American Horror Story Unleashes the Terrifying Truth Behind Bloody Mary

Warning: Spoilers for American Horror Story: Delicate episode 4

Summary

Ryan Murphy incorporated the character of Bloody Mary into American Horror Story: Delicate by including a historical scene featuring Mary Tudor. This portrayal of Mary Tudor as a sinister figure links her to the legend of Bloody Mary, deviating from her real-life role as the Queen of England.

"Bloody Mary" was an episode in American Horror Stories that already gave a complete storyline for the character. As a result, it became unlikely that American Horror Story would have a season specifically centered around the theme of Bloody Mary. However, Ryan Murphy, the writer and director of the series, fulfilled his previous hint of incorporating Bloody Mary in American Horror Story: Delicate. Prior to the release of the tenth season, Murphy conducted a poll among the fans to determine the theme for the season. Although Bloody Mary was one of the options, he ultimately chose a different direction for the show.

With the twelfth season, American Horror Story: Delicate, Murphy has yet to fulfill his promise of a Bloody Mary season as hinted in his poll. Instead, the season draws inspiration from Danielle Valentine's book, Delicate Condition, which exhibits similarities to American Horror Story: Coven. Surprisingly, the most recent episode of Murphy's series manages to incorporate Bloody Mary in an unexpected manner.

American Horror Story: Delicate Featured The Historical "Bloody Mary"

Rather than making American Horror Story season 12 solely about the Bloody Mary folklore legend, Ryan Murphy cleverly references it. In the fourth episode of American Horror Story: Delicate, the spotlight is on Mary Tudor, an important historical figure as the first queen of England. The episode begins with Mary, who has just given birth and is found by her sister Elizabeth, lying in bed, drenched in blood, convinced that her baby is a monstrous being. Disturbed by the sight, Elizabeth is forced to leave when Mary insists, but not before two witches harm her in retaliation, causing her to scramble away from Mary's room.

American Horror Stories Makes It Unlikely AHS Will Do A Bloody Mary Season

The entire storyline involving Mary Tudor in the show is clearly fictitious. The scene in American Horror Story aligns with the witch motifs explored in Danielle Valentine's novel, Delicate Condition. Moreover, it associates Mary with the legend of Bloody Mary, portraying her as a more sinister character than she truly was. In truth, Mary Tudor earned the nickname Bloody Mary due to the numerous deaths resulting from her efforts to reinstate Catholicism. Her religious policies led to the execution, imprisonment, or forced exile of countless Protestants from the country.

Despite the potential for a Bloody Mary-themed season offered by Ryan Murphy, it appears unlikely to come to fruition based on the events depicted in season 2, episode 5 of American Horror Stories. In this installment, titled "Bloody Mary," the focus is on the titular folklore character. The storyline revolves around a group of teenage girls who engage in a ritual to summon Mary through a bathroom mirror, with the hope of gaining insight into their future.

However, their encounter with her quickly exposes them to the severe ramifications, as she places their lives in jeopardy and relentlessly surveils them. Although Bloody Mary made just a single appearance in an episode of American Horror Stories, the narrative extensively developed her character, leaving little room for further exploration in American Horror Story. Rehashing the Bloody Mary storyline would undoubtedly disappoint Ryan Murphy.