A paranormal deep dive into AHS: Roanoke

[@cainvarner]

thank you everyone for watching and enjoying this series!!!

[@s0rryforapologizing]

Thank you for your hard work! This was another incredible entry. ❤

[@staceyd8397]

Do you think you’ll get to the stage with the board behind you with the red string linking stuffs ?

[@c.2045]

love the series! thank you for making these

[@dia.96]

this season works better as a binge watch than as an episodic series. I thought it was meh on my original watch but enjoyed it way more when I rewatched it in one sitting.

[@cainvarner]

i completely agree. everytime i watch it i love it more

[@mariannnnnnna]

yeah i hate binge watching shows but i think roanoke would've worked out better if they had released the entire season right away. it's a solid season even if you don't love the ending

[@haileybuth9223]

I thought so too, the first 4 seasons took me a few weeks each but roanoke I binged over halloweekend and it was great

[@charleenfabe4672]

Agreed!! The first time I watched it I liked the concept but wasn’t a fan. I revisited it and really enjoyed it.

[@ccckmp]

Agree it definitely is a binge watch

[@alyxually]

The fact that Adina porter was the only returning actor who had to reaudition, doesn’t sit right with me, giving what kind of a performance she gives and has been known to give

[@cainvarner]

i’m surprised she even returned at all tbh

[@Shtuhtefup]

Idk man sometimes shes good but I’ve often times seen her phone-in performances. Outer Banks is the worst

[@SpiritHunterDSG]

She’s extremely frustrating to watch. Her acting is terrible and she’s so monotone.

[@cainvarner]

@SpiritHunterDSG it’s okay to be wrong sometimes…

[@ashlyngolden18]

@@SpiritHunterDSGi don’t agree but i do see where you’re coming from, there were a few scenes of hers this season that fell short and she wasn’t my favorite actress this season but i did appreciate her storyline, i wish they would’ve given us more of her story, some of her involvement felt really rushed

[@noahfencek]

I always thought it was so weird that Evan Peters and Denis O'Hare have such small roles in this season, yet they are still billed as mains while Adina Porter is only a "recurring" despite being the most important character this season. You do so much work for AHS recaps, thank you for your videos

[@cainvarner]

10000% agree. same with apocalypse. like none of evans characters should be considered mains

[@christopherbennett5858]

Kind of reminds me of Pose where Evan Peters is given top billing despite only appearing in Angel Evangelista’s season 1 story.

[@irelandcook8298]

this season was so crazy; I love the fake TV show feel to it, how meta it is, and Sarah Paulson is so iconic in this. I do agree that the latter half was lackluster, it was like they ran out of ideas after the 5th episode and went really overboard with the metaness of it.

[@HarmlessHagoftheWoods]

The campyness of this seaon is probably why its one of my favorite. Paranormal renactment shows were something i loved as a kid so seeing ahs just going for the wall with it won me over real quick. Was surprised when I realized it was on the lower teir for so many people, but could understand why. Loving these recaps, cannot wait for the insanity that is 1984 and the mess of apocalypse.

[@slimkt]

Same! It reminded me of ‘A Haunting’ on Discovery Channel when I was younger. Bums me out that it’s so low in the rankings for most people.

[@scribbledmelancholic]

roanoke is one of my comfort shows, whether or not it's actually good i just enjoy watching it. i enjoy the cringey paranormal tv show/documentary, they really nailed that part specifically in my opinion. it reminds me of actually watching those shows on tv when i was in middle school and the fact that i lived really close to where it was set when it came out also made it a fun little treat for me.

[@aufschnitt111]

This is one of my favorite seasons, actually, much more than Freak Show or Hotel. I have a weird little fascination with colonial America. It definitely ended up being a convoluted story, but I like how they spoofed reality shows. Love the twist with Kathy Bate's character taking the Butcher role too far. The real Phillipe Mott screeching in the tunnels still freaks me out to think about. They could've completely done away with the Polks IMHO, I'm so over the inbred hillbilly trope. Wonderful video as per usual!

[@zekewalker1350]

Just wanna say that Adina Porter is incredibly sweet & humble and deserves all the flowers!

