Is ‘Grotesquerie’ Just Another ‘American Horror Story’?

The opening two episodes of *Grotesquerie*, a new fall series from Ryan Murphy, premiered on FX on Wednesday night and managed to remind viewers of various seasons of *American Horror Story*. The show features nuns, priests, and religious themes—the serial killer, known as Grotesquerie, draws heavily on biblical references—which harkens back to *American Horror Story: Asylum*, as well as *Evil*, the first season of *True Detective*, and the film *Se7en*. Additionally, the season touches on cults and the apocalyptic mindset, with phrases like “The end is f***ing near,” yelled by a homeless character in the first episode, which brings to mind the *Cult* and *Apocalypse* seasons. Its graphic portrayals of creative and gruesome methods of torture and murder are reminiscent of every season of *American Horror Story* and, in truth, about 75 percent of Murphy's work in television.

Even though it’s launching in the weeks leading up to Halloween, which is typically the season for American Horror Story, Grotesquerie isn’t just another chapter in the anthology. It’s easy to mix them up since the 12th season of AHS, titled Delicate, was split into two parts and wrapped up earlier this year. Grotesquerie, along with the new series American Horror Stories, premiering on October 15 on Hulu, are sort of filling a gap in programming. American Horror Story has been renewed for a 13th season, which is anticipated to come out next year. So, if you’re curious whether Grotesquerie is simply a seasonal substitute for American Horror Story, the response is both “no” and “yes.”

It's too soon to determine if the show truly comes together, as only the first few episodes have been released for review—critics haven’t received more to assess. However, Grotesquerie stands out primarily as a detective drama. The lead character, Detective Lois Tryon, portrayed by Niecy Nash-Betts, serves as our main lens into the Grotesquerie universe. She is tasked with uncovering the murderer of a Christian family of four, along with two other similar crimes that follow. Lois fits the mold of many protagonists from recent crime series: she's an alcoholic and workaholic, deeply engrossed in her job as a way to cope with a troubled home life, which includes looking after her husband who has been in a coma for nearly a month.

Sticking to a methodical style, Grotesquerie clearly falls into the mystery genre, marking a slight shift from the usual format of American Horror Story. Another notable change is the casting; while almost every talented actor in the main lineup has been part of a Ryan Murphy production—like Nash-Betts in Scream Queens and Monster, Courtney B. Vance in The People v. O.J. Simpson, and Nicholas Chavez playing a priest fascinated by real crime as Lyle Menéndez in Monsters—none have featured in any previous season of American Horror Story. As for Lesley Manville, who portrays a nurse with a retro hairstyle and a sharp attitude, she may remind viewers of her role in Ratched, but she wasn't actually in that series. Grotesquerie also teases a much-anticipated performance from Super Bowl-winning tight end and boyfriend of America’s Sweetheart, Travis Kelce, although he doesn’t appear in the first two episodes. My guess is he will likely show up as part of a cult connected to the murders, possibly referencing his link to Taylor Swift by discussing the perils of idolizing heroes. Alternatively, he might just have a brief role before encountering a gruesome fate.

Kelce's involvement feels reminiscent of American Horror Story, especially considering the series’ penchant for casting celebrities in unexpected roles. (Just look at Adam Levine in Asylum, Stevie Nicks in Coven and Apocalypse, Lady Gaga in Hotel and Roanoke, and Kim Kardashian in Delicate.) In fact, AHS has always been known for its impressive performances, and Grotesquerie shares this strength. The cast consistently lifts the material, with Nash-Betts standing out by infusing her character, Lois, with a subtle and relatable quality that keeps her away from typical stereotypes. Manville is also outstanding, clearly relishing the chance to portray an overpowering, twisted caregiver.

Aside from its strong performances, Grotesquerie, similar to many of Murphy's productions, grabs attention right from the start with its intense and graphic violence. It's still unclear if this series truly needs to be released, especially since we're also getting three new shows from Murphy (American Sports Story, Monsters, Doctor Odyssey) along with a revival of another (9-1-1) within just two weeks. Only time will tell, much like Travis Kelce's situation.