Chapter 4 (American Horror Story)

"Chapter 4" is the fourth episode of the sixth season of the anthology television series American Horror Story. It aired on October 5, 2016, on the cable network FX. The episode was written by John J. Gray and directed by Marita Grabiak.

Plot

Matt and Shelby argue about Matt's encounter with the horned woman (which he has no memory of) and his secret deal to leave and destroy the house. While bathing Shelby is attacked by the Piggy Man (Marti Matulis) but is saved by Dr. Elias Cunningham who banishes the beast with the word "Croatoan". Once safe, he explains "Croatoan" is a word of dark and sinister power. He further explains that he has been the house's guardian for years but a lack of money to pay the property taxes led to the house being put up for auction and sold to the Millers. Cunningham leads the Millers to the basement and shows them his research on the house. According to him, all the disappearances seem to occur on the same six day lunar cycle in October. Cunningham relays that the first to disappear was Edward Phillipe Mott, who built the house in 1792; there were multiple other disappearances. He then asks the Millers to leave, but they insist on staying to search for Flora. The doctor then leads the Millers to where Priscilla (Estelle Hermann) is keeping Flora as hostage. On the way they encounter the mysterious horned woman (Lady Gaga). Shelby chases her, but comes in front of the ghosts who being to converge on her. She tries in vain to banish them with the Croatoan spell. Cunningham pleads with Priscilla to release Flora but before he can secure her release, he is shot to death by arrows from Thomasin's men. The Millers flee back to the house where Cricket is waiting for them.

Cricket explains that Thomasin no longer wants to negotiate with the Millers as the lunar cycle empowers her into a position of strength over them. While venturing in the woods Cricket bumps into the horned woman who blinds him with a spell. He recognizes her growing power and in an attempt to gain more information from her, offers her the sexual services of Matt. Upon accepting the parlay from Cricket, the horned woman transports him into her memories of the Lost Colony of Roanoke, a community whose bounty is directly derived from the practice of human sacrifice. Thomasin's son, Ambrose, objected to the sacrifices and rebelled against his mother's rule. Under the horned woman's influence and plan, Thomasin poisons and kills the entire colony, thus binding them to the land for the rest of eternity. Then, to complete the ritual, the horned woman kills Thomasin. After relating the story Cricket takes an Uber to his hotel. On the way, he sees Flora and chases after her. The Uber driver reveals in an interview that Cricket never came back so he just left.

While waiting for Cricket, the Millers fall asleep and during middle of the night Matt is drawn to the storm cellar outside. The horned woman is waiting for him there and demands the payment that is owed to her. Under her seduction, Matt learns that the horned woman is named Scáthach, who was travelling on a ship that was sailing for the new world. The ship experienced misfortune and she came to be blamed for it, sentenced to be burned at the stake as a witch. However she escaped from prison by killing the guards, and fled into the forest. There the power of the New World combined with her latent power as a descendant of the druids to create something new. Shelby awakes to find Matt missing and goes outside where she is confronted by Thomasin and her torch bearing mob. She yells out for Matt and he comes running to her side, leaving Scáthach. Thomasin is about to sacrifice Flora, but with the help of Priscilla, she is able to escape to the Millers. The Millers then flee inside the house and Thomasin brings Cricket forward as a replacement. Ambrose and Thomasin proceed to disembowel Cricket as the Millers look on in horror.

Reception

"Chapter 4" was watched by 2.83 million people during its original broadcast, and gained a 1.4 ratings share among adults aged 18–49.^[1]

The episode received a 90% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with an average score of 6.9/10. The critical consensus reads, ""Chapter 4" reintroduces some classic American Horror Story chills while providing answers to epic questions and hinting at links to prior seasons."^[2]

References

External links

• "Chapter 4" at the Internet Movie Database