- "It's weird how it's more sad when a cat gets run over then when a raccoon does."
- ―Alma Gardner
| "Cape Fear" | |
|---|---|
| Series American Horror Story Season 10, Episode 1 | |
| |
| Air date | August 25th, 2021 |
| Writers | Ryan Murphy; Brad Falchuk |
| Director | John J. Gray |
| Producers | Julie Herrin; Evan Peters; Todd Nenninger; Eryn Krueger Mekash; Lou Eyrich; Sarah Paulson; Manny Coto; John J. Gray; Alexis Martin Woodall; Brad Falchuk; Ryan Murphy; Jason Ray King |
| Starring | Sarah Paulson; Evan Peters; Lily Rabe; Finn Wittrock; Frances Conroy; Billie Lourd; Leslie Grossman; Adina Porter; Angelica Ross; Macaulay Culkin; Ryan Kiera Armstrong |
| Episode guide | |
| Previous "Final Girl" |
Next "Pale" |
"Cape Fear" is the first episode of season ten of the anthology television series American Horror Story, and the 104th episode of the series overall. It is billed under the sub-heading "Double Feature", with the first half of the season comprising the "Red Tide" storyline. It was directed by John J. Gray with a script written by Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk. It first aired on the FX Network on Wednesday, August 25th, 2021 at 10:00 pm. In this episode, a struggling writer named Harry Gardner, his pregnant wife Doris, and their daughter Alma, move to an isolated beach community called Provincetown for the winter. Once they're settled in, the town's true residents begin to make themselves known.
Cast[]
Starring[]
Note: Listings marked with a (†) symbol indicate cast members who are credited in this episode, but their character does not make an appearance.
Guest Starring[]
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Robin Weigert | Martha Edwards |
| John Lacy | Mikey Edwards |
| Jen Kober | Hostess |
Co-Starring[]
Notes & Trivia[]
"Hey, nerf-herders! Headhunter's Holosuite Wiki has a collection of images related to American Horror Story: Cape Fear.
- American Horror Story was created by Brad Falchuk and Ryan Murphy and produced by 20th Century Fox Television. The series is unique from other such programs in that each season is a self-contained storyline with a different cast of characters and actors, though many cast members are recycled as different characters from season to season.
- This series is rated TV-MA. It is suggested for mature audiences. It contains strong language and scenes of graphic violence. Viewer discretion is advised.
- This episode is production code number AATS01.
- This episode and "Pale" aired back-to-back on the same evening.
- This episode had a viewership of 925,000 upon its initial broadcast, which is a sharp decrease from the season nine finale, "Final Girl", which had 1.082 million viewers. It rated 0.36% in the 18-49 viewing demographic.
- This is the 104th episode of American Horror Story. It is the first episode of season ten of the series. It is the first chapter in the "Red Tide" storyline.
- Co-producer Jason King is credited during the end-title sequence. He is credited as Jason Ray King in this episode.
- Actress Sarah Paulson becomes an executive producer on the series beginning with this episode.
- Actor Evan Peters becomes a producer on the series beginning with this episode.
- This is the first appearance of all characters and settings.
- Julie Herrin is credited twice in the opening title sequence. She is credited as both a producer and an executive producer.
- Actress V Nixie has had previous appearances on the series. She played a robotic "doll" in the season eight episodes, "Fire and Reign", and "Apocalypse Then". She also played a lake monster version of Bobby Richter in the "Rest in Pieces" episode from season nine.
- Martha Edwards refers to Provincetown as "P-Town" in this episode.
- Alma Gardner shares the same first name as Alma Walker, who was a character featured in season two's "Asylum".
Allusions[]
- The title of this episode is likely taken from Cape Fear, which is a 1962 feature film of the thriller genre. It was directed by J. Lee Thompson and stars Gregory Peck and Robert Mitchum. The film was remade in 1991 by Martin Scorsese, and stars Robert De Niro and Nick Nolte. [1][2] Former American Horror Story actress Jessica Lange played Nick Nolte's artist wife in the remake.
- Though this is the first appearance of Provincetown, it has been referenced as far back as season two's "Asylum". The characters of Kit Walker and Alma Walker were married here in 1964. [3] At this time, this is the only detail that connects this season with previous seasons of the show.
- The song that Belle Noir and Austin Sommers sings in the karaoke bar is "Islands in the Stream", which was released in 1983 and performed as a duet by country music stars Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton. The song was actually written by the Bee Gees and is the first single from the Kenny Rogers album Eyes That See in the Dark.[4]
- It is implied that the pale people are vampires, or slightly closely akin to vampires. More details relating to this are revealed in "Pale". Vampires played a major role in the season five storyline, "Hotel".
Quotes[]
- Austin Sommers: Yes, but you chose to be a writer. Because you don't really live in this world; you observe it, you interpret it, you feed off of it, and you sit and you put words together so that the poor suckers who do live in the world can see what they look like, who they are, why they hurt. And you chose it because you want love and attention and barrels of money. And it's fucking insane, because those are the only things that can fill the hole in your soul.
....
- Alma Gardner: It's weird how it's more sad when a cat gets run over then when a raccoon does.
....
- Belle Noir: Most people would sell their soul for greatness. I know I did.
....
- Austin Sommers: Are you a real writer?
- Harry Gardner: I like to think so.
- Austin Sommers: I don't think you are, because if you were, you wouldn't care what the price was for getting uncorked. You'd rather die than keep all of those wonderful words bottled up inside of you.
....
- Harry Gardner: Okay, well, you know, creepy can be beautiful.
- Doris Gardner: Spoken like a true writer.
See also[]
External Links[]
References[]
- ↑ IMDB; Cape Fear (1962); Full Cast & Crew.
- ↑ Cape Fear (1991); Full Cast & Crew.
- ↑ American Horror Story: Welcome to Briarcliff
- ↑ Wikipedia:Islands in the Stream (song); Opening overview.
 This article pertains to an episode from season ten of the American Horror Story television series on the FX Network. This template will categorize articles that include it into the American Horror Story Season 10 episodes category. "Red Tide" episodes
"Red Tide" characters
"Death Valley" episodes
"Take Me to Your Leader" • "Inside" "Death Valley" characters
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