AMERICAN HORROR STORY: APOCALYPSE (S8E5) “Boy Wonder”: The Apocalypse Is Taking Shape

I was shocked at the realization that we are just about halfway through this season of American Horror Story – and what an episode. While last week had been jam-packed with information on the history of Michael Langdon (Cody Fern), its delivery was dry and without the flair AHS has the ability to deliver. With “Boy Wonder”, Ryan Murphy proved last week was just a fluke.

Visions of Zombies Danced in her head…

Opening in the aftermath of the atomic blast, Cordelia (Sarah Paulson) awakens to find her beloved school of extraordinary girls in ruins. Disoriented, she begins to call out for her girls, searching for them, only to be greeted by the ravenous creatures mutated by the radiation during the fallout. As she struggles to fight them off, her attempts futile, her final moments of life are met with the fiendish laugh of the white demon.

Thankfully, Cordelia awakens, picking up immediately where “Could it be… Satan?” left off, the eyes of her now returned girls a comforting sight after her grizzly nightmare. In awe and amazement, she proclaims that Langdon will undergo the 7 wonders, and if he passes, he will become the next Supreme. According to Cordelia, if he succeeds, “it will change everything.” Having witnessed the aftermath of Langdon’s supposed ascension into power, viewers know that there is much more in this statement than any of our characters could truly know.

For a moment, as engrossing as the opening of this episode is, keen-eyed viewers will find themselves distracted as both Lily Rabe and Stevie Nicks are listed as guest stars for tonight’s episode. Though the distraction will not retain its strength for long, as viewers are plunged back into the action.

A New Supreme Rising

Mallory (Billie Lourd) is once again highlighted for her undeniable power, this time by Myrtle Snow (Frances Conroy). Everyone seems to be trying to attract Cordelia’s focus to see the extreme wonderment that is Mallory, all while warning her against Langdon. Myrtle relays to Cordelia that she had seen the most wonderful thing, Mallory not only resurrecting a deceased deer, but healing it as well – something no witch before her had been able to do. Like Langdon, able to bring those from Hell back to the living, Mallory too exhibits her own unique abilities.

I abandon all previous theories on Mallory at this point. While there are theories of angels and mysticism, I believe Mallory to be the next Supreme. The deflections exhibited by Cordelia are not a careless negligence to her responsibilities to discover the new Supreme, but to instead protect Mallory from those who would want to harm her. It also appears that her powers are growing, which makes sense as it is revealed in the episode that Cordelia is dying – her short-lived Supremacy is coming to an end.

Though many would believe it to be Michael Langdon, as he does in fact pass the test of the 7 wonders. While not shocking, it was clever of the writers to implement an increased risk to the tests, refusing to recycle what we have already seen time and time again in season 3. Though, I must say, it was nice to see the recycled silent movie aspect to relay each of the 7 wonders that Langdon must exhibit – a clever call back to Coven.

Langdon’s final test is his descent into hell. Cordelia is aware he has already traveled to hell, bringing back Madison (Emma Roberts) and Queenie (Gabourey Sidibe). While initially protested by the brothers, Cordelia states that the future will need a stronger Supreme. The visions of a fallen and decimated world cry for today’s leaders to ask for more from their potential successors. She not only asks Langdon to descend to hell and return, but to bring back her lost sister Misty Day (Lily Rabe). With confidence, Langdon completes his task – yet not without some difficulty.

This is the second time within the episode a potential parallel between Mallory and Langdon can be drawn. While initially it was inhabiting new and unique powers, here it seems as though they are each created to be the stronger evolution of their dark and light sides. I strongly believe Mallory will need to face off against Langdon, the strongest adversary to face the Coven, thus needing an even stronger Supreme to lead them.

Not all are convinced about Langdon

While many are enamored with the abilities and success of Langdon, not all are convinced. John Henry Moore (Cheyenne Jackson – who is becoming a frequent collaborator with AHS), one of the Warlocks on the council, has consistently been weary of Langdon. Distrust and jealously give way to fear as Langdon nears closer to the Supremacy. Trusting his gut rather than his eyes, Moore reaches out to Cordelia with dire side effects.

There are not many times that AHS recalls back to a classic horror film. The series has stayed original in its content, every once and awhile giving a subtle tribute to members of the horror genre before it. This is the first time in awhile I felt a subtle tribute emulating through the scenes and characters on screen. As Moore tried to escape Hawthorne School for Extraordinary Boys and reach Cordelia, I could think of nothing other than The Omen – the father (Gregory Peck 1976, Liev Schreiber 2006) racing to find the answers to the origin of and evil within Damien (Harvey Stephens 1976, Seamus Davey-Fitzpatrick 2006). Whether intentional or not, this was an awesome tribute, and one so appropriately placed within the story.

The similarity was drawn even closer at the thought of the devil preying and utilizing the faults of man to achieve his goal – in this case greed and pride. Langdon does not succeed because he is evil, but because he knows the evil in those around him. Tempted with power, Langdon finds a circle of support, both within and outside the Coven, guaranteeing the future we have already witnessed in the beginning of this season.

Yet, as much as Langdon succeeds, he also fails in underestimating the power of good – i.e. the Supreme and her Coven. As distrust beings to spread, under the cover of fellow white witch Stevie Nicks‘ music, Cordelia sends Madison on a recon mission to retrieve any information she can on the origin of Langdon. Accompanied by an equally distrustful warlock, the setup for the next episode is clear – we are returning to the beginning. We are returning to Murder House.

Conclusion: “Boy Wonder”

If you are a fan of Coven, this episode will certainly satisfy. Misty Day returning to full form, still providing crucial aid to her Coven, Stevie Nicks dancing with her beloved witch, everyone reunited – this was the episode Coven fans have been waiting for. And what a setup for Murder House!

What was most interesting about “Boy Wonder” was the tension the episode was able to create within itself. We know where the story is going, who Langdon is. We know he succeeds in destroying the world. Watching these characters make the moves, mistakes and accomplishments is intense and, at times, frustrating. It is brilliant storytelling within deconstructed time. Watching these character destroy themselves and each other through the choices they make is insane.

As we continue, reaching the moment in present time of the witches reunited in Outpost 3, there are still questions that remain. Is it all really destroyed, or does Mallory have the ability to not only heal wounds of the body but of also the world? Who is the next Supreme, or will there be one? Cordelia seems to be reaching her end before the bomb hits, yet seems stronger than ever after. With at least half a season to go, only time will tell.