Now THIS was a great episode. A complete 180 for me in terms of how I felt compared to the last episode. The writing was really there (Thank you Tim Minear) Very thoughtful writing with great character work. It was long but it didn't felt like it dragged. Truthfully maybe some of this story could have gone in the first episode, but for what this was this was great. I'm fully invested in what's going on. I haven't felt this way about the show since season two. I'm not just enjoying the world and tone, I'm enjoying the actual happenings of the story and characters. Stuff like Tristan's character I didn't expect to get as much attention to him, but I was really pleased he did. Even Evan Peters! Did anyone honestly expect him to be this good? I thought he'd just be a throwaway character for the sake of having Peter back but nope. Even Wes Bentley's character is interesting now and feels like he's not just a regular stick in the mud character surrounded by all the crazy.
I'm even loving the Se7en inspired murder investigation. There's a cool police investigation/noir combined with horror here and I love it. And the horror here was good too. Great atmosphere and tension.
Now let's just hope it stays this way and they don't **** this up.