Welcome to the Freak Show, people. Season 4 is all about a traveling show run by Jessica Lange and I'm bursting with excitement.
Sadly, my joking prediction of Michael Chiklis as the bearded lady did not come true. We'll have to settle for Emmy-Award winner (for her stunning portrayal of Madama LaLaurie) Kathy Bates in full beard, instead. Angela Bassett and Sarah Paulson return with an extra breast and an extra head, respectively. Evan Peters is there, too, as a carny of some sort.
Then we reach the head witch in charge, the grand dame of American Horror Story, Jessica Lange. Jessica Lange has won two of three possible Emmys for bringing the terror to the show (season one as the diabolical neighbor, season three as the dying leader of a dying coven). She's an extraordinary actress whose presence will be missed on season 5 if Ryan Murphy doesn't make some magic happen and convince her to sign up again.
About that trailer: unlike the disturbing 10-15 seconds teasers really used to advertise the show, the minute-long trailer actually explains a lot about each season of the show. I think it's safe to say that we've met the core cast in Lange, Chiklis, Bates, Bassett, and Paulson and the freaks are a little too full of themselves. The Strong Man and Bearded Lady are being fawned over by attendants, while the three-breasted woman is slathering herself in perfume and luxury.
The two-headed woman, the carny (?), and the owner are the ones who seem a little...out of it. Lange's domination of the season is confirmed when her dress is revealed to be the big top that starts to fall.
My biggest concern is how much the teasers play up clowns. I can't with clowns.
American Horror Story: Freak Show premieres Wednesday, 8 October on FX.