American Horror Stories Season 3: Bestie Finale Unraveled

Warning: This article contains spoilers for American Horror Stories Season 3, Episode 1!

Summary

Season 3 of "American Horror Stories" delves into the terrifying world of online communities and toxic friendships, ultimately leading to tragic outcomes. Bestie, the manipulative central character, preys upon her victims' vulnerabilities and loneliness, cultivating intimate connections with them. Subsequently, she compels them to engage in progressively perilous and destructive actions.

Bestie's control over the characters is greatly influenced by their disabilities, with her deep understanding of their pain and anxiety, enabling her to manipulate their mental well-being and exploit their vulnerabilities. Additionally, this article touches upon topics such as eating disorders and the Pro Ana community.

In its third season premiere, "Bestie," American Horror Stories explores the dark side of online communities that promise connection, focusing on the horrifying consequences of a toxic friendship. The episode centers around Shelby (Emma Halleen), who is grappling with the loss of her mother and facing bullying at school. Seeking solace, she forms a close bond with Bestie, a girl she meets online, who is confined to her home due to certain birth defects. Their daily conversations and Bestie's encouragement to confront her fears help Shelby break out of her shell. However, as their relationship becomes increasingly intense, Bestie pushes Shelby into engaging in dangerous activities.

When Shelby's actions result in a serious injury, she befriends River, a fellow victim of bullying at her school. Deepening their friendship, Shelby realizes that she no longer needs the toxic influence of Bestie. Despite Shelby's efforts to move on, Bestie refuses to let go and seeks revenge. River invites Shelby to an eerie abandoned house for a date, unaware that it is Bestie's dwelling. When Bestie finally reveals herself, it becomes clear that she has been manipulating River too. In a chilling turn of events, River murders Shelby in order to preserve his "best friends forever" status with Bestie. This shocking opener sets the tone for the third season of American Horror Stories.

Why River Killed Shelby – Death & Bestie Twist Explained

After Shelby discovers that the eerie abandoned house River leads her to is actually Bestie's residence, she confronts him head-on, only to be shocked by the sight of his pocketknife piercing her chest. River had confided in Shelby early on in their friendship about being tormented by the same group of students who targeted her, making him feel powerless. Due to personal reasons and his affinity for horror, he believed that poisoning them during the school's Macbeth performance was justified and admirable. However, he lacked the courage to execute such a gruesome act himself. Bestie, on the other hand, compelled River to face his fear by ultimately murdering Shelby.

How Bestie Got Close To Her Victims

River was ensnared by Bestie, just like Shelby, as Bestie took advantage of his feelings of loneliness and isolation. Bestie would constantly encourage Shelby to face her fears, which initially served as an empowering mantra. However, this gradually twisted into a command that compelled Shelby to engage in increasingly dangerous activities for Bestie's approval. At one point, River revealed that he had been observing Shelby throughout the entire school year, which coincided with the period when Shelby first started interacting with Bestie. Considering the possibility that Bestie was manipulating River as well, it is plausible that she may have instructed him to eliminate Shelby as a means of demonstrating his loyalty.

Bestie formed intimate connections with her victims by exploiting their vulnerabilities and capitalizing on their unique characteristics that set them apart from others. In her interactions with Shelby, they bonded over their shared experience of having challenging fathers. Despite living independently, Bestie ingeniously constructed a fictitious family life that mirrored Shelby's, thus forging an unparalleled closeness. Similarly, with River, Bestie manipulated him into a destructive friendship by exploiting his experiences of being bullied due to his disability and leveraging their common physical differences, providing her with complete dominance.

Based on Bestie's deceitful tactics and manipulation of others, it becomes challenging to discern the truth in her life. Taking into account her outward appearance, it is plausible that a lifetime of being bullied and isolated transformed her into a person plagued by abandonment and fear of judgment. Consequently, she purposefully positioned herself in a manner that would prevent such experiences from occurring. Bestie personified the adage that "hurt people hurt people" and exemplified how cyber bullying can deceptively manifest through seemingly friendly individuals, thereby making it even more arduous to identify.

Why Bestie Only Made Her Friends Do Bad Things

Shelby's confinement in her room due to her appearance and physical ailments led Bestie to convince her that certain simple pleasures of teenage life were forever beyond her grasp. To compensate, Shelby offered to become Bestie's "avatar" and engage in activities that were otherwise inaccessible, such as engaging in acts of mischief like egging a neighborhood house and pilfering junk food from the local convenience store. Regrettably, these initially minor transgressions escalated into more sinister acts, such as tainting fellow classmates' food during the Macbeth performance, appearing at school dressed as her late music teacher's deceased child, and ultimately, inflicting self-harm by deliberately breaking her own wrist with a hammer.

While it's conceivable that Bestie was merely a lonely girl seeking retribution from a callous and indifferent world, there may have been deeper reasons behind her manipulation of victims into committing increasingly abhorrent acts. Far from her youthful appearance, it is plausible that she was an ancient eldritch or demonic entity engaging in a strategic game with human pawns. Bestie derived pleasure from orchestrating chaos and inflicting pain, all while evading any form of consequence.

The Importance Of River & Bestie's Disabilities

To grasp the extent of Bestie's influence over River, it is crucial to comprehend the common ground they shared. River, feeling marginalized and isolated due to his disability and physical limitations, found solace in the Ana Rehxia community, particularly in the presence of Bestie. Being disabled herself, Bestie empathized with the pain and anxiety that plagued River, effectively manipulating his mental well-being. Consequently, River actively pursued her validation and approval, akin to Shelby, albeit for slightly different motivations.

In a clever misdirection, the episode introduced a diversion when Bestie disclosed to Shelby that she was adopted. While not explicitly stated, there appeared to be a possible connection between River and Bestie's other family, suggesting that he could be her protective brother. However, their interactions at the end revealed that she was actually manipulating him, just like Shelby. River believed he was assisting her in leading a better life, while ignoring his own physical limitations, which were manageable compared to hers. A part of River that desired to heal himself became protective of Bestie, who purposely portrayed herself as a victim in order to evoke his altruistic nature.

Why Shelby Never Told Anyone About Bestie

Shelby's silence about Bestie, even in the face of her own injury, may appear peculiar. Yet, Bestie held a firm grip on her. The two crossed paths within a community centered around the drag queen Ana Rexhia, who became a symbol of the destructive affirmations that thrive within toxic online environments. These dark corners of the internet, known as "Pro Ana" sites, exploit vulnerable individuals with eating disorders, urging them to push themselves further, disregarding the harm caused to themselves and their loved ones. For these fragile individuals, the online realm serves as their sole source of strength and affection.

Shelby, having lost her mother, felt lost and powerless. However, the Ana Rehxia community, particularly her friend Bestie, provided her with a sense of belonging. Bestie empowered Shelby to confidently wear makeup at school and seek vengeance against her tormentors. Yet, this newfound confidence came at the expense of alienating her concerned father and isolating herself. This episode of American Horror Stories depicted how shame, fear, and a desire for control could prevent victims like Shelby from sharing their secrets until they reached a breaking point. Even then, Shelby only confided in River because he understood, perhaps too well, what she was enduring.