American Horror Story has been known for their Halloween episodes. However, this week’s episode was lacking the element of surprise. Feeling more like a filler episode to help connect the dots in what is the slowest catchup to the season current timeline. Here is my breakdown of episode 8, “Sojourn.” 

Fighting Words 

This episode focused around Michael Langdon and the fallout from losing his allies (Ms. Meade, Ariel Augustus, and Baldwin Pennypacker). After a confrontation standoff between Cordelia Foxx and Michael, the current Supreme informs the antichrist that she has trapped Ms. Meade’s soul with a spell only she can break. Therefore Michael cannot resurrect his beloved friend. Earning Cordelia a heated warning from Michael that he will kill every last one of the witches and from the looks of the promo for episode 9, Michael is not one to bluff.

The Cooperative 

Judging by the teaser for the next episode we will learn more about the establishment of The Cooperative and the organization’s key players. We possibly even meet them in this episode in the forms of satanist billionaire engineers Jeff (Evan Peters) and Mutt (Billy Eichner). This episode was another flashback episode of the many flashback episodes of this season. Giving fans insight into Ms. Meade and how she was created.

After the loss of Ms. Meade’s soul, Michael wanders around like a lost puppy throughout the episode. Until he stumbles upon The Church of Satan and makes a quick friend in satanist, Madeline (Harriet Sansom Harris). The two become the Bonnie and Clyde of the episode as Madeline helps Michael find his path. Michael feeling refueled after partaking in a sacrifice is lead on a path by Madeline to meet Jeff and Mutt.

Proclaimed satanist Jeff and Mutt offer their knowledge to assist the antichrist in recreating Ms. Meade. The A.I version of Ms. Meade is uncanny and even Michael himself is surprised by the realistic version. However, Jeff and Mutt did give Michael instructions on Ms. Meade’s warning label. The warning is simple “Don’t ever tell Ms. Meade what she is.” But we know Michael does not follow this warning in episode 3 when he tells Ms. Meade exactly what she is. Guess we will have to see when the timeline catches up if Ms. Meade will self-destruct or lose control. Leading Michael to have to put down Ms. Meade for the second time.

Notable Moments

• We got to see another glimpse of Ms. Venable and we get an idea of her purple infatuation that defined the elite of Outpost 3 as she dawned a purple suit with her fabulous red locks this episode. I am curious to learn a bit more about Ms. Venable and her hand in The Cooperative.
• Michael in this episode was lost and abandoned, leading the antichrist to be in one of his most vulnerable states. Allowing for God to play on Michael’s lingering humanity as he is visited by Angels in the form of children offering food and grape soda to him. Michael declines the offerings and lastly sees an Angel in their true form. To which the Angel exclaims to Michael that “God loves you.” However, this is not the only time Michael has been offered to follow the path of light or self-searching of his humanity. Ben was the first offered aid to Michael to turn good, then by Cordelia when she offers him a new path by joining her, and lastly by God. Guess we will have to see if there is light still in Michael and if good will triumph evil.