“American Horror Story: Apocalypse” takes series to new heights

photo via Wikimedia Commons under creative commons license
American Horror Story’s latest installment challenges viewers in bold ways.
December 4, 2018
American Horror Story has just ended its eighth season. This season’s theme was “Apocalypse”, starring Sarah Paulson, Even Peters, Emma Roberts and many other familiar faces. Each season has been more captivating than its previous installment, creating a rapid growth in the AHS fan base. The series started in 2011 with the original “Murder House.” Each following season offered a different story line. For example, the second season is called “Asylum” and was followed by “Coven.”.
What is interesting about “Apocalypse” is that it refers back to other seasons such as “Murder House” and “Coven.” After the first episode of season 8, the apocalypse occurs with nuclear bombs destroying the earth. The witches from season 3 appear, attempting to replenish the earth to its natural state.
Earth was not destroyed by human chaos, but a darker, more satanic being: the antichrist, also known as Michael Langdon. Michael spawned from the murder house in the first season. He gained control over the cooperative (the illuminati) and convinced them to detonate all the nuclear bombs. The world erupts in flames and Langdon thought he was the only one living. Little did he know, he is accompanied by the indestructible coven.
The 10 episode season shows the battle between good and evil. The witches and the antichrist fight for the position of “supreme” and the condition of the world. Not only is season 3 referred to, but all the characters from season 1, “Murder House”, are in season 8 as well.
The best part about this season was the use of foreshadowing in various events. This technique brought together all the seasons, clearing up any confusion about the dystopia. Nevertheless, this season of American Horror Story is the epitome of a dystopia. The scariest part about the show is how realistic these occurrences seem. The destruction of humanity, the environment, and the economy seems inevitable in this day in age; the AHS producers use the current societal fears to produce the most horrifically captivating season.
The main character Michael Langdon, played by Cody Fern, is unlike any demonic being I have ever seen. He spent most of the season murdering anyone that crossed his path. Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk, the show’s creators, take an interesting approach to the inevitable end of the world. A chilling feeling crawled up my spine watching the apocalypse in our current time period.
The series does an amazing job altering the fantasy of witches and monsters to create a realistic depiction of these creatures. It elicited emotions within myself and other viewers that was real enough to unnerve us, but also provided the magical element of fiction. Therefore, this is quite possibly the best season of American Horror Story yet, and I’m sure viewers are gripping their seats to see what the creators have in store for us next.