The anticipation for Season 10 stemmed from its division into two distinct stories. Fans were eager to see which role Macaulay Culkin would take on, adding to the intrigue surrounding the horror anthology. Both parts, “Red Tide” and “Death Valley,” made an impact with their intense plots and memorable conclusions.
While each part is centered on evil beings fascinated by pain and destruction, there are marked differences between them. Each segment concludes with a powerful and terrifying ending, keeping the audience hooked. Set in Provincetown, American Horror Story season 10 part one, “Red Tide,” delves into the creative struggles of a writer.
A family’s escape becomes a terrifying descent into madness (Photo: American Horror Story Season 10/20th Century Fox)American Horror Story Season 10 Part 1: “Red Tide”
The focus changes to the Gardner family: Doris (Lily Rabe), Harry (Finn Witrock), and their daughter Alma (Ryan Kiera Armstrong). This New York-based family arrives in Provincetown for Harry to work on a TV pilot.
Armstrong, despite her role in the poorly received Firestarter remake of 2022, impresses with her performance as young Charlie McGee. She holds her ground in American Horror Story season 10 as well. Soon, it becomes apparent that the family is in danger, particularly as a pale man stalks them with sinister intent.
He targets Alma and Doris, signalling that all is not well. Eventually, Harry kills the man, and the family plans to return home. However, when Austin Sommers (Evan Peters) introduces Harry to pills that ease his writing struggles, Harry decides to stay in Provincetown with his family.
By episode 2, “Pale,” American Horror Story reveals its vampire theme, with Mickey (Culkin) emerging as a character who has been aware of the pills’ dangers from the outset. Unlike traditional vampires who drink blood, these pale beings are driven by a bloodlust that propels their every action.
Harry, now reliant on the pills, finds himself craving blood. Both he and Alma, who starts taking the pills too, transform into violent creatures over time. By episode 5, “Gaslight,” the darkness intensifies. After Doris has a baby, she too becomes a “pale creature” and nearly kills them in a terrifying turn of events.
How Does American Horror Story Season 10 Part 1 End?
In the episode “Gaslight,” Karen (Sarah Paulson) consumes Mickey and ends her own life, walking into the ocean in a tragic, unforgettable scene. Paulson, a regular in American Horror Story, always brings fresh depth to each of her diverse characters.
In episode 6, “Winter Kills,” Harry believes he and Alma should stop taking the pills, but Alma rebels. As the pale creatures arrive at Sarah “Belle Noir” Cunningham’s (Frances Conroy) home, Austin and Belle meet their end. Ursula, the Chemist (Angelica Ross), and Alma head to Los Angeles.
Alma, while auditioning for an orchestra, commits murder, highlighting that she hasn’t changed. Ursula teaches creative writing and continues distributing the dangerous pills. The Chemist is deeply concerned about the risks of the pills and the threat they pose in Los Angeles.
She aims to protect Doris’s baby, Eli, and prevent further chaos. While the ending isn’t filled with shocking twists, it is still satisfying.
What is American Horror Story Season 10 Part 2 About?
American Horror Story season 10 part 2, titled “Death Valley,” doesn’t top other seasons in popularity, but it still offers two intriguing and distinct stories. The second part of the season plays out across five intense episodes.
In episode 7, “Take Me to Your Leader,” UFOs make their presence known in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in 1954. The characters—Troy Lord (Issac Powell), Jamie Howard (Rachel Hilton), Kendall Carr (Jamie Gerber), and Cal Cambon (Nico Greetham)—witness a strange light and soon discover they are pregnant.
In Provincetown, writing isn’t the only thing that’s bloody (Photo: American Horror Story Season 10/20th Century Fox)The season begins with appearances by real-life figures like Amelia Earhart, President Dwight D. Eisenhower, and Marilyn Monroe, portrayed by Lily Rabe, Neal McDonough, and Alisha Sopher, respectively. These depictions add a compelling layer to the season, offering a unique spin on these famous historical personalities.
As the episodes play out, it becomes clear that the government has been collaborating with aliens. This eerie development leads to the realization that the aliens are some of the most unforgettable villains in American Horror Story.
Eisenhower, in a 1963 meeting with President John F. Kennedy (Mike Vogel), explains that the government agreed to allow aliens to abduct 5,000 American citizens annually in exchange for technology. Eisenhower is killed before he can act on this disturbing revelation.
How Does American Horror Story Season 10 Part 2 End?
The season finale, “The Future Perfect,” brings a chilling climax. In episode 9, “Blue Moon,” Cal gives birth to an alien baby, a moment that is impossible to surpass in intensity. In the final episode, Valiant Thor (Cody Fern), the alien leader, offers Eisenhower immortality, but Eisenhower rejects the offer and dies.
Thor remains one of the most frightening figures in the series. Thor’s wife, Mamie (Sarah Paulson), gains immortality and reappears in Area 51. By 2021, Cal and Troy are dead, and the alien child Cal bore has become violent and dangerous.
Theta (Angelica Ross) orders the deaths of Kendall and Jamie once their babies are born. The aliens are determined to ensure that more alien-human hybrid children are born. Kendall’s child, marked as special by the aliens, is destined to continue this pattern.
In the final moments of the episode, Theta and Calico’s flawless babies are introduced, and Theta murders Mamie. While the aliens in American Horror Story season 10 part two don’t reach the level of terror offered by the best sci-fi horror movie monsters, the finale remains chilling.
Despite some viewers preferring part one, the conclusion of season 10 leaves a lasting impact.
