Season 9 of American Horror Story, featuring Emma Roberts, John Carroll Lynch, and Billie Lourd, takes the audience back to the 1980s. The opening episode sets the tone with several elements of this vibrant decade, from an aerobics class to characters with voluminous hair and bright-colored outfits.
The introductory credits also stand out, capturing attention with their unique charm. Each episode of American Horror Story season 9 offers something unexpected, and much care has been given to building its atmosphere. It is a perfect blend of entertainment and fear, keeping viewers on edge throughout.
The 80s vibe is strong, but so is the terror lurking beneath (Photo: American Horror Story Season 9/20th Century Fox)What Is American Horror Story Season 9 About?
American Horror Story season 9, titled 1984, follows Brooke Thompson (Emma Roberts), a young woman living in Los Angeles in 1984. After a close encounter with the infamous serial killer, the Night Stalker, she secures a job at Camp Redwood.
This camp, however, holds a dark history. In 1970, Benjamin Richter, also known as Mr. Jingles (John Carroll Lynch), worked there as a groundskeeper and went on a killing spree. He remains one of the most terrifying villains in the American Horror Story universe.
At Camp Redwood, Brooke is joined by Ray Powell (DeRon Horton), Chet Clancy (Gus Kenworthy), Xavier Plympton (Cody Fern), and Montana Duke (Billie Lourd), who are also caught in the camp’s grim history.
Margaret Booth (Leslie Grossman), who runs the camp, plays a major role and shares the chilling backstory of what occurred there. The season’s first episode, “Camp Redwood,” lays the groundwork for the rest of the plot.
After narrowly escaping an attack and witnessing a dead hiker, Brooke realizes that the Night Stalker is still hunting for new victims. The following episodes focus on Brooke’s survival and her cat-and-mouse game with the killer.
As a “final girl” from horror movies, she refuses to give up, and her innocence contrasts with the numerous villains and deceitful characters around her. American Horror Story season 9 is distinguished by its summer camp setting and the focus on serial killers.
As the episodes unfold, viewers learn that Mr. Jingles has escaped from an institution and is now at large. The season delves into the complicated and eerie relationship between Richard Ramirez (Zach Villa), the Night Stalker, and Montana, which complicates matters further.
This deadly partnership proves to be a serious threat, as Ramirez remains one of the most unpredictable figures in the series. By the time the season nears its conclusion, many characters have been killed and are now part of Camp Redwood’s ghostly population.
While the season offers a lot, there are times when the large cast and multiple flashbacks feel overwhelming. However, Emma Roberts and Billie Lourd do an excellent job portraying two vastly different characters: one drawn to darkness and the other pure and determined to save others from the Night Stalker.
How Does American Horror Story Season 9 End?
The finale of American Horror Story season 9 ties up all the loose ends, ensuring that the events of the season are brought to a satisfying close. Episode 9, titled “Final Girl,” takes viewers between two different years: 2019 and 1989.
A crucial part of the ending is the revelation that several Camp Redwood counselors have returned as ghosts. For 30 years, these spirits repeatedly kill Ramirez, ultimately realizing that this is the way they can defeat him. Watching them get their revenge on one of the series’ most horrifying villains offers a sense of closure.
Flashbacks of a bloody history haunt every corner of Camp Redwood (Photo: American Horror Story Season 9/20th Century Fox)In 2019, Bobby, the grown-up son of Lavinia Richter (Lily Rabe), returns to Camp Redwood. Trevor and Montana tell him that his father, Richter, went missing after being thrown into the camp’s lake. Brooke, having survived the earlier attack, saves Trevor and allows him to stay in ghost form after Margaret fatally shoots him.
After Montana saves Bobby from Ramirez, who has resurfaced in 2019, Bobby shares a poignant conversation with Donna Chambers (Angelica Ross), the mental institution director. It’s revealed that although people believed Brooke had died, she managed to escape.
Like many forgotten “final girls” who are remembered fondly, Brooke ultimately triumphs. The final moments of American Horror Story season 9 bring emotional closure, as the characters’ relationships are given the space to evolve and develop.
The scene is as heart-wrenching as the ending of Murder House, with many spirits trapped and unable to regain their former lives. In the final scene, Bobby visits Camp Redwood one last time for a tearful reunion with his mother, Richter.
As he prepares to leave, Margaret’s ghost attempts to kill him, but Richter and the other ghosts intervene. Bobby’s journey has been difficult, and the ending offers a satisfying conclusion to his story.
