‘American Horror Story: 13’ Episodes 4-6 Recap: The Coven Returns as Devil’s Night Gets Deadly

The last three episodes have put Ben (Joey Pollari) through the American Horror Story wringer: He survived a plane crash; his girlfriend Kira (Madelaine Petsch) and all her friends are dead, and familiar faces from AHS past are resurfacing for one groovy ghoulie get-together. Ben suffers from triskaidekaphobia, while John Waters‘ Dr. Phibes is a bit of an ophiophile, and Twisty is doing his best to make everyone coulrophobic. Meanwhile, “someone” is grave-robbing infamous figures from history, and Constance Langdon (Jessica Lange) is overseeing the whole macabre affair. Just another perfectly normal week in the AHS universe.

Episode 4, “Is That All There Is?”, begins where we left off at Club Hell, with poor Elizabeth Short (Mena Suvari) being led toward a mysterious ceremony.

Meanwhile, a drugged Ben wanders through the vast apartment looking for Mr. Nas (Fedor Steer), who is drinking what appears to be blood from a chalice. Soon, Ben is being fed from the same goblet by Paul Anthony Kelly. Is it a dream, or is this happening to poor Ben?

Cut back to Club Hell, where Elsa Mars (Lange) is looking sharp in blue suit as the Teutonic mistress of ceremonies, hosting once again Fräulein Elsa’s Cabinet of Curiosities, surrounded by her old sideshow colleagues. Wilhemina Venable (Sarah Paulson) looks on as Elsa sings “Is That All There Is?” before welcoming the Satanists of Club Hell and presenting Mr. Nas with “gifts” to be sacrificed in a pit of fire.

Eric Liebowitz/FX

The gifts are supposed to be 13 women killed before reaching their full potential. Among them are Hypodermic Sally, Eva Braun, Wallis Simpson, Ayn Rand, Brigitte Bardot, Catherine the Great, Mamie Eisenhower, Elena Ceaușescu, Jezebel, Tuberculous Karen, Margaret Thatcher, and Elizabeth Short.

There’s just one problem: They’re one lass short. To complete the ceremony, Wilhemina jumps into the pit herself, unleashing a tornado of fire.

And then Ben wakes up.

It’s morning, and Dr. Phibes and Constance are hovering over him. As Ben recovers, Phibes explains the significance of 13: It’s Mr. Nas’ favorite number. Their group was brought back by Satan, and the previous night Mr. Nas finally allowed his son to drink from the chalice.

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'American Horror Story: 13': Constance, Tate, Addy & More Return for a Hellish Gathering

Phibes also reveals that before his death, he dreamed of becoming the next Kenneth Anger. Once Mr. Nas returns, he hopes to trade his soul for the chance to finally make his biker movie.

Constance made a similar bargain. Mr. Nas appeared to her like a fallen angel and recruited her to help him regain his throne and rule the world. In exchange, Constance wanted another chance at motherhood — and this time, to get it right. They sealed the deal with a kiss, and Tate (Evan Peters) and Addy (Jamie Brewer) returned to her.

Back in the present, Constance and Phibes check Mr. Nas’ blood. The sacrifices have pushed his biomarkers to 96. At 100, he rises.

A new dawn is approaching…

Episode 5 “Date Night” offers a brief reprieve from the madness of AHS while delivering plenty of backstory…and one familiar face from AHS history.

Ashley, Ben’s fellow Flight 13 survivor, comes over with Mint Milanos, and what starts as a late-night check-in quickly becomes something more intimate. Both are struggling with trauma, survivor’s guilt, and an inability to sleep.

She explains that she had taken Xanax before boarding Flight 13 and believes it ultimately saved her life. Rather than bracing during the crash, she went limp on impact. This allowed her to survive while all her friends perished.

