American Horror Story Cult 704 review: Poison Ivy

American Horror Story Cult gave us a lot to think about with episode 4. Let’s take a look at “11/9” and break it all down. Or try to.

Just when you think you know what’s happening on American Horror Story, the tables turn on you. Episode 4 turned the show upside down.

As it turns out, Kai’s influence extends far into this Michigan community. He’s a mad genius with a knack for ferreting out weakness and those who have been kicked to the societal curb. He builds people back up with misguided confidence. After “11/9” we now know how he brought Harrison, Meadow, Beverley, and Gary the Grocer to his fold.

More surprisingly, though, is Winter’s influence on Ivy.

Let’s back up for a moment. The first scene of episode 4 was all of our cast in line to vote. This is where we see Ivy and Ally thrilling over Hillary’s projected win. We see Winter and her girlfriends bucking the patriarchy. Harrison listens as Meadow laments not being qualified to cast a vote. And Beverley is forced to watch young reporter Serena steal her thunder and call her a “Nasty Woman.”

All of these people are messed up somehow. And Kai has influenced them all, if not directly than indirectly.

Most intriguing is what happened the day before Election Day, when Ivy went to the Hillary rally (alone, because Ally was conviced Hillary had the presidency locked up) and was sexually assaulted by a “pussy grabber.” Winter stepped in and defended her, and then ended up having a quaint dinner with Ivy, who spilled the beans about being disatisfied in her marriage to Ally. Later the duo go find Gary the Grocer and tie him up, and then Kai convinces him to cut his own arm off.

There are a few things to break down here.

First off, Ivy and Ally are at the polls the very next day after Ivy and Winter tie Gary up and leave him in the basement. She’s acting totally normal. This is odd.

Secondly, Ivy never told Ally that she knew Winter already when Winter applied for the nanny position. Why? Is Ivy working with Winter to set Ally up so Ivy can leave her? It certainly looks that way.

Lastly, let’s consider the scene from “Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark” when Oz wakes up and the clown is in his room. Winter had told him earlier that night to simply ask if he’s ever unsure about being asleep or awake. When he asks, the clown tells him he’s sleeping so he goes back to sleep. That same clown gently closes the door and leaves to terrorize Ally. Could it be that Clown #3 is Ivy? (This, assuming that Harrison and Meadow are the other clowns)

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“11/9” gave us a lot to think about. Of all of the revelations, this revelation about Ivy is perhaps the biggest of them all. Not only is it bad enough to think of what she’s doing to Ally (if that’s the case) but it’s even more chilling to think of how normal she has been acting in spite of what she has done.

American Horror Story Cult airs Tuesdays at 10pm on FX.

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