The rushed ending of American Horror Story season 12 left many issues unresolved, even though it tried to clarify earlier events. Unlike past seasons that were built from original scripts, Delicate took its story from Danielle Valentine’s novel Delicate Condition.
It follows Anna Alcott, a well-known actress who starts suspecting that her pregnancy is being influenced by a hidden force. By the eighth episode, Anna won an Oscar after promising her handler, Siobhan, that she would give up anything for success in her career.
Trust was shattered when masks came off (Photo: American Horror Story Season 12/20th Century Fox)The moment she achieved this, she was hurriedly taken from the ceremony in an ambulance. As the ambulance drove off, one of the season’s major antagonists, Ivy, was behind the wheel, and she had already murdered Anna’s bodyguard.
The baby Anna was carrying attacked Dex, her husband, by biting off his hand before it even came out fully, and Ivy finished Dex off by forcing his severed hand into his throat. They later arrived at an abandoned car park, where Ivy met up with other cult members like Nicolette, Talia, and Sonia.
The group mocked Anna before a masked figure immobilized her. When Anna came around, she realized she couldn’t move her legs, and Siobhan—her trusted publicist—finally showed herself to be the demonic head of the cult that had been pulling strings all along.
What Anna Gave Birth To In American Horror Story Season 12’s Finale
Anna’s Lengthy Pregnancy Ended With Dex’s Death
Rather than revealing a standard birth, the show portrayed Anna’s delivery as terrifying and unnatural. The child she had was not shown clearly, but from what could be seen—especially the sharp claws—it was obvious the baby was some kind of demonic being.
At one point, it was seen drinking Anna’s blood in a disturbing feeding scene, but its face was never shown. Eventually, after Siobhan’s defeat, this creature turned into what appeared to be an ordinary baby.
Back in episode 4, the show hinted at a similar demon baby with claws, but both times, the full appearance was kept hidden from viewers.
What Happened To Dex During Anna’s Birth
Dex Lost His Hand To The Baby and His Life To Ivy
Inside the ambulance, Dex tried to calm Anna down, unaware that nothing he did could prevent what was coming. While assisting with the delivery, he was brutally attacked when the baby bit off his hand before fully emerging. It seemed like the bleeding and shock alone could have finished him, but Ivy made sure by pushing the cut-off hand into his mouth, choking him to death.
At first, her reason wasn’t obvious, but later events made it clear that this act would lead to problems for her.
Why Siobhan Killed Ivy In American Horror Story: Delicate’s Ending
Anna’s Publicist Was Revealed To Be Dex’s Mother
Hints dropped in earlier episodes came to light when it was shown that Siobhan had been the central villain throughout the season. Kim Kardashian’s character was revealed to be an ageless, all-powerful cult leader who admitted that Dex was her child, born from a relationship with a heartless man.
What came next was strange—Siobhan killed Ivy for murdering Dex, even though Ivy reminded her that she had been following orders. Siobhan dismissed this, calling it a test, before slitting Ivy’s throat. That act ended a life that dated back to around 20 A.D., years before Ivy even met her.
The Cult’s Mission In American Horror Story Season 12 Explained
Siobhan And Her Minions Wanted To Create A Matriarchy
The cult’s deeper intentions came out during Siobhan’s final conversation with Anna. According to her, the group preyed on ambitious women, using them to bring forth violent male demons. These children would trigger a worldwide crisis, allowing the cult to replace existing systems with their ideal version of female rule.
Ivy and others like Talia, Sonia, Nicolette, Ashley, Ashleigh, and Susan, who Anna killed earlier, were all committed to this plan. Though episode 6 hinted at their connection to the cult, the purpose behind their actions was made clearer during the last episode. Siobhan believed that this twisted use of motherhood would help them take control.
How American Horror Story: Delicate’s Adeline Saved Anna
Anna And Adeline Praising Hestia Destroyed Siobhan
Up until the final act, Siobhan always seemed to have the upper hand against Anna. In desperation, Anna gave in and decided to join the cult by breastfeeding her demonic child. However, the infant drank her blood instead of milk, horrifying her while Siobhan reacted with delight. Oddly, Siobhan then left Anna by herself.
At that point, the spirit of Adeline, Dex’s deceased wife, reappeared, recalling a scene from episode 7. Adeline encouraged Anna to recite a chant in honour of Hestia, the Greek goddess known for representing the home and hospitality. Against all odds, this approach proved powerful.
Siobhan’s American Horror Story Death Explained
This was no ordinary birth and no ordinary betrayal (Photo: American Horror Story Season 12/20th Century Fox)Kim Kardashian’s Villain Disintegrated Thanks to Anna and Adeline’s Chant
Siobhan’s end came unexpectedly when she returned with another dose of what she called “B12 shots.” Upon seeing Adeline’s ghost, she was visibly shaken. As the chanting to Hestia continued, Siobhan began falling apart, turning to dust in a moment that didn’t match the build-up leading to it.
There was no explanation as to how Adeline’s presence or the ancient prayer held such power against her. Yet, Siobhan vanished, and Anna found herself free from the cult, able to walk again. She soon entered a quiet building, found a bright nursery, and the story wrapped up on an unusual note.
What American Horror Story Season 12’s Ending Meant
Delicate Had A Complicated, Contradictory Take On Motherhood
Inside the nursery, Anna met her now-human baby and picked him up tenderly, finding her Oscar placed neatly on a shelf. While she held both the award and her child, she also wore the headpiece Siobhan left behind, which added confusion to the message the series was sending.
Though American Horror Story season 12 did better in some areas compared to past seasons, this closing scene made it hard to pin down what the show was trying to say about motherhood, ambition, patriarchy, feminism, or cultural expectations. The lack of a strong conclusion made things feel unresolved.
On one side, the cult tricked women into believing they could balance it all, only to use them for their dark goals. On the other side, Anna seemed to get everything she wanted—both a successful career and a child—thanks to her devotion to a family-centered goddess.
Her holding the Oscar and the baby while wearing the cult’s headpiece raised the possibility that she might end up leading the same group she once feared. As for the baby turning normal, the show didn’t provide a reason. Because of all this, American Horror Story: Delicate ended in a confusing and unsteady manner.