[@ImTMZ]

Unpopular opinion: Definitely top 3 season for me. Possibly my favorite. Idk

[@fewerpuppet6423]

Yess this season isn’t as bad as ppl make it out to be

[@lindseystein9676]

I think it’s a season that grows on people after a second or 3rd watch

[@camra554]

Hotel and Roanoke are my top two I’m probably the most controversial ahs fan ever haha

[@ImTMZ]

​@@camra554we're on the same page, sister

[@cara4078]

no i agree it’s one of my favorites

[@pacrat6271]

I think I’d like this season more if instead of the later episodes being what they were They just showed what they thought happened to the colony after they arrived in Roanoke, couldve gotten some cool period piece stuff

[@sabinajoh]

YESSS I LOVE WHEN THEY DO PERIOD PIECES

[@bede42069]

leslie jordans line delivery of croatoan is so iconic

[@sean5558]

I cracked up when Sidney did impressions of him and said “That’s a callback to Crickets seance “

[@emmettler]

the exhaustion in your voice when trying to explain/understand ryan murphy's choices is so appreciated lmao

[@Marcus616]

Not only are the episodes shorter, but there's no opening title sequence which is blasphemy. Anywho, I love Adina Porter. She’s been Mother since True Blood, imo. By the way, I love it when you do the British accent.

[@cainvarner]

This is essentially adina porters season. she is a scene stealer for sure.

[@recondinent2]

@@cainvarner her power level is insane to be able to steal scenes from Basset and Bates

[@clowinghours9604]

This season was an absolute mess but it did give us the iconic Sarah Paulson crying meme

[@chiyoh]

I always forget Trixie had a cameo. Whenever she mentions it I’m always so confused because nothing about Roanoke is memorable for me, so much happens but none of it sticks in my brain. I wouldn’t say I like it less than Cult or Apocalypse but I’m only invested in Angela Bassett’s and Adina Porter’s performances

[@rotcehb]

I will never forget the craze behind the marketing. The whole mystery about what the season was, was INTENSE! I remember that everyone kept talking about that and what the season was about. Bummer cuz the season was so bad for that really good marketing Edit: your forgot to entries 1 things! 1: Miss Trixie Mattel has a cameo in the season! I don't remember if it happened mid season or the finale but I remember it! 2: this was the 1st time that they killed a character portrait by Sarah Paulson. Maybe you didn't know this but there was a HUGE conversation because we felt that all the characters that Sarah portrait had plot armor. They were always on the verge of dying but the character would somehow survive. The reason why her character was murdered in such a brutal way (and she was the last one) was an answer to that complaint. It gave the false feeling that once again she would survive but nopes

[@LC-zz4ol]

Oh that’s interesting, I had no idea

[@sj4643]

I literally finished rewatching this season yesterday, just to watch your recap. I remember loving the first half of the season and then the couple of episodes with all of the actors. I honestly think I blocked out the last three episodes because they were THAT bad. Also Sarah Paulson's English accent sent me!!! *I gasped out loud when I saw Trixie*

[@cainvarner]

it’s so bad it’s good imo like definitely not great but it’s so funny

[@mother_of_wasps]

I love Roanoke. My main problems with it are it feels cluttered towards the end, and it doesn't feel like AHS. I feel like it should've been its own show, and should've had more episodes at the end to flesh out the actor characters and the sub plots.

[@rotteddwelling]

I love the visual and aesthetical appeal of Roanoke so much. It's everything I need from a scary found footage esque paranormal show in the forest

[@SmellyJannelley]

Plot girlie here and this was one of the better seasons in my eyes. Love the different direction they took. I knew once I saw the title it was gonna be a struggle for ppl to keep up 😭😭

[@natasaandzic9640]

Cain slaying so hard for us these last few weeks

[@cainvarner]

i’m trying 😭

[@natasaandzic9640]

[@dazariamask4476]

@@cainvarneryour are succeeding babes 😌

[@amdraglover]

When I watched this season, I felt like it gave “celebrity ghost story” vibes where they have the re-enactments but they have the actual celebrity telling the story of what happened to them and giving little comments. If you’ve ever seen that show, that’s the best way to describe this season.

