By now, all American Horror Story fans should know that while there will be a season two, it will be a completely different show … and that was Ryan Murphy‘s plan all along (at least, it was if the series continued beyond the first season). Murphy and company very wisely wrote a first season that had a beginning, middle and end. No dilly-dallying about, mainly because they had no idea if anyone would even watch this weird little horror show. FX also rushed the show into production so they could have it on the air in time for Halloween (and if you saw the Halloween episodes, you’ll know why this was an important decision), so there really was no time for anyone to think beyond the 13th episode. The main cast was also signed for only one season (and Jessica Lange — excuse me, Golden Globe winner Jessica Lange — didn’t even want to do a TV series), so they all knew that, for them, this was a one-shot deal.
But no one else knew any of this until the show became a huge hit with viewers and critics. Suddenly, this little show was getting a lot of attention and Murphy had to come clean about his plan once FX gave him the greenlight for a second season. Did he pitch FX on the show as a kind of anthology series in the beginning, or was this an afterthought once the show became a success and it was too late to change the structure of the first season? I have mixed feelings about season two because I loved season one. It wasn’t perfect, but it did make me want to come back week after week (and basically the night it aired, not DVR’d, which is how I usually end up watching my shows). The Harmon family, particularly Ben and Vivien, were the least interesting characters in the show. Violet certainly became interesting once her fate was revealed, but the supporting players were the ones who drew me back every week. And the character at the head of that group was Jessica Lange’s Constance.
Constance quickly became one of the most fascinating characters on TV, going beyond the meddling next door neighbor (kind of a less hysterical Gladys Kravitz) to someone who had more knowledge about the house and its inhabitants than anyone else. I particularly enjoyed her interactions with Moira (the Frances Conroy version), and her line at the end of one of the first couple of episodes, “Don’t make me kill you again,” was what really sold me on the show and Constance. I just loved the whole Southern Gothic feel, as if she could have stepped out of a movie like Hush … Hush Sweet Charlotte. Lange’s final soliloquy in the season finale at the beauty parlor was mesmerizing — and is probably what won her the Golden Globe (and will win her an Emmy, mark my words) — and her final line was exciting and devastating at the same time because I knew we wouldn’t see her after that.
But now, more information is coming out about the second season. Murphy has hinted that some cast members could be coming back as different characters. The show will take place in a different city, in a different house (or possibly another venue), with a story that has no connection to the Murder House. After winning her Golden Globe, Lange was asked about the possibility of returning to the show, and she had this to say (according to Hollywood.com):
“Yes, we are considering a second season. Nothing is definite yet … I know that everybody that is returning will be playing a different character.” She added, “I rarely see a script that excites me, but with American Horror Story, every time we would get a new [script], they would have written something for me that was really exciting and challenging.”
So, the question is will they bring Jessica Lange back? Now that she’s gotten all of this acclaim, is she more interested in doing another season of a TV show? Should Murphy create a new character for her, or should Constance (and presumably her grandson) become a thread that ties the seasons together? While I would love to see more of Constance, I don’t see her uprooting herself from her last known location. She’s been there for far too long to suddenly start moving around the country, even with a kid with homicidal tendencies in tow. Whatever happens, I just hope that Murphy can convince Lange to return with another juicy role. What do you think? Should Constance come back, should Murphy create a new character for Lange, or should she just leave well enough alone and move on to a new project?
Clacked by Chuck Duncan 
on Jan 17, 2012 @ 16:00 EST5EDT
I personally would LOVE to see more of Constance. BUT, as you said, it’s out of character for her to just move somwhere else. Plus the idea that something equally as bizarre happens to her somewhere else is just too much to accept. Maybe they can come up with something involving the boy and give us a really believable reason of why they have been displaced in the first episode of season 2 and then move forward from there?
I really feel that Season 1 was not totally wrapped up. I think there are still a lot of unanswered questions. I would like to have seen more focus on the back stories of the already dead inhabitants. I would like also to have seen why EVERYONE that died there HAD to stay there. This story could have been continued—-I guess it was just getting all the actors on board to make it happen.
