A Deadly Descent: American Horror Story Season 12 Episode 2 Review

American Horror Story (AHS) once again does a chilling job of blending the familiar with the fresh in its gripping episode two. It’s a slow burn into Anna’s (Emma Roberts) failing psyche as she spirals downward, blurring the lines between reality and her mind’s unsettling fabrications.

Credit: FX

Eerie hints of doubt haunt this episode as Anna sees footage proving that the home intruder she saw prowling around is nothing more than a figment of her imagination. Or is it? Such ambiguity is the overarching theme of this episode and will surely play a major role throughout the season.

In this episode, we meet Nurse Ivy, portrayed by one of the show’s OGs, Cara Delevigne. Anna’s encounter with Ivy hints at something yet to come, and we’re here for it.

Credit: FX

Meanwhile, Anna achieves career success with a Gotham Award nomination, which only adds to her already ‘delicate’ emotional state. Siobhan (Kardashian), Anna’s publicist is no help, planting the seed of further insecurities regarding Anna’s celebrity image. She suggests a dose of B12 vials…

Anna’s violent out-of-character explosion to a social media post results in Dex’s accidental face-stabbing, reminding viewers that with AHS, anything can happen – and it probably will.

Credit: FX

Psychological thriller fans will appreciate the satisfying juxtaposition between the limelight, the glamour, and the drama set against the grotesque events and visions that follow. Perhaps the most chilling scene of the episode – the bleeding fan’s appearance in the audience – played nicely into the theme of unreality that’s expertly been established so far this season.

As we move through the story, it becomes increasingly clear that the true horror Anna faces may not be limited to the supernatural world. Rife with eerie occurrences, like the disembodied whispers in the basement or the disturbing hospital ordeal where Anna learns that there is no ‘Nurse Ivy,’ this episode leaves viewers guessing.

What’s real? And what’s nothing more than a vision stemming from Anna’s fast-deteriorating mental state?

Credit: FX

From the dizzying highs of success to the devastating lows of personal tragedy, Emma Roberts’ portrayal of Anna is award-worthy. An unsettling yet fascinating meld of paranoia, societal pressures, and the lurking shadows of the unknown, this season is already alarming with the worst still on its way. Where does the deception end and the truth begin? Another piece of the puzzle drops next week, so stay tuned.