Post — Aaron Ngo

Major Spoilers are included in this episode review. Please Read with Caution.

My worries have been realized. Yes, the end of the world happened. We have caught up with the present time… if you forgot, episodes 4 through 10 were told in flashback mode. It’s okay if you forgot that part, the season didn’t do a good enough job on that front. Everything that happened in this season finale should’ve been more spread out so it wouldn’t feel like a rushed conclusion.

Let’s start with the good points before I dive into the unevenness of the finale. The concept of time-travel and reversing the Apocalypse was the only conclusion that could happen. There was no way this new world was going to stick. I liked the introduction of this plot device, but Mallory was not developed enough for me to stick with her being the Supreme.

The return of Marie Laveau was a major plus to the episode. I wish we got more screentime with her, but we’ll work with what we got. The visual of Michael dying was bloody, and I was sad to see Madison get her head blown off. Although it was a fitting end to her character. I don’t like that she is back in Retail Hell, but it’s “deserving” end for her.

Most of the questions are answered in this episode, but the plan to stop Michael was somewhat clunky. I didn’t understand why Mallory and Coco had to go under identity spells for protection while Cordelia, Myrtle, and Madison hid in the literal dirt. The reasoning behind the separation was not super clear here. Why couldn’t Mallory and Coco hide in the dirt with them?

Cordelia’s sacrifice was predictable. I’m surprised she didn’t off herself earlier to give Mallory the power boost she needed. Cordelia had to wait until the girl was on the brink of death from a stab wound. It was a great dramatic moment for sure, but I’m surprised Myrtle didn’t pick up on her next move when Cordelia delivered the “I love you” line.

How Michael was defeated? Mallory went back in time to the Murder House and ran him over with her car. Yeah, that’s how you defeat the Anti Christ before he rises to power. She hit like three times but left before he was finished. If you’re going to take down Satan with a hit and run tactic, I’d make sure he was dead.

Jessica Lange returns for the season finale. She is a witness to the hit and run but does not offer help to her grandson, letting him die on the side of the road. The ultimate threat is over, but only Mallory has memories of the original timeline.

She makes deals with the underworld to save Misty, prevents Queenie’s death, allows Madison to rot in Retail Hell (WOW), and basks in the happy ending. This crossover season had a lot of great moments, but this AHS season finale was not one of them… I found myself frustrated at the utter lack of effort / laziness in how everything was wrapped up.

Remember those kids from the season premiere? Emily and Timothy? Yeah, apparently their DNA was “special” because they could procreate the next Anti Christ… the final minutes are given to reveal why Emily and Timothy were relevant. This threw me because I thought one needed to be a ghost to create another “Michael”.

In a way, this crossover season brings the whole series full circle. Although the Coven won and quietly saved the world, there is another threat in the midst without even Mallory’s knowledge. Overall, the beginning was rough, the middle was fantastic (AHS’s version of Infinity War), but the ending got muddled.

If American Horror Story does another season, depending on the story, I’ll continue being a watcher, but we shall see what happens next.

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