Head (American Horror Story)
"Head" is the ninth episode of the third season of the anthology television series American Horror Story, which premiered on December 11, 2013, on the cable network FX. The episode was written by Tim Minear and directed by Howard Deutch.
| "Head" | |
|---|---|
| American Horror Story episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 3 Episode 9 |
| Directed by | Howard Deutch |
| Written by | Tim Minear |
| Featured music |
|
| Production code | 3ATS09 |
| Original air date | December 11, 2013 |
| Running time | 43 minutes |
| Guest appearance(s) | |
| |
In this episode, Fiona (Jessica Lange) looks to form an alliance with Marie Laveau (Angela Bassett) while Cordelia (Sarah Paulson)'s attacker is revealed. Angela Bassett, Gabourey Sidibe, and Patti LuPone guest star as Marie Laveau, Queenie, and Joan Ramsey, respectively. This episode is rated TV-MA (LSV).
Plot
1991
A young boy is taught to hunt by his father in the Chattahoochee National Forest. With rifle in hand, Hank waits for his father to flush out their prey. Hank aims his rifle as a scared woman arrives in front of him. He hesitates shooting her and she flings a fireball toward him. His father pushes him out of the way, causing the man's arm to get scorched, and shoots the witch in the head. Hank apologizes, and his father tells him to show no mercy and to "never forget what they are".
2013
Fiona carries Delphine's head in a box into Cornrow City and asks Marie about an alliance. When Marie shows no concern about the witch hunters, Fiona suggests they will eradicate the voodoo tribe after the witches are dead. Marie says she'll worry about that when the time comes and orders Queenie, who now works in the beauty parlor, to burn Delphine's head.
In the Academy's kitchen, Myrtle watches as Cordelia drops some eggs in an attempt to make breakfast. She asks Cordelia if she believes Myrtle blinded her. Myrtle recounts the day when young Cordelia first arrived at the Academy when Cordelia asked if Myrtle was now her mother. Cordelia knows Myrtle did not harm her.
Hank arrives at Delphi Trust in Atlanta, Georgia. With his father and David, he discusses the orders given to him to act as an information gatherer, not as a witch hunter. Hank is frustrated with his role and claims a successful hunt on his own. His father calls Hank sloppy, explaining how that "success" actually required his father to "clean up" the murder of Kaylee. Hank is shocked to learn that Delphi was behind the attack on Cordelia. His father reminds Hank that one day Cordelia will have to be "put down."
At the Academy, Myrtle prepares for a meeting with the Council of Witchcraft. Quentin and Cecily express regret over the "misunderstanding" that led to Myrtle's death, but marvel at her healed scars and ask about Misty's mud. Myrtle corrects them, saying Misty is an extraordinary witch, who had also been killed by those around her. Cecily raises her glass to toast Myrtle and becomes paralyzed, as does Quentin. Myrtle tells her guests that she gave them melon balls laced with monkshood, which made them into "human statues", revealing that she didn't invite them to chastise them, but to help out the Coven. She subsequently uses the melon baller to scoop out Cecily's left eye, then Quentin's right eye. Later, Cordelia wakes in her bed with her vision restored – now using Quentin and Cecily's eyes. Later, Cordelia realizes that she has lost the power of Second Sight.
Zoe and Madison arrive at the hospital to find Nan sitting outside Luke's room. His mother, Joan, will not let her in to see him. The three enter and Joan chastises them. Nan tells her that Luke says to calm down. She also mentions "Just a Closer Walk with Thee" that Joan used to sing to him when he broke his arm as an 8-year-old. At first, Joan dismisses the clairvoyance but soon sings the song at Luke's bedside while holding both his and Nan's hand.
Hank eats takeout food in his home. Wounds appear on his body and he convulses in odd angles on the floor. Marie has begun a voodoo doll ritual on him. A man kicks in his door and tells him he is feeling the wrath of broken promises. Hank's cell phone rings and the man answers it, holding it to Hank's ear. Marie tells him the witches die that night or the next needle will put a hole in his heart. Later, Hank arrives to see Cordelia has regained her sight and begs her forgiveness. She tells him that she has spoke to her lawyer and is filing for divorce and that his belongings are in an Academy closet.
