Fans of the horror genre will agree that while FX’s anthology series, American Horror Story, has exhibited inconsistency across its seasons, a great deal of its enduring appeal comes from its diverse and exceptional ensemble cast. As Season 12 unfolds, new faces have joined the ensemble, including one of the most contentious figures in the industry: Kim Kardashian.
To call her an “actress” might be a stretch, given her more prominent status as a reality star and socialite. Nonetheless, Kim’s role in Season 12, American Horror Story: Delicate, has thrust her acting prowess (or lack thereof) into the spotlight, sparking fervent debates online.
Kim stars as Siobhan Corbyn, the publicist and close friend of actress Anna Victoria Alcott. The latter is played by Emma Roberts, but I’ll get to that later.
Right from the outset, Kim’s portrayal of Siobhan exudes a certain over-the-top quality that makes me feel like I’m watching an episode of Keeping Up with the Kardashians (her first line of dialogue is: “Then tell the Daniels to suck my cl*t. She’s not missing a press day for a f**king commercial shoot…It’s exhausting being better than everyone.”)
However, as the season progresses, it becomes evident that Siobhan is intended to serve as a sassy counterbalance to the emotionally spiraling Anna. By the third episode, it becomes apparent that Delicate is somewhat lacking in terms of a well-written script.
How this affects my perception of Kim in her role remains to be seen throughout the season. Still, I must admit that Kim has managed to surprise me so far. I’m not expecting any Emmy awards for her performance, but her character has been a standout this season.
While the show seems to be leaning into the supernatural, returning to the roots of what made American Horror Story so compelling, there’s simply too much happening in Anna’s head to keep me interested. Given how slow the pacing is, Siobhan seems to be the only character providing some sort of clarity to this cryptic storyline.
I haven’t watched enough episodes of Keeping Up with the Kardashians to be a definitive judge, so feel free to correct me if I’m mistaken, but isn’t Siobhan simply a slightly less exaggerated version of Kim’s mother, Kris Jenner?
In just three episodes, I’ve noticed several references to the Kardashians’ real lives, including the scene with the Marilyn Monroe dress (which Kim herself broke in real-life) and the cucumber-cutting scene, which has to be a mockery of Kendall being unable to cut a cucumber last year.
It clearly feels like the writers are putting in these little details intentionally, and you know what? This is exactly what makes Kim’s character better! The self-awareness that underpins much of her character draws from her personal life, which means Kim isn’t really acting most of the time.
Though Delicate is as campy as American Horror Story gets, casting Kim Kardashian is certainly a plus for this particular season.
Unfortunately, we can’t say the same for Emma Roberts. Yes, the script this season lacks urgency, but Roberts isn’t doing the show any favors. As the character around whom the plot revolves, her considerable screen time should translate into a more commanding performance. I’m not expecting Jennifer Lange-level brilliance from Roberts, but at the very least, can we witness some emotional resonance from Anna that translates to everything that’s happening in her life?
There’s a certain vulnerability that I keep waiting to see from Anna that is conspicuously absent, and I believe this comes down to Roberts’ acting. Whether she will improve over time remains to be seen, but I’m certainly not holding my breath.
With just two episodes remaining before the conclusion of the first half of American Horror Story: Delicate, I can only hope that fans of the show will set aside their personal biases regarding Kim Kardashian and acknowledge the effort she’s invested in a role that many, myself included, expected her to falter in.
