Hi all!

Today I am reviewing American Horror Story Delicate season 12. Check out my franchise ranking here. I’ve also reviewed seasons 1, 2 and 3 of American Horror Stories. I have a lot to say so without further ado, let’s get into it!

THE PREMISE OF AHS – DELICATE

Delicate is the first and only season based off a book – Delicate Condition by Danielle Rollins. This season follows Anna Alcott (Emma Roberts), a Hollywood actress desperate to become a mother and a huge success on the silver screen. Her world begins to fall apart when she realises those closest to her have ulterior motives, obsessed with making her dreams their own. 

WHAT WORKED

This season had a jagged rollout. Due to the writer’s strikes, it commenced in October of 2023, then went on hiatus and finally, returned in late March. With only nine episodes in total, the long break gave it a disjointed feel. In my personal opinion, the second half of the season was much stronger than the first. It wasn’t until the story resumed, that we were finally given answers as to what was going on with Anna. The stakes increased significantly, with our protagonist needing to make a choice between stardom and motherhood. Delicate focuses on how far we would go for fame, but also how the industry is corrupt by white men that have never had to work a day in their life. Powerful women are their biggest threat; controlling a lot more behind the scenes than what is initially obvious. I was definitely intrigued to see where the story went and whilst the ending was bizarre (more on that later), I understood what the central messages were. Kim Kardashian’s role as Siobhan was surprisingly well-acted but, in a sense, she was sort of playing herself. Like any season of American Horror Story, it had gore, horror, camp and superficial characters.

WHAT DIDN’T WORK 

The first half of this season was downright confusing and repetitive. The character of Anna was continuously gaslit, but we didn’t yet understand why. She was either vomiting, screaming or crying. It got to a point where I was tired from wanting more. Luckily, the second half delivered. Having said that, the ending itself was extremely weird and, well, incestuous. We finally learnt the motivations behind the women in Anna’s life and her purpose as a vessel for her unborn baby. This plot device has come up a lot in 2024, with horror films like The First Omen and Immaculate. By now, I’ve come to expect a season of American Horror Story to be chaotic. It’s never fluid or streamlined. It’s messy and dramatic. It certainly maintained those quintessential elements, but it also wasn’t anything super exciting or original. I truly hope the thirteenth and final season really pushes the boundaries because this one sadly didn’t.

OVERALL STAR RATING 

I gave it 3/5 stars. I didn’t hate it, but it’s definitely on the weaker side of the franchise.

Thank you so much for reading! What did you think of Delicate? 

Peace & Love xoxo