[@LuzMaria95]

Cuba Gooding Jr is so amazing in ahs and for me he’s the reason this season is so good. I would love to see him again.

[@wizzardbaby]

I just realized Edward Mott is Dandy's ancestor...

[@SirSblop]

As has probably already been discussed, I kind of appreciated how this season had a very "A Haunting" feel at the start, like straight from early to mid 2000s Discovery Channel.

[@cryptkeeperkain986]

Your explanation makes this season sound so much better than it was

[@cyb3rno0b15]

I laughed so goddamn loud when you said “they slashed his throat and took his bawdy oh my goodness” 🤣

[@cainvarner]

someone’s i film these after having no sleep so i was probably delirious

[@cyb3rno0b15]

@@cainvarner it was the highlight of my day, thank you for putting so much effort into these videos with your added sass I love it all 🖤

[@andreanikole704]

you are feeding us so well lately queen

[@Greycatuk]

I love this series. The mid-season twist was wild, the satire on reality tv was fun, the contrast between reality - real-life, supernatural and TV - really engaging and different. (But yeah - MAAAAAAT! 😂)

[@sha4522]

IDCCC this is my favorite season but i can see why some people dont like it. they were looking for a horror/drama/thriller for teens and young adults, because that’s what literally every other season of ahs is, but they got one half documentary, one half INSANE found footage/reality show… this season is just so amazing to me but it probably would’ve worked better as a movie or as its own show

[@erinbaezner7057]

God I love that I got off work and I can drive home listening to you talk about AHS.

[@fewerpuppet6423]

I’m sick as shit rn and this being posted now was just perfect. How do you always post at the best times

[@erinm8085]

I will never forget watching this season with friends on a vacation. All but one of us fell asleep during the second to last episode, the only actually scary one, so she had to suffer through. Until this day I didn’t know what had happened in it because she was too scared to talk to it. Hahhahaaa thank you for covering it!

[@bigfootsbreakfast]

loving for this series! i am so excited for your coverage of 1984, i love that season but agree that it is very different than the other seasons

[@henotic.essence]

I NEED him to break that one down, bc I think I got the message, but I don't even know anymore lmao

[@tyraoqvist350]

I just wanna say that I personally think you dd a PHENOMENAL job explaining such a complicated plot!

[@paigehansen8944]

I remember loving this season, and I remember watching this video five months ago… somehow I have forgotten all of the events of this season, so here I am rewatching

[@AnnabelNightwish]

I actually really enjoyed roanoke because Ive always liked those types of docu-series' they would have about ghosts n spooky events n what not. Also as a grown adult the Polks gave me nightmares. They did a fantastic job portraying a family of societal rejects who've made their own and have ties with law enforcement so they literally could do whatever and wouldn't face consequences.

[@SpiritOfMarowak]

I have never watched any AHS but you explained the whole ride of this season in a way that makes perfect sense!

[@Lmnaop]

I am way too chicken and sensitive to watch anything horror related, but I love knowing the entire story of shows. Obsessed with these videos!! I look forward to more, I don’t even really care about what show it is 😂 BUT if you did Buffy the vampire slayer, doctor who, or Bones I would freak 🤩

[@1eoso1e]

I was not expecting the "M IS FOR MARGARET😁" The fact that it's cut in so quickly just took me off-guard 😂😂 I'm ill on NYE so was feeling sorry for myself and looking for something to watch and it turns out I missed some releases from my favourite re-capper! I have like 3 of your videos to catch up on and I'm so pleased! 🥳

[@mothball6969]

i Just binged up to coven of this series. and you upload this rn. crazy. maybe i'm the supreme

[@cyberpunkcentral8500]

I read an Entertainment Weekly article with a bullet pointed breakdown and a pictograph chart, released at the time “Roanoke” aired to try to help viewers get into it and understand it, and it was not as good as your work here, Mr. Varner--Bravo! 🎉👏👏👏

[@katepetersen3928]

controversially my favorite ahs season

[@Hazeljv3]

