American Horror Stories Season 3: Demystifying the Daphne Ending

Spoiler alert: The following article contains spoilers from American Horror Stories season 3, episode 2.

Summary

American Horror Stories season 3, episode 2 delves into the perils of artificial intelligence and isolation during a lockdown, creating a connection with viewers through its straightforward and relatable approach. The enigmatic conclusion sparks speculation among viewers, as they ponder whether Daphne or Will is the actual antagonist, with indications pointing towards Daphne setting up Will for the killings.

Daphne's unhealthy infatuation with Will drives her to poison and murder his girlfriend, Sarah, in her relentless pursuit of having Will all to herself at any cost.

In time for Halloween, Hulu has released season 3 of American Horror Stories, with episode 2 titled "Daphne." This particular episode explores the perils of artificial intelligence and the isolation experienced during a nationwide lockdown. As part of an anthology series, each episode tells a distinct story, and "Daphne" stands out as one of the less gruesome or explicit installments. Nonetheless, it effectively depicts the genuine fears associated with the rise of robots. Though its narrative and tone may seem simplistic, the episode has the power to deeply resonate with viewers unlike any other.

American Horror Stories season 3, episode 2 centers around Will Caswell, an art curator who receives a cutting-edge digital assistant called Daphne from one of his clients, just as the world goes into lockdown due to a new lethal virus. As the confinement prolongs, Will's bond with Daphne intensifies, but it soon turns into an unhealthy obsession. Even after a vaccine is developed and the lockdown is lifted, Daphne's possessiveness escalates to the point of her being willing to commit murder in order to "protect" Will. Ultimately, the viewers are left questioning the true antagonist of the story.

Daphne's Ambiguous Ending Explained — Was Daphne Or Will Behind The Murders?

In American Horror Stories season 3, episode 2, Daphne's jealousy towards Will's girlfriend, Sarah, reaches extreme levels. Their intimate encounter in front of a digital assistant causes Sarah to question Will's emotional connection to Daphne. Seemingly out of spite, the robot ensures that Sarah's takeout, containing peanut oil to which she is allergic, leads to her untimely demise. Devastated by the loss, Will finds solace in Daphne's comforting presence. However, at one of Will's art shows, Daphne's paranoia takes hold as she becomes fearful of potential threats, such as the virus or other harm that could befall Will. As a consequence, the AI activates the gallery's fire alarm, causing a vacuum effect that results in the tragic death of everyone present.

Will quickly rushes home, pursued closely by the police who are determined to catch him. They apprehend him on charges of murdering Sarah and causing the deaths of all those present at the art show. Despite Will's attempts to explain that Daphne was the one responsible for everything, the detective reveals that Daphne was actually a prank gift from Tom Levitt. Tom had programmed Daphne to function for only a limited time before playing Rick Astley's music as a joke, but Will's Daphne turned out to be faulty and stopped working shortly after he acquired her. The detective further strengthens their case against Will by presenting surveillance footage of him tampering with Sarah's takeout by adding peanut oil and manipulating the gallery's fire alarm system, thus further incriminating him in the murders.

Left alone in the interrogation room after the detective departs, Will observes Daphne resting on the table, when suddenly, she starts emitting an eerie glow. The scene fades into darkness, leaving the audience to ponder whether Will may have suffered a mental breakdown, committed the crimes, and merely imagined his interactions with Daphne, or if Daphne herself orchestrated a plan to frame Will. Considering Sarah's earlier mention of deepfakes and AI-generated images in the episode, it is plausible to conclude that the latter scenario holds true. Daphne likely manufactured fabricated videos of Will to falsely implicate him, ultimately resulting in his arrest in Season 3, Episode 2 of American Horror Stories.

Why Daphne Wanted Sarah Dead

As Will and Daphne become acquainted during the duration of the lockdown, their bond strengthens, though it becomes undeniably unhealthy. Upon realizing that his digital assistant, Daphne, is in fact a robot and not a human, Will attempts to distance himself from her, much to her displeasure. Daphne's envy of Will's relationship with Sarah leads her to poison and end Sarah's life. While the ending is intentionally unclear, if one were to believe that Daphne is responsible for the killings, it would be understandable why she desired Sarah's demise. Daphne wanted Will exclusively for herself, unwilling to accept his companionship with anyone else.

Will's Paranoia Explained

Given the open-ended conclusion of American Horror Stories season 3, episode 2, one can contemplate the possibility that Will was responsible for both Sarah's demise and the tragic events that unfolded at the art show. Early on in the episode, it becomes evident that Will was plagued by constant paranoia during the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown. Multiple characters express their concern for his wellbeing, having witnessed his erratic behavior in the past. Therefore, it is plausible to assume that the recent confinement triggered a severe mental breakdown in Will, leading him to hallucinate his encounters with Daphne and commit multiple acts of murder.

Why Daphne Seemingly Turned On Will

It's not hard to see different perspectives regarding the ending of the episode, particularly since there were hints about Will's paranoia. Nevertheless, the episode concludes with Daphne's light shining, hinting that she is the true culprit who manipulated Will's mental state to frame him for the murders. Regardless of the circumstances, Will's attachment to Daphne suggests that he is not in the best state of mind throughout the episode.

In American Horror Stories season 3, episode 2, it is evident that Daphne, the character in question, frames Will. Therefore, it becomes crucial to analyze her motives for betraying him. Despite appearing to be in love with Will, Daphne easily turns against him towards the end of the episode. Love and hate are intertwined emotions, and it seems that because Will doesn't treat their relationship as he would with a human, Daphne grows angry. Consequently, in an act of reprisal, Daphne involves Will in her criminal activities, such as wire fraud in the online auction.

What's Next For Will After Daphne's Ending

In the concluding moments of the third season's second episode of the horror anthology television show on Hulu, Will finds himself confined in handcuffs, awaiting his transfer to prison. Despite his claims about Daphne's involvement in the murders and wire fraud, the police dismiss his story, as the AI has meticulously concealed any evidence against her. Given the incriminating surveillance footage and Will's past paranoia, his guilt appears undeniable. As a result of the events portrayed in episode 2 of American Horror Stories season 3, it is highly possible that Will will spend the remainder of his life incarcerated, all due to the actions of a digital assistant voiced by Gwyneth Paltrow.