driven at the moment. The focus of general media or social media is so much on politics in USA and other countries as well, so I find it very fitting than this show is trying to put their spin on it. And honestly it shows both sides as extreme and crossing each others paths and both going the distance with what they believe in without giving a chance to the other side. When Evan Peters was giving that speech that was some truth to it for sure, but they didn't listen to him, because he was a Drumpf supporter. The lesbians were scared shitless because Drumpf won even though nothing was happening at that time. It is all about the extreme. To show both sides are both right and wrong as humans are.

So I completely disagree with all the negative reviews. You might night like political stuff, I can get that, but the episode was still well made, well written, well acted. So to be biased just because it opened with something that actually happened with the extreme versions of emotions that people actually had is kind of proving their point. This needed to happen and I am glad for this season. I wasn't this invested since the very first season, just because I want to know how far they are gonna push all the agendas and propaganda's. It is almost like if the Purge, IT, AHS and real life had a over the top baby. So please put aside your biased based opinions and just watch the show for the show and don't think too much about the politics, cause at the end of the day, that was put there just to set up the tone and to start the craziness. It most likely won't be a focal point of this season, not really. It will be more like the shadow creeping in from time to time to ruffle the feathers of all the snowflakes.
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7/10
Honestly one of the best premieres ever
kevinlikermat6 September 2017
Warning: Spoilers
The episode starts on Election Night, Trump wins the election and we get to see the different reactions from Ally, her wife and her friends', Kai's and Winter's. The election triggers Ally, making her forgotten phobias come back. She sees a crumpet with holes and blood seeping out of them and clowns terrorizing her in a supermarket. No one seems to believe what Ally sees, there's no evidence on the security camera and no one has seen the clowns she claims she saw. Except for her own son, Oz.

The amount of questions this episodes brings is countless and I can't wait to find out if the clowns are real or not, and how Oz sees them too if they aren't real and who they are if they are real.

Everyone's performance was superb as always and I can't wait to see more of Kai. I mean like, is he a cult leader? Or maybe a member of a cult? Or maybe he's one of the clowns and the clowns are in the cult?

This episode deserves a way better rating than it has at the moment (6.7 out of 10) so I'm giving it 10 stars for excellent acting, plot and amazing season opener! I'm also so happy with the opening sequence finally being back!
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1/10
I lasted 30 minutes before deciding that sleep would be more entertaining
durango-0635420 September 2018
Warning: Spoilers
I was thrilled to see that Cult had come out on Netflix. I quickly grabbed a snack, turned out all the lights, and got snuggled in bed before hitting Play knowing that I was going to struggle to not binge watch this season and somehow look rested for work the next morning. Within the first five minutes I was perplexed, but not with the usual things AHS throws in to make us excitedly wonder what was coming. I was perplexed with the fact that they pretty much just took the news from several channels, threw in some opinion pieces, and more clowns. Really? I feel like Bette Tattler at the end of Freak Show when she sees Elsa Mars on the television and says, "I feel like I've seen this act before," and shuts off the show.

They have taken the most extreme, mentally-unhinged sides of politics and made them representatives of entire groups. It was like a teenager who hasn't been out in the world had watched a news segment showing both Democrats and Republicans losing their minds and thought, "I guess that's what they're like now. This is entertaining, but it could use some clowns and unmedicated issues diagnosed by unprofessional Doctors. Mom! Call the Producers!"