Eric Liebowitz/FX

Ben understands that guilt. Ashley reveals that she knows Ben contacted the families of Kira’s friends after the accident to check on them. When Ashley asks what he misses about Kira, Ben admits he misses the companionship and feeling of togetherness. Ashley is less sentimental, calling Kira manipulative and admitting she feels some relief that she’s gone. Ben refuses to go that far, describing Kira simply as a “force.”

Their conversation turns to Kira, with Ashley admitting she found Ben’s late girlfriend and her bestie more than a bit manipulative. Ben won’t speak badly about her, explaining that Kira was the last person who made him feel at home.

The pair discovers another connection when Ben admits his triskaidekaphobia. Ashley understands better than he expects. She was terrified of Flight 13 because it departed on Friday the 13th — and because she already had her own horrific history with the number.

During a family wedding “luau” celebration in New Jersey in May 2020, Ashley watched as Piggy Man — the killer previously seen in American Horror Story: Roanoke — attacked the gathering and slaughtered her relatives. Ashley was the sole survivor. Thirteen people died.

Ben then shares why the number has haunted him for most of his life. He was born on Friday the 13th, and his mother died during childbirth. Years later, his father was killed in a drunk-driving accident, sending Ben into foster care. After several terrible homes, he finally found happiness with a foster mother named Martha, who called him “Sonny Boy” and genuinely loved him. She died of cancer on his 13th birthday.

Kira, Ben admits, was the last person who made him feel like he had a home.

Eric Liebowitz/FX

That confession changes the mood between them. Ashley comforts Ben as he cries, and their connection turns romantic. They kiss and eventually sleep together, with Ashley allowing Ben to see and touch the scars she has spent the night discussing.

The next morning, neither seems to regret what happened. But their brief moment of happiness ends when Ashley notices something on Ben’s lower back: “6-1-6” appears to have been branded into his skin.

Ben has no idea how it got there.

Episode 6, “The Return of Devil’s Night,” begins with a familiar face: Jeffrey Dahmer (Seth Gabel). He’s examining dead things when James Patrick March (Evan Peters) arrives to collect him for their evening. Riding in the back of a Waymo, the two marvel at modern technology — how Tinder and Grindr make it easier for prey to come to them, and how communicating with fellow lunatics is now as simple as a text thread. March is assembling a special group for this Devil’s Night. “It’s witch-hunting season.”

Eric Liebowitz/FX

Meanwhile, at Miss Robichaux’s Academy, strange things are happening. Morwenna (Alex Consani) is displaying powerful new abilities, including resurgence magic stronger than anything seen in years. It sends Cordelia (Sarah Paulson) into a tizzy — and scares the Coven. Three girls have manifested rare new powers in a single moon, suggesting magic itself is recalibrating and trying to arm them against something. The problem? Cordelia can’t see what’s coming.

The witches gather over shots of absinthe, and Mallory (Billie Lourd) joins Cordelia in ordering everyone to focus their powers. They are now a coven of 13, and together they attempt to contact Fiona Goode for help.

Their request appears to be answered.

Cordelia sends the others away so she can speak to her mother alone. If it is her mother…

A knock at the door brings Mr. March, who brandishes a sickle, only for Cordelia to fling it straight into his skull. His wound immediately heals. When Ophelia comes downstairs, March goes after her, and Cordelia sends him flying to the ceiling.

Eric Liebowitz/FX

So he calls in reinforcements: Dahmer, Zodiac, and the Night Stalker (Zach Villa), who grabs Ophelia. Cordelia runs, but March’s sickle finds its mark, striking her in the back of the head.

“That’s right, folks,” March yells to the witches upstairs. “The Cortez Devils are dining out tonight!”

Creator Ryan Murphy told TV Insider that bringing the different American Horror Story worlds together in Season 13 had long been part of his plan. “When we got to Season 10, I thought we might get to Season 13, and I knew that would be a really big greatest hits with all the villains, and the ultimate villain, that’s new this season,” Murphy said. “But I just love working with them. I love writing for them. It’s fun.”

American Horror Story: 13, Thursdays, FX and Hulu