I remember actually really liking this season when I watched it a few years back, and I'm always a little surprised when I see other people rank it really low in the series. The frame narrative of the docuseries is honestly such an interesting choice and I was instantly hooked by it... But, to be fair, as a narrative nerd (I'm writing my dissertation on the narratology of YA mystery stories) that may have blinded me to some of the weaker aspects of the season. I was also one of those people who really didn't vibe with Hotel --I don't think I even finished watching that season tbh-- so I think the divisiveness of both seasons can definitely be, at least in part, attributed to the radically different focus you pointed out in this video and the last one. Roanoke was for the plot girlies and Hotel was for the character girlies, so it makes sense that a lot of viewers would feel alienated by either or even both; whereas the seasons with more of a balance of both elements tend to be better-received (or at least it seems to be easier for the audience to reach a consensus about their quality).

[@briimilli]

This definitely wasn’t my fav season but you explained everything so well & it made so much more sense than when I watched the season for the first time. Something about these deep dives are so comforting to fall asleep to and then rewatch later to catch what I missed 💜🤣

[@JoeRiver444]

I love this season so much. One of my top 5 favorites. There is a lot going on but it's fun and creepy. The ghosts in this season were not playing around! I never realized how similar to Murder House Roanoke was. The Polks, the vilolence, the Asian ghosts, Edward Phillipe Mott as a ghost and the lighting they used to show his ghostliness, the original Butcher, Kathy Bates as The Butcher, Audrey and her extreme drama lmao, Cricket,Scáthach, Trixie Mattel, and aged Lana...what's not to like?! Complete chaos. Btw the house this season is stunning!

[@becauseimdumb9166]

Your explanation of the set up tv show in a tv show in a tv show is flawless. I know you needed to hear that 6 mos later. Love you bye

[@cainvarner]

thank you so much. i feel like i was very overwhelmed by this season 😭

[@ealuesytain]

i binged this season and loved it! i was on the edge of my seat the whole time. then again, found footage and paranormal horror always scares me

[@ariannebrodeur]

I can see why you're proud of this video, you did an amazing succinct job of explaining shit that sounds SO confusing. And you made this season sound interesting as hell to be honest, I'm almost tempted to watch it lmaooo

[@mizcantybaby]

I only watched maybe the first 3 episodes of this season so I’m happy you’re covering it. I kept telling myself I’d go back and watch but I never get around to it. Wonderful deep dive ❤

[@jaykay1899]

I genuinely love this season. It's so trippy all the different layers and reality switches. After the first 4 seasons, its probably my next favorite.

[@lizzydanger8521]

I adore these videos. Also, Roanoke was the first season I watched of AHS before I went back and watched the others. It holds a special place in my heart lol

[@ryannlatchman]

I’ve watched every season of AHS but I’ll keep watching these because I love ur commentary

[@bones9964]

Love the librarian-core fit

[@cainvarner]

HELP this is just how i dress 😭

[@CatFsher]

Yay! Thank you for the video. Been loving your breakdowns of AHS, keep going as long as you want and I’ll keep watching!

[@lighterraptor7607]

I’m ngl this is my favorite season! I love the deep lore of the house ans how many different spirits there are. As well this season by far was the scariest for me! Most the butcher and the polks. But the Chen’s got a special shoutout for being creepy asf

[@juliavalsechiribeiro7938]

i looooved ur recap. and i had forgotten abt how crazy the storyline of this season is. when i watched it for the first time i was SO confused

[@ma_rudzik]

my fav season tbh, watched it like 7 times and I WILL go back to it

[@kikky050]

Thank you for your hard work. I always enjoy story-based series/movies over character-based ones, but I can see how hard it must have been for you to get all of this together.

[@Lulliboo]

I think the concept for this season was interesting but I get that it can be confusing . Personally I enjoyed roanoke much better than hotel

[@Ag69553]

I feel for you when you get to Apocalypse lol that season is damn near impossible to fully understand even after multiple rewatches but I know your recap will be enjoyable!!