I gave it a grueling 30 minutes before I realized I had been dumbfoundedly staring at the screen waiting for something interesting to happen, but felt like I was watching a Fourth Grade play. "Interesting", like "Fetch", just wasn't going to happen.
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10/10
The USA deserves it!!!
marc-0307714 September 2019
I think its not politics. Its the USA today. Full of fear and hate. Real horror!!! I like the Season.
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7/10
Did we really have to re-live the horror?
beebeedoo8 September 2017
Millions of us felt similar that night, did we have to be reminded? Not sure where the plot is headed, CULT must refer to believing as the character KAI does, and the little "pinky swear" must be the acceptance into the CULT. But the hysterics of Sarah Paulson's character was a little over the top, her wife doesn't seem very sympathetic, and we'll be annoyed at how no one will believe their little boy. Loved the return of Twisty; pretty gruesome stabbing, ugh. And Chaz Bono fits right in. I'm hoping for some "twist" to the storyline away from politics. I'm more interested in REAL corruption going on in the White House; the REAL stuff is a horror in itself. I hope the show gets better.
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1/10
Too political for my tastes
sitindc6 September 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Wow. Just wow! I'm not a DEM or Republican but AHS Cult smacks of Trump Derangement Syndrome--the irrational perceived fears of a Trump Presidency. All I have to say is that everyone to include me, Democrats I know and Republicans I know are tired of all the rhetoric from the left and the right. We want to be entertained and not have our heads filled with leftist propaganda or right propaganda. We're all tired of the election talk, the election ended in November...get over it. Trump is President, the world didn't end, if you want to try and change things in 2018 vote for who you think are the best candidates for House/Senate and then in 2020 help with a local campaign and vote for who you think would be the best President. Dear producers of AHS Cult, if there is another season of AHS, please don't make your audience suffer from a forced morality tale about politics...the American people are tired of politics and all your show has done is continue to divide our country even more. Thanks. I'm not sure if there are any spoilers in my comments but I was careful and checked the box anyway . By the way I love all people on the left and the right and can't we all just get along and not always be reminded of our divisions?
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Election Night
NDbportmanfan6 September 2017
Election Night starts with the immediate reaction to the 2016 presidential election from this episode's main two characters (Ally and Kai). Each one seems to be an over exaggeration of the stereotypes used to describe a member of each party. Glad to see this was evened out because by the look of the trailers it seemed to favor one side over the other.

I found myself enjoying the episode even if it did seem over the top at times. While I did watch Roanoke from beginning to end, in the back of my mind I kept telling myself it will get better, it well get better... and ultimately was disappointed. Cult on the other hand feels more interesting and has a good creeping factor going that has been missing since Freak Show. I say this mainly because clowns do scare the hell out of me. If you aren't then this season might turn into a laugher (and enjoyable one).Speaking of Freak Show, I enjoy AHS a whole lot more when characters return or references are made about past seasons. The tease the pilot gives alone will have me watching to see what happens.

Also we are treated to Evan Peters playing what looks to be the Joker this season as Kai and the Joker have similar philosophies. As they both believe through chaos can true order...or something like that. Peters will most likely be the highlight of this season as he seems to bring the best characters to the show. I hope I am wrong and some or the others have good character arcs this season but time will tell.

I am hopeful for this season as the pilot captured my intrigue. It is also good that Murphy is down one project as I attribute part of the blame of Roanoke to the fact that Murphy was writing for three Fox shows. That seems crazy to me. With Scream Queens cancelled maybe he can focus more on AHS.

Ultimately would rate the pilot a 7.5 as it was a fun watch.
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6/10
Politics aside, it's predictable and repetitive
cimpeanlorand8 September 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Clowns and psychos again... I thought we have already been through these. I'm honestly disappointed in this season so far, I know this is just the first episode but I don't see how it could possibly improve, at this point it's just predictable and repetitive with two sides who are the opposite of each other.

But! (of course) I'll continue watching it because I still have faith in AHS.
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9/10
AHS delivers again
alexhausman21 March 2018
Warning: Spoilers
American Horror Story delivered a compelling story arc in its seventh season, subtitled Cult. In its finale episode nothing is held back and no one is safe. This episode sees Sarah Paulson's character Ally Mayfair-Richards end Evan Peter's character Kai and brilliantly subvert his evil efforts to suit her own political agenda. The payoff is great and this episode is among the series' strongest.
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6/10
Still entertaining, and I'm not sure what direction they take, but also really silly.
keelhaul-8085621 September 2018
Warning: Spoilers
It is funny to me how people get upset or call you crazy, when you mention how overly gay everything is on tv and media today.

Like seriously? The main characters are lesbians with a small child, and then we find out that the new neighbors are also gays, living a fake marriage lie, the babsitter tries to finger Sara Paulson in a bathtub( but then they stop short of the kiss!!! Come on!!! haha) and then a dude jerks it in a shower for the gay dude to come by and see? LOL I am still intrigued by the season, but to me, this is just overly ridiculous and plastered over in an unrealistic fashion.

