Ep 2. Chutes and Ladders

In American Horror Story season 5 episode 2, titled "Chutes and Ladders," the horror continues at the Hotel Cortez as guests continue to check into the sinister establishment. The episode begins with John Lowe, a detective investigating a series of murders, discovering a new body and realizing that it is connected to the Hotel Cortez. Meanwhile, fashion designer Will Drake, along with his young son, check into the hotel after falling in love with its unique architecture. As Will begins to renovate the hotel to fit his artistic vision, he discovers the true nature of the hotel's secrets.

The episode follows the hotel's other inhabitants, including the vampiric Countess and her lover Donovan, as they navigate their twisted relationships and dark desires. The Countess, who holds a deep connection to the hotel and its ghosts, works to maintain her power and control over those around her while also dealing with the consequences of her violent actions.

Other guests of the hotel include Sally, a drug-addicted ghost who haunts the halls, and the mysterious Mr. March, a former owner of the hotel who has now become one of its twisted spirits. As tensions rise and secrets are revealed, the hotel's sinister past becomes harder to ignore, and the characters find themselves further entangled in its deadly web.

Throughout the episode, themes of addiction, obsession, and the blurred lines between life and death are explored. The show's trademark blend of horror and dark humor is on full display, as the characters try to survive and outwit the horrors of the Hotel Cortez.

Overall, "Chutes and Ladders" is a thrilling and unsettling episode that showcases the twisted world of American Horror Story's fifth season. With a talented cast and an engrossing storyline, the show continues to deliver the scares and shocks that have made it a fan favorite.