American Horror Story Recap: “Nor’easter”

Last night’s episode was another busy one and, after turning on the TV to nothing but storm footage all week, it was refreshing to turn on this show…about a giant storm hitting the Northeast. Oh wait, it wasn’t refreshing at all – not that the show creators can be faulted for the ill timing. In any case, maybe it made the episode more relatable?

The episode begins with Mrs. Channing Tatum still running from the Bloody Face. Adam Levine makes a miraculous – but short-lived (literally) – comeback. I won’t give it away, but the first few minutes are super-creepy.

Flashback to the heyday of Briarcliff and Sister Mary Eunice is totally embracing her newfound demonic inhabitant – and delighting in torturing Sister Jude with not-so-subtle hints that someone knows the secret of her dark past. One unfortunate patient – referred to only as The Mexican – can tell that Sister Mary is evil and, well, let’s just say it doesn’t end well for her. 

A massive storm is coming and, in an uncharacteristically merciful move, Sister Jude is planning a movie night to distract the patients. Ironically, they’ll be watching The Sign of the Cross – I suspect Sister Mary’s demon had something to do with the selection of this movie!

Kit and Grace are planning to escape again and, upon learning that her lover is missing and that Kit may not be the real Bloody Face after all, Lana begs to join him. Grace isn’t having it, but Kit reluctantly agrees. Shelley is also in on the plan but needs to distract a guard (if ya’ know what I mean, wink wink) and ends up being captured by Dr. Arden, who inflicts some pretty horrific things on her – and it looks like it’s only going to get worse.

Sister Jude is having a complete mental breakdown over red lipstick, an old newspaper about her hit and run, and spooky call from a child (all likely orchestrated by Sister Mary). I almost felt a little bad for her…but not quite. I’ve got to hand it to Jessica Lange, although I disliked the character of Sister Jude in the beginning, Jessica Lange is definitely managing to top her performance as Constance this season.

Kit, Lana, and Grace manage to escape through the Death Shute, but their celebration is short-lived once they’re confronted by Arden’s hungry monsters. Boy, are those things ugly! They look like a cross between zombies and plague victims – and I can’t wait to see more of them! Arden reveals to Sister Mary that they only need to get them through the winter, so I’m totally confused about what his master plan is, but I strongly suspect he is behind the present-day Bloody Face in Briarcliff (and possibly that he actually is that monster).

There was some more alien stuff in this episode, which I’m not crazy about. The implant Dr. Arden took from Kit’s neck is some kind of magnetic spider-creature; there are reports of unexplained downed aircrafts on the radio; and yes, Sister Jude even sees a little green man (actually, it’s more of a Gray). Genetically engineered zombies, serial killers, mental patients, demonic possession, evil nuns, and ghosts I can apparently deal with, but aliens just seem a tad too strange for the plot (yes, I know that’s saying a lot) – though I’m hoping they find a clever way to tie all the various storylines together.

Overall, I’m definitely starting to like this season more, but I still feel like it’s all over the place. What did you think of this week’s episode?