Anyway, I am a couple of episodes in, and I find some of this to be a funny parody(or exaggerated likeness) of recent US events. The way the people acted on this episode when Trump won was almost identical to the hysteria and sadness of mass media and Hillary supporters. Then, they find out that Sarah Paulson voted for Jill Stein, and bash her for it, LOL.

There are some interesting characters and the fear thing is pretty cool to explore, but the clowns? How many times are they going to keep using clowns? It also has a "Purge" feel to this season, which is probably inevitable, due to the subject matter and dark themes.

Well, the first 2 seasons were awesome, Roanoke was utter garbage that I never finished(a first for me in this series), Hotel got boring and weird with Lady GooGoo, and the other seasons were ok. I will see how this one pans out, and Apocalypse(season 8) may be an even better premise.
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1/10
And the decline continues.....
dpulsifer6 September 2017
Was looking forward to watching this years season of AHS. Way to go mixing politics into something people try to enjoy. That and the trypophobia. I cannot watch an entire season of Sarah Paulson taking the lead in her current neurotic state. Evan Peters is the shows only saving grace at the moment with Billie Lourds creepy chemistry. You gotta love Twisty the Clown also. Sad to see Kathy Bates not around, she really brought a lot to the screen with her presence. How on gods green earth did that pig Lena Dunham slip her way into this year???

To quote Shark Tanks Barbara Corcoran "And for that reason, I'm out"
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10/10
One of very few that absolutely loves this season!
UniqueParticle6 November 2019
I like being the odd one out and enjoying the unthinkable or unorthodox! Some are sick of political stuff I am not because I avoid it like a plague, very much appreciate this story and clowns are one of my favorite things. The beginning theme credits is one of my favorite things ever too! Yay for peculiar me, I'd so hangout with Bradley Buckner and Ryan Murphy!
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7/10
Trump?!
ZegMaarJus8 July 2021
Warning: Spoilers
This episode begins with Trump, he runs for president of the United States. Trump won the election. Ally cries when Trump just won the election. Twisty knocked down Picnic Guy, Twisty kills him in cold blood. Twisty killed the Picnic Girl. Ally gets in shock when she sees the Twisty comic book. Ally goes crazy when she hallucinates at the wallmart. Kai throws his drink over Ally her jacket. Winter gets the job as nanny at the Mayfair family. Kai got smashed heavily by illegals. Oz sees a group of clowns in front of the house. Tom and Marylin got killed by clowns. Winter lies about the clowns to Ivy and Ally. Solid episode of American Horror Story Season 7, an okay beginning of this season. It is Trump and politics related so i think this will be a good season.
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3/10
By far the worst AHS episode in the series
colonnesel8 September 2017
Trying to be generous but I can't find any way to give this more than 3/10. They got everything wrong, there was literally nothing scary or horrifying in this episode. In fact it was downright funny to see the directors and writers making fun of SJWs. What I don't get is how they expect to have two more seasons (planned) if they keep going in the current direction. That and the fact that I think I speak for the majority when I say I'm tired of seeing Sarah Paulson cast in a similar role over and over. It's like Groundhog Day watching her scream and cry and run and scream and cry and run, and scream and cry... and run.
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10/10
Fantastic
ivanlennonaraujo6 September 2017
Warning: Spoilers
"American Horror Story: Cult" premiere is a MASTERPIECE. I don't understand why people hated so bad this episode, maybe because Sarah Paulson's character is over-dramatic. But come on, Ally is frightened by her phobias, give her some credit. Sarah Paulson is fabulous in this episode, like all the others characters she played. Evan Peters and Billie Lourd were also fantastic, Kai and Winter are iconic. I loved this first episode and I'll keep anxiously watch the whole season. Maybe it can be the best season of the series.
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1/10
AHS Cult
davidhp19 September 2017
AHS is sinking to new lows this season. Ryan Murphy is clueless as to producing a horror series. The acting is terrible. plot line is just embarrassing. I have lost faith in American Horror Story, it uses doesn't create a horrific suspenseful environment just serves a lot of hammy acting.
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Live and Let Live
stevepb13 September 2020
The fascinating thing about this series and these reviews of it is the total lack of self-awareness of the MAGA/Trump brigade. Guys, you're the ones who are hyper-partisan, you're the ones who are biased, you're the ones who worship cancel-culture. How about putting on a LALL cap? LIVE AND LET LIVE.
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