Spoiler alert: This article contains spoilers from American Horror Stories season 3, episode 4.
Summary
Toby's encounters with women on a dating app take a terrifying twist when he becomes the prey of a sinister organ theft organization known as Magna Mater.
Unveiling a shocking betrayal, Toby's closest friend and employer, Sasha and Lee, are exposed as members of the organ theft ring, ultimately bringing him to his downfall.
Toby, with the implanted artificial organ known as Glans Naftali, experiences heightened pleasure and improved aesthetics and well-being. However, the organ can only be extracted after full growth, resulting in the host's demise.
In the chilling final episode of American Horror Stories season 3, a disturbing narrative unfolds as a dating app encounter takes a sinister turn for the main character. This dangerous journey leads to a shocking revelation involving an underground organ theft operation. The episode, titled "Organ," delves into Toby Arcaño's life, portrayed by Raúl Castillo, as he engages in numerous casual encounters with women he connects with on Pincher. Due to his bitterness from a recent divorce, Toby views these liaisons as devoid of meaning, choosing to dismiss his partners the next morning.
The Truth Behind The Organ Theft Ring Explained
Regrettably for Toby, one of the individuals he encounters through Pincher happens to be associated with an underground criminal organization known as Magna Mater, which translates to "Great Mother" in Latin. They illicitly obtain his left kidney and insert an enigmatic biological structure into his body. This heinous act sets Toby on a treacherous path as he longs to uncover the truth about what befell him and the entity growing within him. Sadly, he soon discovers that the individuals he believed to be his confidants were, in fact, betraying him all along.
After Toby's disturbing encounter with Natessa in the fourth episode of season 3 of American Horror Stories, Toby becomes determined to unravel the events that transpired. Fortunately, he recalls Natessa's distinct back tattoo, and with the assistance of his hacker associate Wyatt, Toby uncovers a startling revelation - his harrowing intimate encounter is tied to an underground syndicate known as Magna Mater, notorious for engaging in organ trafficking. Eager to find answers, Toby attends one of their illicit auctions, where he unexpectedly encounters Natessa once again. In a moment of panic, he inadvertently shoots and fatally injures her. Overwhelmed by remorse, Toby flees to seek refuge at the police station, seeking justice for his actions. Regrettably, Toby finds himself in an even deeper predicament when he realizes that the two detectives assigned to his case are, in fact, operating under the influence of Magna Mater. Instead of delivering him to the authorities, they lead him to the secretive headquarters of the clandestine organization.
There, Toby is confronted by Sasha, his coworker and best friend, along with Lee, his boss at Trillium Corp. As it transpires, Sasha had previously introduced Magna Mater to Lee as a potential acquisition for the company several months ago, and Lee eagerly seized the opportunity. Thus, Toby finds himself working for a company that owns the illicit organ transplantation operation responsible for stealing his left kidney and substituting it with a new organ, all while his closest confidants are actually his greatest adversaries. The core objective of Magna Mater revolves around the procurement of designer organs extracted from men and subsequently implanted in women.
Did Toby Die In American Horror Stories Season 3, Episode 4?
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, Magna Mater is deeply committed to improving the lives of women, showing complete indifference to the fate of Toby and the other men responsible for harvesting the group's revolutionary organ. When Sasha and Lee enlighten Toby about the inner workings of the new organ growing inside him, he grows concerned and inquires about what happens when surgeons eventually extract it. Toby is met with a deafening silence from the two women as his face turns horrified and enraged, hinting at the grim possibility of his demise upon organ removal. The scene swiftly transitions to an auction where Toby's custom-made organ is being sold, leaving the audience with the impression that he perished during the procedure in American Horror Stories.
Why Sasha & Lee Betrayed Toby
Even though Sasha and Lee are portrayed as Toby's closest companions in episode 4 of season 3 of American Horror Stories, the hour consistently lays the groundwork for their ultimate betrayal. Sasha, who harbors unrequited love for Toby, is continuously overlooked by him, failing to acknowledge her romantic feelings. It is possible that Sasha feels slighted by Toby's passive rejection and mistreatment of women, leading her to be complicit in his targeting as Magna Mater's next victim. On the other hand, Lee, who had a personal connection with Toby's mother, initially held affection for him until his negligence and lack of diligence at work eroded her sentiments. Ultimately, Sasha and Lee display a callous disregard for Toby's survival.
What Was Natessa's Role In The Organ Theft Ring?
Natessa assumes a crucial role in the plot of episode 4 in season 3 of American Horror Stories. She skillfully allures Toby, deceives him, and strikes when he least anticipates it, as if it were part of her duties while employed by Magna Mater. Natessa is no ordinary surgeon; she showcases her talents as a seductress. However, during Toby's confrontation with her at the auction, Natessa insists that she is a British actress merely fulfilling a role for the organization. This apparent facade momentarily succeeds in diverting Toby's attention, allowing Natessa to make an audacious attempt to seize the gun. Regrettably, Toby unintentionally pulls the trigger, resulting in a fatal gunshot wound to Natessa's abdomen, causing her to succumb to her injuries and bleed to death.
How Toby's Hatred Of Women Led To His Death
By the conclusion of "Organ," it becomes evident why Magna Mater targeted Toby. The organization is centered around the idea of "prolonging life and maximizing pleasure in the future, particularly for women," as highlighted by Lee towards the end of the hour. In contrast, despite Toby's claims of adoring women, his actions indicate a deep resentment and disdain towards them. He exploits them for casual encounters, discarding them without a second thought. Additionally, Natessa describes Toby as "arrogant and entitled," thus making him an easy target for the organ theft ring, which ultimately utilizes him to procure their latest organ.
American Horror Stories Season 3, Episode 4's Artificial Organ Explained
The shocking revelation comes at the end of the episode of the Hulu anthology horror series when Toby finally discovers what has been growing inside him. Lee, in an explanation, reveals that he has an implanted designer organ called Glans Naftali. The night Magna Mater took his left kidney was the same night this organ was implanted in Toby. Glans Naftali functions in tandem with the adrenal glands, enhancing the human experience by producing new hormones that improve physical appearance, strength, and overall health. Moreover, this man-made organ amplifies pleasure associated with sex, a claim strongly supported by Lee, who has been benefitting from Glans Naftali for several months.
Glans Naftali was originally created with the purpose of extending lifespan and enhancing overall well-being for its host. However, Magna Mater designed it exclusively for women, and Toby's role in the operation was solely to serve as a temporary host body for the organ until it reached maturity and could be implanted in a woman. Once Glans Naftali is extracted, the individual it developed within succumbs to death, leading to Toby's unfortunate conclusion in American Horror Stories season 3, episode 4.