AHS: Apocalypse E1-5 RECAP
Ryan Murphy’s eighth installment of FX’s horror anthology series is by far his most ambitious – and had most of his fans on pins and needles. Murphy long-alluded to a shared universe among the stories, but this season he confirmed it.
AHS: Apocalypse sees fan-favorites Murder House and Coven crossover. Series main stays returned to reprise signature roles. Sara Paulson, Kathy Bates and Evan Peters are regulars who highlight a cast of newer faces. But viewers anticipate the arrival of Dylan McDermott, Connie Britton and Ms. Jessica Lange.
Now – honestly – the first two and half episodes were not that great. Granted they operated as setup to the main storyline, so much of it could have been cut. The story begins in the present as nuclear war threatens the Earth’s existence.
As many perish a select few retreat to an exclusive survivor’s outpost. Operated by an agency known as The Cooperative, they live under stringent rules and promised livelihood in an afterlife known as the Sanctuary. However plans change with the unannounced arrival of a powerful superior. A man named Michael Langdon (Cody Fern).
Paulson and Bates’ two Cooperative loyalists murder all inhabitants in efforts to guarantee spots in Sanctuary. But when they attempt to kill the mystery man – Bates’ Ms. Meade betrays Paulson’s Ms. Venable. This is where the story picked up.
In a mighty reveal, Michael is Satan’s spawn and Meade a loyal servant. His arrival summons three forces of good – familiar witches from Coven. Fans rejoiced as Supreme Cordelia, Madison (Emma Roberts) and Myrtle (Frances Conway) descended upon the scene.
The next two episodes place the series in stride. We flashback three years prior. Michael as a teen exhibited powerful magic. He attended warlock school where the headmasters believed him to be the first male Supreme.