Lyn.. if you go to the american horror story fx website and go to community A LOT of questions are answered.. Billie Dean explained why spirits were stuck.. in the episode birth..when violet wants to get rid of Chad and his bfriend cuz she thought they were going to do something to take the babies
Yes, there are so many tantalizing storylines that I would have loved to see cont. into season 2. Thank goodness there is going to be a season 2, because most of the time when there is a great series on tv that makes the viewer ‘think’ it never lasts! (ie. “Persons Unknown”)
HUGE congrats to Jessica Lange for winning the Golden Globe! The moment I heard she was nominated I ‘knew’ that she would win! I love her Constance character and the wacked out way she just accepted (like a proud grannie) when the monster child made his first kill. However, if she comes back in season 2 (please do!) as another character I am certain it will be as stunning as Constance.
FYI for Jessica Lange fans: She was supurb in the movie “Cousin Bette” which was based on a Balzac novel–check it out! It’s not horror but it’s a delicious story of what a woman scorned can be capable of.
i think it would take too much effort to fit her in i mean she was amazing in season 1…but I dont want the writers/ryan murphy to get sidetracked and try to fit her in I want them to have a clean slate new horrors…maybe a cameo out of respect for golden globe win which was much deserved! I am expecting them to blow my mind again!
I want to know more about Devil Child! She has to stay. But in her house. I just want a second season as good as the first. It was definatly left up in the air, but i dont think you could make any more story lines for the house as a whole. the familys died, the only thing u would see is more people buying the house and dying. ahh, i just want to watch again!
season one amazing i wanna see constance again not as a new chactor but as someone who ties seasons toghther. and i wann know more about the origional homicidal babay.. and grandson what if they all reunite somday
What if Conatance is the Devil? She could come back as any character imaginable. It would make a good twist. I loved the show!!
If Tate’s son continues killing people then eventually even someone as savvy as Constance would have to go on the run, maybe in a future season the main characters will get some new neighbours.
Did I miss the answer to whom Constance’s 4th child is? There’s Tate, Addie,
Beau, and …..?????? Does ANYONE know?
I wondered that too, she said she had four pretty early on in the season I guess they just dropped one later on.
*POST AUTHOR*
I don’t believe the matter was ever addressed. When asked in an interview after the episode showing Violet’s fate aired, Murphy was asked if we’d learn about the fourth child. His reply was, “Maaaaaaaaybe.” It was never brought up in the series that I can recall, perhaps because of the rushed shooting schedule to complete the finale in time for the air date. It was meant to be a two-hour finale, which got cut to 90 minutes, but the version that got on air was only 70 minutes with commercials. Maybe we’ll have to wait for the home video release to get that answer.
I would love to see more of Constance. But really…no more Tate? Evan Peters was phenomenal! They should find a way to incorporate him back into the second season somehow. His character was so complex and he always left me guessing. It was brilliant.
There was a fascinating setup with a battle-to-come between the 3-year old devil child progeny of Tate/Vivien, who is NOT dead, the infantata that Charles built and seems to surface mostly at Tate’s bidding, and the newly dead, presumably on-the-good-side progeny of Vivien and Ben. Each had an interesting set of “powers” (being already dead, being the devil child with the limitation of not being actually dead, or being the infantata who seems to be the original embodiment of evil in the house). Really sad that we apparently won’t see this clash carried out in season 2.
*POST AUTHOR*
Yeah, I think a lot of us were expecting some kind of supernatural civil war between the spirits, particularly with Tate and Hayden on the outside and the Harmons enjoying Christmas on the inside on the finale. But, as was mentioned in a previous post, extending the series as is with a new family moving in to the house, it would have all gotten a little Beetlejuice with the Harmons popping up to scare people away. I do think it would be cool to have the actors come back in different roles with a different story each season, and maybe one day revisit the Murder House. But I just love the Constance character so much, and Lange’s magnificent portrayal, that I’m not ready to let go of her just yet.
Hahahahahaha…Beetlejuice!