Why AHS Fans Didn't Like The Richard Ramirez Storyline In 1984
Created by Brad Falchuk and Ryan Murphy, FX's "American Horror Story" is a television show that's known for shocking moments and absolutely insane characters. Starring the likes of Jessica Lange, Evan Peters, and Sarah Paulson, the series always features an impressive cast with rotating appearances by Lily Rabe, Denis O'Hare, Kathy Bates, and Angela Bassett, among other actors.
The show has an interesting gimmick in how each season stands on its own, but often interconnects to other "AHS" seasons. "American Horror Story: 1984" started on September 18, 2019, and takes heavy influence from the slasher films of the 1980s. The plot follows a group of people who leave the bustle of Los Angeles in 1984 to spend the summer as counselors at Camp Redwood. Of course, it being "American Horror Story," several twists and turns occur with the most dangerous psychopath constantly shifting. Is it Mr. Jingles (John Carroll Lynch), Margaret Booth (Leslie Grossman), Montana Duke (Billie Lourd), or Richard Ramirez (Zach Villa)? However, in a season with so many killers, fans took issue with Ramirez's storyline.
What were the issues with Richard Ramirez?
During a recent Reddit discussion, fans of "American Horror Story" gathered to talk about which storyline they could have gone without. In particular, "AHS: 1984" garnered a fair amount of attention with its Richard Ramirez plot. Ramirez was a real-life serial killer of the 1980s known as 'The Night Stalker," and followers of the show did not enjoy the portrayal of the murderous sociopath. "I loved 1984, but I wish the Richard Ramirez story line had been about a fictional serial killer as opposed to him. The things he did were so horrendous, and I felt icky with how they portrayed his story line," stated Redditor u/andrealoveleigh.
Others also chimed in with their opinions, with many agreeing that the Ramirez subplot felt wrong. The issue of contention was how they tried to make him appear "sexy," and fans agreed that if they were going to go that route that it should have been truer to the real-life mass murderer and his story. However, most would have preferred "AHS" invent a new character in place of Ramirez, with u/Dcooper09072013 writing, "I completely agree with how you feel and also believe a made up killer would have been so much better. Or at least if his killing hadn't been romanticized."
With an 87% on Rotten Tomatoes, "American Horror Story: 1984" is a well-received season, but as it seems, ultimately not without its Satan-whispering faults.