Apocalypse Then
"Apocalypse Then" | |
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American Horror Story episode | |
Episode no. | Season 8 Episode 10 |
Directed by | Bradley Buecker |
Written by | Ryan Murphy & Brad Falchuk |
Production code | 8ATS10 |
Original air date | November 14, 2018 |
Running time | 46 minutes |
Guest appearances | |
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"Apocalypse Then" is the tenth and final episode of the eighth season of the anthology television series American Horror Story. It aired on November 14, 2018, on the cable network FX. The episode was written by Ryan Murphy & Brad Falchuk, and directed by Bradley Buecker.[1]
Plot
Myrtle infiltrates Jeff and Mutt's lab, secures placements for Coco and her family at Outpost 3 after the Apocalypse, and kills both men. Cordelia casts spells on Coco and Mallory, so they can stay at the Outpost undetected by Michael until the point where Mallory's powers resurface and she is ready to perform tempus infinitum to travel back in time and incapacitate Michael. Witches learn that the voodoo queen Dinah Stevens defected to Michael's side and swear revenge.
After the apocalypse; following the events of
Before Michael can resurrect, Cordelia and Myrtle take Mallory to a safe place to begin the spell, but Mallory is stabbed by Brock leaving her too weak to perform magic. Michael resurrects and goes on a killing spree, murdering Madison, Marie, and Coco. Realizing the gravity of their situation, Cordelia faces Michael and kills herself to let Mallory ascend as the Supreme and initiate the tempus infinitum spell.
Mallory arrives in 2015 and kills Michael while Constance Langdon watches and leaves him to die on the street, erasing the timeline of the Antichrist's rise to power.
Mallory arrives at the Robichaux's Academy and meets the other witches for the first time from their perspective. With the timeline altered, Myrtle remains dead and Madison remains in Hell (although Mallory says she will bring her back). Mallory also prevents Queenie from visiting Hotel Cortez, saving her life. Out of gratitude for dispatching Michael, Nan appears to escort Misty Day from Hell.
In 2020, Timothy and Emily, previously selected for their genetic potential in the erased timeline, meet and eventually have a child named Devon, who kills his nanny similar to Michael's first murder. Soon after that, Anton LaVey, Samantha Crowe, and Miriam Mead arrive to meet the new Antichrist, who's army of demonic children are being created in the twelfth season, Delicate.
Reception
"Apocalypse Then" was watched by 1.83 million people during its original broadcast, and gained a 0.8 ratings share among adults aged 18–49.[2]
The episode received mostly positive reviews. On the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, "Apocalypse Then" holds a 79% approval rating, based on 24 reviews with an average rating of 8.30/10. The critical consensus reads, "Ryan Murphy goes full Ryan Murphy in "Apocalypse Then," barreling past two convoluted episodes of multiverse building to deliver a satisfying, batsh—t finale that lives up to its namesake."[3]
Ron Hogan of
Kat Rosenfield from Entertainment Weekly gave the episode an A+. She was pleased by the end of the pre-apocalypse flashbacks, and the entire showdown between the witches and Langdon. She also enjoyed the return of Bassett's Marie Laveau and the demise of Dinah. She noticed and appreciated the "double sci-fi homage" during Robot Mead's destruction, describing it as "a Scanners-style body explosion, followed by a very Space Odyssey rendition of "Daisy, Daisy" by her dying, decapitated [sic] head." Finally, she praised the return of Lange's Constance, commenting that "this finale was already A-grade material, but this second glorious cameo from Jessica Lange merits a "plus"."[5]
References
- ^ "American Horror Story: Episode Guide". Zap2it. Archived from the original on September 9, 2018. Retrieved October 19, 2018.
- ^ Metcalf, Mitch (November 15, 2018). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Wednesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 11.14.2018". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on November 16, 2018. Retrieved November 15, 2018.
- ^ "American Horror Story: Apocalypse - "Apocalypse Then"". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved November 15, 2018.
- ^ Hogan, Ron (November 15, 2018). "American Horror Story Season 8 Episode 10 Review: Apocalypse Then". Den of Geek. Retrieved November 15, 2018.
- ^ Rosenfield, Kat (November 15, 2018). "American Horror Story: Apocalypse finale recap: Gotta get back in time". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved November 15, 2018.
- Vulture.com. Retrieved November 15, 2018.
External links
- "Apocalypse Then" at IMDb