| "Open House" | |||
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| American Horror Story episode | |||
Larry (Denis O'Hare) attempts to buy the house after learning that an interested buyer will tear it down. |
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| Episode no. | Season 1 Episode 7 |
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| Directed by | Tim Hunter | ||
| Written by | Brad Falchuk | ||
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| Production code | 1ATS06 | ||
| Original air date | November 16, 2011 | ||
| Episode chronology | |||
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| List of American Horror Story episodes | |||
"Open House" is the seventh episode of the first season of the television series American Horror Story, which premiered on the network FX on November 16, 2011. The episode was written by co-creator and executive producer Brad Falchuk and was directed by Tim Hunter.
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Constance’s learns that Beau, her deformed son who lives chained in the house’s attic, may be taken away, due to her neglectful parenting. Larry, in love with Constance, euthanizes Beau, in order to prevent it. Larry's wife immolates herself and their daughters in the house upon learning of his relationship with Constance.
Violet takes solace in Tate, who says he is aware of the ghosts, and says they will not harm her if she tells them to leave her alone. He shows her some old photographs he found of the house and the Montgomerys. Vivien learns that she is pregnant with twins. Resolved to be up front with prospective buyers about the house’s past, she learns of the Montgomerys and that Charles revived their son into a monster, causing Nora to go insane and kill Charles and herself. A sleazy developer (Amir Arison) becomes interested in the house, planning to tear down the gazebo and build a pool, leading Moira to seduce him in hopes he will buy the property and her bones will be discovered. Ben finds Larry’s home and confronts him, learning that Larry wants the house so he can be with Constance. Mocking him, Ben says the developer will buy the house and tear it down into condominiums. Constance learns of this and attempts to appeal to the developer, but he cruelly rebuffs her. She informs Moira that he lied to her about the gazebo and intends to build condos instead, which would seal Moira on the grounds forever. They put aside their enmity, and with Larry, lead the developer into the basement and suffocate him, taking him off the grounds before he dies. Violet shares the photos of the Montgomerys with Vivien, who is shocked to find that she recognizes Nora (from Episode 3) as one of the interested buyers.
Series co-creator Ryan Murphy has admitted his obsession with the character of Marcy, the realtor, played by Christine Estabrook, who was more prominent in Open House. "I love her! I love her!," he states. "Every episode we’re like 'We’re killing Marcy this episode. This is the episode.' And then we get to writing her and she’s too hilarious to kill. I think she’s been a great source of levity and I think she’s a terrible person. She’s a racist and a homophobe and the worst realtor in the world. She’s that incompetent bumbler. I like to imitate her in the writer’s room."[1]
New York's Julieanne Smolinski said this about the episode, "I don't know ... but I love this show as though it were the deformed attic monster I asked my disfigured boyfriend to lust-murder."[2] James Queally of The Star-Ledger called Open House "another average episode of what's becoming in my eyes, just an average series."[3]
In its original American broadcast, Open House was seen by an estimated 3.06 million household viewers and gained a 1.8 ratings share among adults aged 18–49, according to Nielsen Media Research. The episode rose two tenths from the previous episode, becoming a series high.[4]
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