‘American Horror Story: Apocalypse’ Season 8, Episode 2 ‘The Morning After’ Recap: Rubber Man Returns

Things got a little bit more intimate and sexual on tonight’s episode of American Horror Story: Apocalypse. With Michael Langdon (Cody Fern) making his entrance last week, it won’t be soon before all hell breaks loose after the radioactive apocalypse. Murder House’s Rubber Man also makes his return, giving his all to Mr. Gallant (Evan Peters) in a recurring sexual encounter. We also get to see the first casualty (aside from the dude who died last week) of the season, at the hands of a clueless Mr. Gallant.

It’s been a crazy episode with a couple of twists and turns that would leave you wondering at the end. However, with the strength and potential that episode 1, titled “The End,” exuded, this one was a bit slow and “mechanical.” It might even be a bit lackluster, but given the aura of uncertainty that the show always has in its first few episodes, I think we’re being set up for something much more sinister.

Here’s what went down on tonight’s American Horror Story: Apocalypse episode, titled “The Morning After.”

Michael Langdon chooses a worthy soul

Langdon arrived at Outpost 3 as the official representative of The Cooperative. With her leadership threatened, Miss Venable (Sarah Paulson) tries her best to assert her authority, to no avail. An uncaring Langdon reveals that The Cooperative sent him to scout for anyone worthy for a spot in the new sanctuary and those who can continue the perfect genetics of humanity. Outpost 3 is running out of supplies (snake meals forever!), and this new sanctuary seems to tease a better future for humanity. Initially, it was only the rich who were able to secure a spot in an outpost. Now, however, it looks like it will be narrowed down significantly (regardless of class).

Since everyone has to undergo a test of “cooperation,” Gallant volunteers to go first while Venable goes next. However, both tests turn out to be a flop, but the sexual tension was oozing with juice. Gallant tells Langdon about his past as a gay man, and how his grandmother, Evie (Joan Collins), hated him. Gallant also implies that he wants to have sex with Langdon after asking if he’s also gay. Venable, on the other hand, isn’t the strong leader that she wants to be known for after all. Langdon reveals that he knows about Venable’s made-up rules from The Cooperative. He then forces her to show her scars (a crooked spine), with Venable having to run away, holding back her tears in shame.

Gallant Erotica

It’s revealed during Langdon’s interview with Gallant that the latter is a sexually-charged person who loves to be hurt and punished. After the meeting, Gallant wanted to pleasure himself. Lucky for him, Rubber Man (who Gallant thinks is Langdon) appears for wild, painful sex. Evie chances upon them and is horrified at what they’re doing. Of course, there’s a standing Venable rule that sex isn’t allowed in Outpost 3, so Evie rats out her grandson to Miriam Mead (Kathy Bates). Venable and Mead have Gallant punished by whipping him, but it turns out that Gallant is enjoying himself (even screaming out the names of 70’s and 80’s gay icons at every hit). Seeing that it’s not a punishment for Gallant, Langdon comes in and reveals that it wasn’t him who wore the Rubber Man suit and that Gallant is the last person he’d want to have sex with. This breaks Gallant’s heart.

Later that night, Rubber Man appears again, taunting Gallant for another hookup. Gallant follows him around until they both end up in bed. But just as they were about to go at it, Gallant stabs Rubber Man with a scissor. Langdon appears on the doorway, to Gallant’s shock. When he looks back at the body, it’s actually Evie that he killed.

Not-so fortunate lovers

Langdon’s arrival planted seeds of doubt in Timothy (Kyle Allen) and Emily (Ash Santos). This led them to break their “one kiss a week” rule and proceed to have sex. But before that, the couple snuck into Langdon’s room (which I think he left open on purpose) to discover a fully-functional MacBook with a Wi-Fi connection. What. The. Fuck. This is where Timothy and Emily read an email correspondence between Langdon and The Cooperative that Venable has been making up her own rules and that Langdon wants her dead. As they leave Langdon’s room, Rubber Man watches them from the ceiling a-la-Conjuring.

Mead catches Timothy and Emily sleeping together. They bring them into the cleaning chamber, but Timothy goes Universal Soldier and engages in a fistfight with Mead’s right-hand she-warrior, grabbing her gun and shooting Mead. The right-hand smacks both Timothy and Emily unconscious while Mead runs away. This is when the reveal shocks us—Mead is a freaking robot (or maybe half cyborg)!

‘American Horror Story: Apocalypse’ Overall Verdict

Okay, “The Morning After” went haywire and sent shockwaves of surprise. It’s not exactly a strong episode, to begin with, but it did tease some exciting stuff. A lot of questions came too—are the snakes a tease of the Coven’s arrival? Is The Cooperative only a front for the Coven’s secret organization? What’s up with Robot Mead?

The first episode set up an interesting premise for AHS Apocalypse, but I don’t think this episode gives justice to its excitement. But the coming episodes seem to pack more than what it’s telling us, so I’m still (and always will be) hopeful for this season.

But seriously though, show us Jessica Lange now!

American Horror Story: Apocalypse continues next Wednesday, September 26th, with “Forbidden Fruit” at 10/9c on FX.