Warning: This article contains spoilers for American Horror Stories season 3, episode 3!
Summary
The "Tapeworm" episode of American Horror Stories delves into the sinister aspects of the fashion industry and the relentless pursuit of achievement. Vivian's embrace of the tapeworm signifies her relentless desire for validation and her readiness to compromise her own well-being for fame.
The "Tapeworm" episode of the third season of American Horror Stories delves into the dark underbelly of the fashion industry, highlighting its toxic culture and the transformation of individuals into ambitious and self-centered beings. Unlike previous episodes that focused on technological terror, this body horror installment, reminiscent of David Cronenberg's style, delves into the modern-day obsession with success through the perspective of Vivian Lee Finch (played by Laura Kariuki), an aspiring model. Vivian's relentless pursuit of fame leads her to New York City, where she hopes to grace the cover of Vogue magazine. However, her visit to Sheila Klein's modeling agency, notorious for its high standards, results in her being dismissed for her size 4 figure, pushing her to desperate measures to shed pounds and secure representation.
The Tapeworm's Final Victim & Heather's Doom Explained
After learning about a doctor who claims to have a miracle weight loss drug, Vivian's new friend, Heather, shares this information with her. However, due to potential complications with Vivian's heart, the doctor suggests a different, unconventional approach - ingesting a tapeworm. Intrigued by the promise of shedding pounds, Vivian willingly consumes the tapeworm larvae. As the organism grows inside her, Vivian's transformation catches the attention of glamorous magazines. However, the tapeworm's insatiable appetite becomes a cause for concern as Vivian fears for her life. In an attempt to remove the tapeworm from her body, she resorts to a substance that ultimately leads to her demise, as the tapeworm's size proves too overwhelming. Heather stumbles upon the gruesome scene and unfortunately becomes the next victim of the tapeworm's horrifying presence. Later, Heather is seen visiting Sheila Klein's office, visibly thinner as a result of the tapeworm's influence.
Vivian attempts to explain the tapeworm's insatiable hunger to Heather, but her explanation is dismissed. Heather is instead informed that the "tapeworm" is actually her own jealousy and greatly inflated ego running wild. This denial leaves Heather oblivious to the true peril of the tapeworm when she later encounters Vivian's lifeless body in the bathtub of their shared apartment. Amazingly, the tapeworm is visibly dangling behind Heather's head. In the subsequent scene, Heather is found sprawled on the hallway floor with the tapeworm's body coiled around her neck and its head lunging into her open mouth.
Regrettably, Heather did not possess the same opportunity as Vivian to make a Faustian decision regarding the ingestion of the tapeworm. Consequently, she now faces an even more daunting challenge in controlling it. Unlike Vivian, who was at least warned by the doctor about the dangers of overfeeding the tapeworm, Heather received no such explanation. This puts her in a significantly higher state of jeopardy. Heather did mention to Vivian that all aspiring models, including herself, share the same drive for success, but they simply "hide it better." Hence, in a way, Heather is experiencing the consequences she deserves.
Vivian's Death & Tapeworm Reveal Explained
Vivian disregards her doctor's strict instructions and follows an irregular eating routine, allowing the tapeworm to determine the portion sizes of her meals. She not only eats outside of designated mealtimes but also indulges whenever she's not working, going to the extent of consuming food intended for others at the craft service table, shocking the nearby models. Vivian faces a decisive choice: either remove the worm herself or face the consequences of losing both her work and her life. Unfortunately, the tapeworm turns out to be much larger than anticipated by both Vivian and the doctor. When she tries to expel it using a toxin through her lower orifice, the creature proves to be resilient and puts up a formidable fight.
Although real tapeworms lack the mouth depicted in American Horror Stories, the presence of needle-like teeth and expandable jaws in this particular creature instills true terror. Even after Vivian manages to grasp its head and extract its body (which by now has stretched to several feet in length), the tapeworm behaves like a snake, fatally mauling her. When Heather discovers Vivian's lifeless body, blood is splattered on the wall adjacent to the bathtub, indicating that not only did the tapeworm launch a vicious attack, but it may have also consumed parts of her flesh.
Why Vivian Accepted The Tapeworm & Couldn't Stop Feeding It
Vivian's desperate desire to prove herself capable of overcoming the limitations imposed by her medical condition and becoming a model led her to accept the tapeworm without considering the consequences. Her need for validation was so strong that she overlooked the potential long-term effects of harboring the tapeworm and did not try to control its voracious appetite, even when it transformed her into a monstrous figure, simply because it helped her secure prestigious modeling gigs. She only became concerned about the detrimental impact on her career when she lost excessive weight, causing designers to grow weary of constantly making time-consuming alterations after fittings.
Representing Vivian's insatiable hunger for success concealed beneath a façade of starry-eyed enthusiasm, the tapeworm personified her internal longing. As the episode unfolded, her initial joy and eagerness transformed into despair, anger, and resentment, mirroring both her experiences in the modeling industry and the detrimental effects of the tapeworm's dominance over her body. Despite knowing the negative consequences, Vivian couldn't resist indulging the tapeworm's cravings, fearing that she would lose her place as a supermodel. However, she should have prioritized preserving the qualities that defined her as a decent person, such as honesty, helpfulness, and loyalty to her friends.
The Real Meaning Of The Tapeworm In American Horror Stories
In this episode of American Horror Stories, the brutal nature of the fashion industry and its toxic culture of ruthless ambition is emphasized. Vivian and Heather, who initially pledge to support each other in their quest for success, undergo a transformative shift once the tapeworm enters the picture. Vivian, originally driven to become a supermodel despite her scoliosis, morphs into an ambitious and self-centered narcissist. Sadly, she succumbs to the negative behaviors that plague the fashion industry, which is hazardous for vulnerable individuals. Even Heather, who possesses a kind heart, is not immune to this distorted perspective.
When the doctor confronts Vivian about the tapeworm's destructive effects, he highlights how its defense mechanism becomes hers. As the organism feeds on her and deprives her of vital nutrients, Vivian resorts to selfishly pursuing every opportunity for herself. She insults other models and belittles Heather, whom she now sees as a washed-up failure. Rather than striving to be her true and authentic self, Vivian chooses to be superior to those around her, sacrificing her altruism and honorable intentions in pursuit of fame, success, and recognition in an industry that ultimately consumes her. This portrayal makes it one of the most powerful episodes of American Horror Stories to date.