[@johnnyryan91]

Found footage was my favorite horror sub genre when this premiered I was so obsessed with it

[@edenp3268]

so excited to see u explain roanoke! i was a fan during coven, stopped watching for a while and when i went back to the show i skipped straight to this season and i LOVED it!!! i haven’t rewatched it since so i’m sure there’s stuff i’ve forgotten about but i thought the whole plot was amazing

[@store.bought.chicken9384]

This was genuinely the only actually scary season in my opinion and my fav

[@etsprout]

First time on your channel but I am so here for this. I absolutely loved Roanoke, one of my favorites if not THE favorite. It’s just so bizarre.

[@BleachBath-fr8ps]

Favorite season. Most of the other seasons I actually finished I found just found amusing or liked the characters. This is the only one whose story I was actively invested in. I also love cringe paranormal shows, so the format just did it for me.

[@emmanniee]

i have seen every single ahs season except for roanoke bc i heard it was too scary lmaooo, finally i can understand what happens thank u hehe

[@ladyhitchhikerjackmanson8097]

Just found you last night and have been binge watching you! New subscriber here!!!🎉🎉🎉❤❤❤

[@newguy203]

Literally check my phone every day for another upload!! You could explain a day in the life of a sloth, and I would be entertained 🥰

[@cainvarner]

omg 😭

[@newguy203]

@@cainvarner Mother 👏

[@Sam_Martyn]

This season actually leans into HORROR. Roanoke gets so much hate and the girls that get it get it the ones that don’t, don’t.

[@LaraOmar]

Am I the only person in the world that LOVES this season?! It shook me and I’d never seen something like it before. Absolutely inventive and a mindf-k. 10/10

[@1eoso1e]

OK so I finished the video... and... Hey! Don't be mean to yourself! Your re-caps are amazing, you're my new fave youtuber! I haven't watched this season and you explained it perfectly, made complete sense. Also love how low-key mad/frustrated you are at this season. On to the next two video from your biggest UK Fan! 🥳🥰

[@sinloi2675]

I actually really like the couple of episodes that take on a more reality show feel. Taissa Farmiga burning to death filmed from her pov from her gopro was so good. The worst season finale by far though. I can appreciate Roanoke some but this really is when it starts to go downhill.

[@cyberpunkcentral8500]

Yep; a lot to enjoy, but the finale was beyond “meh.”

[@psychinteresting727]

This is gonna sound so weird but I've watched this season 3 separate times in its entirety and I STILL can't describe the plot, like I just can't remember it at all it's so weird.

[@brigade7678]

you handled it so well, I've seen it and felt like I understand it better now lol

[@Yathan700]

Ugh thanks for making these!! for me, the first half of the season is a drag and part two was ssooooo fun and the most unsettled I ever was from AHS.

[@plainjanemugi]

I think most of why I love this season is because it's so graphic and bloody. Like, pretty much everybody dies in a horrific and gruesome death, and I really love that. The plot is pretty so-so, imo. It doesn't do anything ground breaking but it's not a snoozefest either. Ms. Bates also plays Agnes soooooooo well. Her monologue in the basement/crawlspace area where she goes from the Butcher to regular Agnes is iconiiiiiiiiic. Love the vid, it's like reliving easier days❤❤

[@cyberpunkcentral8500]

This is definitely one of the gorier AHS seasons. I mean, the stuff with the Polks alone 😳

[@sloniskotrumbera]

Amazing recap! It's a confusing season but you explained it really well!

[@cookie1157]

I honestly think Roanoke is the best season because it is the only one that is actually a horror.

[@darkninjafirefox]

I adore the reenactment bits of the show, i think it adds a nice bit of variety to the series. The show within a show element works well to make us second guess whats actually happening. I agree that the first half of the season works better than the second half. But there are bits i can still enjoy. I can't wait for you to talk about my favorite season, 1984

[@spiderbakeryx]

I’m a Roanoke apologist I liked this different style and LOVE Sarah but as a British girlie I couldn’t take it seriously

[@malakeSuperior]

I couldn’t even finish this season after they gutted Leslie Jordan’s character. It actually made me sick.

