‘American Horror Story: Apocalypse’ Season 8, Episode 6 ‘Return to Murder House’ Recap: History Lesson

Finally, there’s a significant amount of clarity as we begin to understand where American Horror Story: Apocalypse is heading. Tonight’s episode, titled “Return to Murder House,” takes us back to where it all began—the Langdon residence. Things are shaping up to where Apocalypse hints it to be, and frankly, it’s an episode that unpacks a lot of truth and revelations for those wondering who the hell Michael Langdon (Cody Fern) really is.

Tonight, we pick up from where Cordelia (Paulson) sent Madison (Emma Roberts) and Behold (Billy Porter). They investigate the truth behind who Michael is and discover a past that’s darker than any of the Coven, and the warlocks could ever imagine.

A Haunting Mission

“Return to Murder House” opens with Madison and Behold acting as a couple and buying the Langdon house. The realtor tries to tell them about the spooky things that have happened in the house, but they already knew about it and appeared excited. Madison and Behold arrive, and already the bad vibrations set off Behold’s senses. They settle down and prepare a chant that would transport them into the supernatural realm of the house.

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The trapped spirits are revealed. Tate Langdon (Evan Peters) has a therapy session with Ben Harmon (Dylan McDermott), whose spirit is also trapped in the house. Tate tells him about Violet (Taissa Farmiga), and how he was never able to get over her. Madison and Behold reveal themselves and tell them they’re going to have to answer questions about Michael. Tate leaves, wanting nothing out of the interview. Ben considers it, but he has to go stare out a window, cry, and masturbate as his never-ending hell. Madison notices Tate longing for something, and she wants to help.

As they walk around the house, Beau, Constance Langdon’s deformed son, tackles Madison. A woman appears and tames Beau. She introduces herself as Billy Dean Howard (Paulson), a medium. As if on cue, Constance walks down the stairs and demands why Madison and Behold are in the Murder House.

Constance

Constance takes Madison and Behold to her room, with Billy Dean tagging along. As Constance gives them an orientation, her maid, Moira O’Hara (Frances Conroy), tells her that the living room is clean. Constance goes to check and sees a speck of dust near the fireplaces. Moira and Constance engage in a small bitch fight about Moira giving Constance’s husband a blowjob. The tension is high between the two. Madison, Behold, and Billy Dean then join Constance for the interview. But before she could talk, Constance wants Moira out of the house, and it’s up to Madison and Behold to do the job.

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So Madison and Behold dig up Moira’s bones to give it back to her. It turns out that it’s the only thing that Moira has been waiting for. She thanks Madison for giving her a way out of the Murder House. She’s then buried next to her mother’s grave. Moira’s mother appears, and they have a tearful reunion. Moira apologizes for pulling the plug on her mom, but she tells her that it’s what she wanted in the first place.

They bring the news to Constance, who, in turn, gives them the story about Michael. She picks up from Vivien Harmon giving birth to Michael. When Vivien died, Constance took up the responsibility of raising Michael since he’s also her grandchild. At first, Michael seemed like a sweet boy, but his sinister side soon showed. He started killing animals and gave it to Constance as a gift. Every time Michael would do this, Constance buried the animal corpse and planted a rose bush over it. One day, she woke up to see Michael suddenly grew ten years older. Michael then tried to strangle her to death, but he came to his senses and asked forgiveness.

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Constance couldn’t take it anymore and sensed the evil within Michael. So, she killed herself by overdosing and woke up to her soul trapped in the Murder House too. But she’s happy because she’s now reunited with Tate and Beau. From then on, she never showed herself to Michael again.

Ben

Next up was Ben, where he continued the story of Michael’s growing up years. After Constance died, Ben showed himself to Michael and took it upon himself to take care of him. He somehow thought of Michael as his son too and wanted to bring out the good in him. He acted as a good father, played games with him, and taught him all there is to show about being a good son. But it just wasn’t enough.

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There was an instance where Michael broke into Tate’s room to admire his rubber man costume. But Tate didn’t want anything to do with Michael and rejected him as his son. That’s when Ben knew that Michael couldn’t be turned from his dark side. When a new couple moved into the house, Michael killed them and made their souls burst into flames.

Madison groans in frustration. The new supreme is pure and utter evil. They prepare to leave and warm Cordelia so they could stop Michael, but Vivien appears and tells them that it won’t be an easy task.

Vivien

“What you’re dealing with here is not just evil,” Vivien says. “Michael is not just a bad witch for you to exterminate.” She then proceeds to tell them about Michael’s true nature—that he is Satan incarnate. Vivien kept away from Michael when he was young, and she did so all the more when strange things began to happen in the house. Crows would circle the house and die, and it was sweltering hot inside. And then, it happened.

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Anton LaVey (Carlo Rota)—the founder of the Church of Satan—came with his cardinals, including Miriam Mead (Kathy Bates). They have been looking for him and knew that he was Satan’s chosen one, the Dark Lord. That night, they performed the Black Mass after Mead kidnapped a woman. LaVey slit the woman’s gut and took out her heart, giving it to Michael to consume. That’s when the shadow of Satan himself appeared, appointing Michael as the antichrist. Vivien tried to kill him, but Michael knew. He attempted to burn Vivien’s soul, but Tate saved him.

Vivien told Madison and Behold that Michael is not Tate’s or Ben’s. She knew that he was borne out of the evils of the house itself, and Satan is his real father.

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The episode ends with Madison determined to tell the Coven about Michael. Behold, though, is doubtful that they could stop him. They then spot Violet crying in the corner. Out of Madison’s kind heart, she reunites her and Tate as they leave the Murder House.

‘American Horror Story: Apocalypse – Return to Murder House’ Overall Verdict

Directed by Paulson, “Return to Murder House” is a key episode in fleshing out the entire narrative of American Horror Story: Apocalypse. Not much happened, but it’s packed with vital information about the main villain of this season—Michael Langdon the Antichrist. It’s also considerably longer than any of the other episodes so far, making it the perfect avenue for Paulson to flex her directing chops for the first time. I liked the way the story and dialogue were written, and it’s a breath of fresh air from the usual grimy and dark locations of the past episodes. This Murder House-Coven crossover did prove to be worth its salt, and I can finally say that this is the best that AHS has ever come up with since Asylum and Freak Show.

American Horror Story: Apocalypse continues next Wednesday, October 31st, with “Insert Title” at 10/9c on FX.