WARNING! Contains SPOILERS for American Horror Story season 12, including episode 3!
Summary
American Horror Story: Delicate marks the inception of a season adapted from a captivating novel, starring renowned reality TV personality Kim Kardashian in her debut leading role in a scripted production.
The show has embarked on an otherworldly journey, delving into extraordinary occurrences that encompass a perplexing ultrasound discovery and unsettling encounters with an enigmatic elderly woman.
Anna's online troll and the mysterious woman both vanish overnight, leaving Anna to face unsettling hallucinations and unexplained periods of memory loss, suggesting a possible form of manipulation known as gaslighting or a distorted perception of reality. American Horror Story season 12, episode 3 offers a multitude of unexpected turns, yet the direction of the overall storyline remains uncertain. American Horror Story: Delicate distinguishes itself for several reasons. Firstly, it marks the first season of the longstanding horror anthology series that draws inspiration from a novel. Bringing actor Danielle Valentine's book, Delicate Condition, to the small screen, American Horror Story: Delicate may deviate from its source material, though to what extent remains unknown. Additionally, this season stands out as it provides reality television personality Kim Kardashian with her inaugural significant role in scripted acting.
Anna Came Across Ms. Preecher Again
American Horror Story season 12 deviates from the show's norm by taking fewer risks, contrary to popular belief. In comparison to season 2, Asylum, which showcased demons, serial killers, alien abductions, and zombies, American Horror Story: Delicate opts for a simpler approach. The first episode introduces Anna Alcott, an actress navigating both an awards season campaign and IVF treatment. Although she faces unsettling encounters with a peculiar stalker, her life remains relatively normal and unextraordinary.However, following this relatively straightforward premiere, the series took a bizarre turn. In episode 2 of American Horror Story season 12, Anna experiences the joy of pregnancy, only for it to be abruptly taken away when a disturbing nurse conducts a suspicious ultrasound. The episode ends with Anna discovering that the nurse was not actually an employee of the hospital and realizing she has suffered a miscarriage. Episode 3, titled "When the Bough Breaks," begins with Anna and her husband Dex driving home from the hospital. Overwhelmed with emotions, Anna insists on walking home, only to soon regret her decision.
Anna ventured deep into the woods, which surrounded the remote dwelling she shared with Dex and her protector, Kamal. It was there that she unexpectedly encountered Ms. Preecher, the peculiar elderly woman who had previously appeared in the audience of a late-night show where Anna had been a guest. Concealed amidst the trees, Preecher approached Anna while she strolled through the forest, delivering obscure forewarnings to the brave protagonist of American Horror Story: Delicate. Overwhelmed by Preecher's reappearance, Anna fled back to her home, but upon returning with Dex and Kamal, the enigmatic woman had vanished into thin air. Regrettably, this enigmatic character from season 12, episode 1 of American Horror Story was never seen again.
Anna’s Trolls Seemingly Vanished
Not only did Dex and Kamal fail to find any trace of Ms. Preecher, but Anna also discovered that her stalker's online presence had mysteriously vanished by the next morning. Both Anna's troll "Annihilate Anna" and Ms. Preecher's Instagram profiles had seemingly disappeared without any explanation. However, before Anna could delve deeper into this matter, Siobhan paid her a visit. Although it was possible that Anna's troll had deactivated their account, it seemed unlikely since Anna's public image was already in decline. Therefore, it was more plausible that her troll would intensify their harassment rather than disappear completely.
Someone Found Anna’s Secret Address
Anna had no opportunity to question this development before she encountered a welcome basket. This indicated that Dex had provided someone with the address of Anna's secluded hideout and, despite her belief that the director she disliked was the culprit, there was no way to confirm if he had indeed sent the hamper. The appearance of Kim Kardashian, a supporting star in American Horror Story: Delicate, served as a distraction for Anna, preventing her from delving into the origins of the gift basket and leading to a peculiar sequence of events that hinted at Anna's possible lack of mental clarity.
Anna’s Hallucinations Are Getting Worse
Anna devoured the entire gift basket despite its suspicious appearance, but had no recollection of doing so. Upon Dex's departure from the room, she glanced at her phone and noticed a missed call from Siobhan. Without delay, she turned around only to find Siobhan already standing in her doorway. Based on these events, it seems that Anna has been experiencing episodes of unconsciousness for extended periods without her awareness, or Dex and Siobhan are colluding to manipulate her perception. While this is a plausible scenario, it fails to elucidate the vivid hallucinations Anna encounters, as well as her distorted sense of time. Throughout the ordeal, she firmly believed that shadowy figures were pursuing her.
There Is A Cult Following Anna
American Horror Story: Delicate’s tale draws inspiration from the timeless horror masterpiece Rosemary’s Baby, where a clandestine cult schemes to impregnate an unsuspecting woman with the Antichrist. The episode "When the Bough Breaks" cleverly sets the stage for a similar twist as two enigmatic cult members clad in black robes, donning hoods, and accompanied by a goat on a leash make their mysterious appearance. Initially spotted on the beach, they may have left Anna a disconcerting doll riddled with pins in its stomach. Subsequently, they invade Anna's nightmares and ultimately manifest themselves, possibly as a hallucination, during her last encounter at the pharmacy.
American Horror Story: Delicate Updated A Rosemary’s Baby Scene
Instead of a demon attacking Anna while she was asleep, as depicted in Rosemary's Baby, Anna found herself restrained to a surgical chair by two mysterious figures wearing black masks and hoods. It appeared that they surgically impregnated her, portraying a modern twist on the assault scene from the original movie. This alteration in American Horror Story: Delicate focused on the fears of medical negligence and mistreatment instead. The actuality of this event occurring solely in Anna's imagination remains uncertain, although a subtle clue was provided in the final moments of the episode. Regrettably, if indeed this incident did take place, it could have jeopardized Anna's future.
Anna’s Pregnancy Might Not Be Over
In the climactic moments of "When the Bough Breaks," Anna finally reached out to Ms. Preecher, who revealed a disturbing truth: her miscarriage was not the end of her pregnancy. However, this revelation did not bring any solace, considering the eerie Satanists who implanted her in a haunting dream, the decaying fox left on her patio, and the unsettling fact that she was bleeding from her mouth. Although Anna appeared relieved that her pregnancy could possibly be saved, it became evident that something was gravely amiss with the protagonist's baby in this American Horror Story saga.