I loved American Gothic.
It was sooo much better than Twin Peaks. Problem was that the show was damned and Shaun Cassidy had to "Wrap it UP" (taking a line from Chappelle). Kind of ruined the final few episodes involving the boy, his sister, and pop.
Gary Cole's best role ever. I mean, sure he was fun as the evil boss in Office Space, but this was him playing the Devil. The town was fucked, and when you have a town that cannot win against an insurmountable force, it keeps you coming back, to see how they manage to sway oblivion or come out with a draw in each episode. THAT, is good writing.
It's the opposite of most television series (95%+) out there. They have closure in each episode. Happy ending. Especially Miller Boyett productions (Family Matters, Full House) made a mistake, lesson learned, group hug. Then there are soap opera tv shows, where the problem is just continued and new ones created, to get you attached. Some questions answered, relationships forged, and old ones destroyed. Mainly soap operas, but 24, ER are like that too. Keep you coming back with suspense.
Now AMERICAN GOTHIC... That did have suspense, but a different kind. Each episode retained a strong sense of closure. Course, there was always the bigger picture. The lives of the townspeople would never be safe, or peaceful so long as the Sheriff was in town. Then there was some curiosity surrounding the relationship between him, his son (did we know he was his son?) and the boy's dead sister.
Essentially, the town was the Devil's playground, and if people ever managed to come out okay, it was because old Gary Cole's character simply thought "Eh, they got grit. I'll let them have this one. Makes it fun." Course, he would have his strings attached.
Again, good writing.
Also, American Gothic was filmed here in Wilmington, NC. Hard to pass streets downtown where some shooting went on at one time or another. Course, having a DVD of the series would help me look back.