[@cainvarner]

it was so sad

[@zoegeorgina5280]

the dedication to these videos is amazing!! Once again you ate and left no crumbs 👑

[@marlandbell]

Hot take: one of my favorite seasons

[@shawnherrigermusic]

This is actually one of my favorite seasons. The second half does get confusing and the characters do feel flat especially in the first five episodes,but I don’t think that lessens my enjoyment of this season much. In fact, I feel a lot of the criticisms are kind of the appeal of the show. The true characters aren’t revealed until part 2 because the characters are only telling the parts of the story they want the audience to know. Even the switch to digital cameras instead of film fits the style of show they are trying to replicate. The second half you are essentially meeting all these brand new characters with the actors themselves joining, but also you are finally getting to see the main three fully for the first time. Having to balance all of those characters is tough in the second half is a lot especially since you only have four episodes with them. That along with the second half turning into a slasher basically makes the characters definitely feel underdeveloped, but there’s only one character who truly matters to this story and it’s the one who’s still standing in the end. This is really her story through and through. Now I do wish the final episode broke the show within a show act sooner and that even though it was found footage, the camera work in the second half was more clear. But this season has one of the best through lines thematically and is also possibly the scariest season of AHS. It’s a season that doesn’t just play with horror tropes but relishes in the fear.

[@cyberpunkcentral8500]

Great comment! Agree :)

[@Roseforthethorns]

So this one came out my second year teaching. It was my Thursday morning routine that fall, watching it while putting my makeup on before the school day began. I went back and forth between sickened and queasy to laughing at how absolutely stupid every human in this show behaves. I wasn’t expecting this so soon after Hotel, but what a fantastic gift! Thank you for sharing your hard work with us! Your videos are now in my “comfort vids” that I can have on and just find calm when anxious.

[@cainvarner]

omg 😭 thank you so much

[@Roseforthethorns]

@@cainvarner you’re welcome! I just got to your intros for the secondaries. I also miss Leslie Jordan. The world got a little sadder the day he died.

[@justanotherredheadattheend955]

I love Roanoke, because it's just straight nostalgia. Teen me absolutely ATE UP this exact type of overproduced, mid-2000s ghost docu-dramas, and it captures the aesthetic perfectly. The twitchy editing, the reused stock musical stingers, the actors who look nothing like the real people, the works. Except Roanoke is better than nostalgia. It's what little me secretly wanted each episode of those ghost shows to be, but of course they never would. Actual fucked up supernatural shit that lived up to the show's own hype. Roanoke calls it a nightmare, it's a NIGHTMARE. The theatrics suggest real danger, you GET real danger. I watch it at least once every October 🍂

[@mariahelenadenckalmeida2392]

i actually love roanoke! it's the only season that actually scares me.

[@britnicox3929]

Ngl the premise of this show was one of my favorites in AHS besides Coven. I really loved the idea of them making this documentary and then making them go back with their actors with all of this creepy shit going down. I’m also from North Carolina, so I will admit to being biased on having a horror show being set in my state lol However, I’m still trying to decide if it lived up to my expectations. Adina Porter killed it as always, and she should have gotten a lot more flowers for this season than she did from the creators

[@thomasbornhofer6984]

Yesssss another video! Made my morning to see this

[@bobbitsholiday]

Nearly broke my neck running here. Thank you for your hard work!!

[@roxy472]

Perfect timing 🙏🏻🙏🏻 just finished the first five seasons

[@societycrumbles]

I didn't like this season when it came out so much I didn't finish it, but came back to try again years later and now I would say it's one of my favorite seasons, so it definitely grows on you.

[@RealBradMiller]

Hated this season... Then rewatched it, and loved it. Cant recall if there was some sort of break, or if maybe the week to week airing didn't do well for the story(I pretty much watched the whole season at once the second time) or what happened.

[@cyberpunkcentral8500]

🙋 I also started it, hated it, quit, took a long break, then rewatched and ADORED.

[@LandOfTheLazy]

i binged this season so i enjoyed it a lot

[@emiliemoreno3727]

I literally watched all the other ahs videos last night so this is such a slay

[@blethr]

whoop 🙌 i never watched roanoke, thank you for this 🙏🙏

[@lauren1779]

I use to think this season was bad until the last three seasons came out now I love this season

[@cyberpunkcentral8500]

Lol right? We didn’t know how lucky we had it! ;)

[@andreaplays7454]

Have exactly an hour of my shift left how perfect🙏🏽 Once again i love you so much