In Luke's hospital room, Nan tells Joan that Luke says that God is judging his mother for killing his father. Joan maintains that the man died from anaphylaxis, but we see in flashback that Joan caused the anaphylaxis herself, putting bees into her husband's car and locking him in it. Luke continues to speak through Nan, revealing the knowledge that his father was leaving Joan for his lover Mrs. Marteaux, a woman from Joan's book club, an affair that predicated the murder. Joan accuses Nan of being deceitful and treacherous, forcing the young witch to leave.
Fiona gets a dog in order to give the Coven more protection and discovers Kyle in Zoe's bedroom. Fiona tells Kyle to leave and calls for the dog, but in a sideways allusion to Of Mice and Men, as she leaves the room, she hears Kyle clumsily snap the dog's neck. As Zoe, Nan, and Madison return to the Academy, they find Kyle and Fiona playing gin rummy, with Kyle winning. The girls discover Fiona has "spruced up" Kyle, not simply to have a better card partner, but also to provide the Coven with a "guard dog" that will attack on command.
After failing to make Delphine understand her black heritage, Queenie plays videos of civil rights era news footage, accompanied by spirituals. LaLaurie appears to be affected by the music and is driven to tears by the images of civil rights abuse. Downstairs, Queenie takes her place at the salon's front desk, as Hank enters, armed with multiple high-powered guns. He storms in and begins shooting the voodoo tribe. He finds Marie as she attempts to teleport, but he manages to shoot her in the arm. Just as Hank is about to kill Marie, a wounded Queenie finds a handgun and shoots herself in the mouth, killing Hank and leaving her in an unknown state.
Hank's father is shown weeping over the images of his dead son. At the hospital, Luke wakes and accuses his mother of his father's murder. She tells him to go back to sleep, then smothers him with a pillow to keep the authorities from learning her dark secret. Meanwhile, Marie arrives at the Academy with her arm bandaged. She enters the Academy, and a knowing Fiona closes the door behind her.
Reception
Rotten Tomatoes reports a 77% approval rating, based on 13 reviews. The critical consensus reads, ""Head" churns out terrific dialogue and a series of surprising plot twists, even as the sheer number of narrative arcs and political themes induce a certain amount of viewer fatigue."[1] Emily VanDerWerff of The A.V. Club gave the episode a C- rating, saying, "There's a lot of "Head" that sort of feels like it works, particularly in the closing passages, where the episode almost manages that American Horror Story thing where a bunch of disparate elements the series has been building all season come together in a giant gumbo of wackadoo... But then I look at the episode and the season as a whole, and I'm just exhausted by it, and not in a good way."[2] Matt Fowler from IGN gave the episode a 7.7/10 rating, stating, "The Hank storyline and his unexpected, violent turn on Laveau was very well done. The rest of "Head" felt undercooked though... I appreciate that the show takes risks with its mesh of tones, but there also comes a point where you just can't take away anything meaningful from a scene featuring a sassy head. Even if it's Kathy Bates."[3]
"Head" received a 2.1 18–49 ratings share and was watched by 3.94 million viewers in its original American broadcast, a slight decrease from the previous episode.[4]
References
- "Head – American Horror Story: Coven, Episode 9". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved November 29, 2018.
- VanDerWerff, Emily (December 11, 2013). "American Horror Story: "Head"". The A.V. Club. Retrieved August 2, 2019.
- Fowler, Matt (December 11, 2013). "Never Forget What They Are". IGN. Retrieved December 12, 2013.
- Bibel, Sara (December 12, 2013). "Wednesday Cable Ratings: 'Duck Dynasty' Wins Night, 'American Horror Story', 'South Park', 'Rodeo Girls', 'Key & Peele' & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
