The following contains spoilers for American Horror Story: Asylum
Only focusing on the deaths of this past week’s episode of American Horror Story: Asylum would be a mistake. As the title of the episode suggests, “The Name Game” song and dance was a key element of the episode; juxtaposing a jarringly lighthearted dance with a what was essentially two suicides (one sending the devil back to hell).
According to showrunner and co-creator Ryan Murphy, Jessica Lange made the unconventional request to do something like this early on. “She had requested a big musical episode since I think “Nor’easter.” It’s a great showcase for her,” Murphy told EW.com. “And it was really designed as a big showcase for two of the actors who died to sort of send them off.” But why a musical number in a show like AHS, and why now? “The idea was to really do a musical number that was something very ‘60s crossed with Jacob’s Ladder because it was in her head and it was sort of the beginning of her descent,” Murphy said. “It was very fun to do.”
In case you missed it, or enjoyed it so much you want to watch it again and again, here’s Jessica Lange performing “The Name Game” looking, as Murphy himself said, “like Dusty Springfield”.
And go inside the episode with FX’s own video recap diary:
“American Horror Story: Asylum – Episode 10: “The Name Game” (aired January 2, 2013)
The Monsignor (Joseph Fiennes) confronts the Devil. Dr. Arden’s (James Cromwell) experiments reach a shocking conclusion. Dr. Thredson (Zachary Quinto) facilitates a surprising reunion for Kit (Evan Peters).
American Horror Story: Asylum airs on Wednesdays at 10 on FX. You can get more information on the show by visiting their Official Facebook Page or the main AHS site. And in case you missed it, check out our featured interviews with Zachary Quinto and Jessica Lange.
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