American Gothic Episodes 1-5 Reviews: The Family That Murders Together...

"American Gothic" is a 13 episode series on CBS. It began June 22nd. "AG" hopes to capitalize on the current "whodunnit" TV craze. ABC's wildly popular "How To Get Away With Murder" is one of the best examples of such shows. See my reviews here: How To Get Away With Murder

"American Gothic" follows the upper crust Hawthorne family of Boston. In the opening episodes we meet father Mitch, mother Madeline (Virginia Madsen) and their four adult children-- Alison, Garrett, Cam and Tessa.

There's the usual family drama. Tessa and her detective hubby Brady are trying to have a baby. Cam is a drug addict cartoonist who with Sophie has a child Jack (who seems to be a budding serial killer). He says such things as "I'm mostly sad that grandpa was cremated and I never got to see his decomposing body". Eeekkk!

Alison (the oldest) is running for mayor. She seems less interested in husband Tom and more interested in campaign manager Naomi. Garrett has just returned home after being mysteriously absent for 14 years. Yep, he's got some daddy issues.

The Hawthorne's concrete company is being sued after a tunnel collapse that killed several people. One woman lost her leg and wants a huge cash settlement. Tom secretly takes control of the company.

But wait, there's more. Someone called the "Silver Bells Killer" (or SBK) has been murdering people. The last time was 14 years ago. Yes, I agree a killer who leaves bells at a murder scene is less than frightening. Man up and leave something a little more menacing... like a chainsaw or an axe or basically anything else.

All clues point to Daddy Hawthorne-- but was he the killer or just an avid fanboy? Who else in the family is connected? Is Mother Hawthorne? She cut of Mitch's oxygen supply in the hospital killing him when he said "we have to tell the truth". Maybe she's protecting one of the kids. Oh hell, maybe they're all in cahoots together. That would be fun.

We see a photo of a young Cam who's wearing the same belt used by SBK. Cam has hallucinations of someone dragging a body. He also uncovers tapes that his therapist recorded of him as a young child. On them he says something about hiding a body.

Brady runs around collecting everyone's DNA. After some misdirects, it is revealed that someone in the Hawthorne family is INDEED the killer. Cue menacing music.

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Grade: 3 1/2 Monsters (out of 5). Is "American Gothic" the best thing I've ever seen? Not by a long shot. It is a light shiny murder mystery. Think of it as the TV equivalent of a summer read by the pool. Will I still with it and "finish the book". I'm not sure yet but am leaning towards "no". There's really nothing new here that holds my attention. I do love Virginia Madsen though. She's a great actress and does evil very well. I might just stick around for her.

Interesting Side Note: Each "AG" episode name is a famous painting. The show's title of course refers to the Stephen Wood painting of the non nonsense farm couple in front of their house.