*Major Spoilers*
If there is one thing we have learned in the nine seasons that American Horror Story has been on the air, it is that just because you die, it doesn’t mean that you are dead. An extension to that truism is that what we think we know is often not an accurate reflection of the show’s reality. These axioms are in full effect for AHS: 1984’s latest episode, “True Killers.”
Episode 4 begins with a flashback to Montana (Billie Lourd) teaching an aerobics class. We then see the Night Stalker, Richard Ramirez (Zach Villa) watching her instruct her students from outside. After the class ends, which saw Montana have a bit of a dust-up with a student who objected to her choice of music, she enters a deserted locker room to find that same student suspended from the ceiling, partially disemboweled. She soon discovers that it was Ramirez who did it for her to get back at the unruly exerciser for his rude behavior. Rather than being shocked and disgusted, Montana tells Ramirez, “That’s the most fucked up thing anyone’s ever done for me.” We then get the big reveal that Montana’s brother was the best man in Brooke Thompson’s (Emma Roberts) ill-fated wedding where her fiance murdered him because he believed he and Brooke were having an affair. Seeking revenge, Montana asks Ramirez, “Would you kill for me?” Now we know what the connection is between the two that was unveiled last week.
Meanwhile, back in the present (well, 1984) at Camp Redwood, Xavier (Cody Fern) and Trevor (Matthew Morrison) revive recently shoulder-impaled Chet (Gus Kenworthy) Pulp Fiction-style with an adrenaline shot to the heart. It isn’t as instantaneous as the one Vincent Vega performed on Mia Wallace, but it works all the same. Elsewhere, Mr. Jingles (John Carroll Lynch) catches up with Chef Bertie (Tara Karsian) and Xavier at the dining hall. Jingles throws Xavier into a large oven in the kitchen and then turns his sights on Bertie. She manages to survive long enough to help Xavier escape from the oven, but she is gravely wounded and asks Xavier to put a knife in her, which he does reluctantly.
Carrying on from last week’s events, Donna (Angelica Ross), aka “Nurse Rita,” captures Brooke in a net and leaves her as a sacrifice for her case study with Mr. Jingles. This leads to a showdown between Jingles and the Night Stalker. Just like Freddy vs Jason, the bigger killer prevails here, with Jingles impaling Ramirez head first on a tree branch.
In perhaps the biggest reveal of the episode, we finally learn the truth behind the 1970 Camp Redwood massacre. Margaret (Leslie Grossman), a camp staffer, tried to manipulate Jingles, real name Benjamin Richter, into killing the camp counselors who have been bullying and ridiculing her. When he fails to carry out her revenge plot, Margaret kills the counselors herself and frames Benjamin for the slaughter. “You were just a guy who was in the wrong place at the right time.” After revealing this deception to Jingles, Margaret shoots and (seemingly) kills Benjamin. She then turns her attention to Trevor, who arrived right after she killed Mr. Jingles. Not one to rest on her laurels, she then stabs and kills Trevor, intending to once again frame Benjamin for the murders. But she turns around to see that Jingles was not dead and has in fact escaped.
We close out the episode with Margaret lying to the surviving counselors about what happened to herself and Trevor as the real Nurse Rita’s car has exploded and is in flames. Then, in one final twist, we cut to Ramirez’ body to see that some unknown force (presumably Satan) has resurrected him as the episode ends.
This episode was heavy on twists and reveals, as AHS: 1984 continues to keep us guessing. The misdirections can be a little maddening sometimes, but I don’t think the show is being unfair with the twists and turns. One thing we definitely know for sure: the women of Camp Redwood are the real danger.
Related Article: AHS: 1984 Recap: “Slashdance” (Ep. 3)
