Ep 1. Welcome To Briarcliff

Welcome to Briarcliff is the first episode of the second season of American Horror Story. The episode takes place in 1964 and introduces the audience to Briarcliff Manor, an asylum for the criminally insane. The episode sets the scene for the upcoming events and establishes the characters and their relationships.

The episode begins with a couple, Leo and Teresa, exploring the abandoned Briarcliff Manor on a haunted tour. They soon realize that it is not as abandoned as they thought when they come across a patient who attacks them with a bloody piece of metal. This sets the stage for the horrors that take place inside Briarcliff.

We are then introduced to Kit Walker, played by Evan Peters, who is a young man accused of being the notorious serial killer known as "Bloody Face". Kit protests his innocence, claiming that his only crime was being in love with a woman of a different race. He is subsequently sent to Briarcliff where he is subjected to the cruel and barbaric practices of the asylum.

The episode also introduces us to the characters of Sister Jude, played by Jessica Lange, who is the strict and authoritarian head nun and Dr. Arthur Arden, played by James Cromwell, who is a doctor at the asylum who has a disturbing interest in conducting experiments on the patients.

Another new patient at Briarcliff is a woman named Lana Winters, played by Sarah Paulson, who is a journalist investigating the asylum's practices. She is quickly deemed a threat by Sister Jude and detained against her will in the asylum.

The episode delves into the dark and twisted world of Briarcliff and its inhabitants. The patients are subjected to cruel and inhumane treatments such as shock therapy and are often left in restraints for days on end. The staff at Briarcliff are not immune to the horrors either. They are often seen engaging in sick and twisted behavior, such as Dr. Arden's obsession with experimentation and Sister Jude's sadistic punishments.

The episode ends with a shocking twist that leaves the audience questioning everything that has just happened. The episode sets the stage for what is sure to be a season full of terror and horror, with each character's own personal demons and struggles being explored.

Overall, Welcome to Briarcliff is an intense and unsettling episode that sets the tone for the entire season. The use of vivid imagery and ominous music creates a sense of unease and dread, adding to the episode's disturbing atmosphere. The characters are intriguing and complex, with their own motivations and secrets that are slowly revealed throughout the season. This episode serves as a promising start to an unforgettable season of American Horror Story.