American Horror Stories Season 1 finale recap: Game Over

American Horror Stories concluded its first season this week, and I must say, it wasn’t everything we were hoping for. In fact, it felt like a narcissistic homage to Ryan Murphy’s work with the franchise over the years. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love Murphy’s work, and I watch every single one of his shows. However, I’m not sure where he was going with this particular series, or rather, this very episode.

Instead of taking the opportunity to give us fresh new stories, nearly half of the American Horror Stories season was about…Murder House. It’s an iconic season from the original series, but personally, I didn’t see a point in bringing it into this one. On top of that, the season one finale was lackluster and underwhelming, to say the least.

The entire episode played out as a meta twist on the franchise and Murder House. A couple, Connie (Noah Cyrus) and Dylan (Adam Hagenbuch) showed up hoping to get through a night at the Murder House (which is now being used as an Air BnB fan experience) because they were huge American Horror Story fans. And since this is a tale as old as time, we know exactly how their night will play out.

Much to my surprise, we had not one but two Fuller House cast members, which made the whole experience that much weirder. They went from wholesome to…well, you know. The entire episode was, from start to finish, quite an experience all centered on Murphy’s Murder House season. Let’s dive into that and more below in our recap of this week’s episode of American Horror Stories.

American Horror Stories Season 1 finale recap: Stay the night–if you dare

Connie and Dylan arrive at the actual Murder House not slightly nervous or scared of what could be in store. In fact, they met at a Comic-Con and instantly fell in love as they were cosplaying as Son of Bloody Face and Sister Jude. It was love at first sight for these American Horror Story superfans, and the rest is history.

Things kicked off with some awkward sex followed soon thereafter by creepy noises throughout the house. Unlike past visitors, however, Connie and Dylan are not fazed by anything. They come across a dying nurse on the stairs and the Infantata in the basement, but it’s not until things get real that they realize things aren’t just “an experience”.

They try to escape but Dylan is shot to death by Addie (Jamie Brewer) and then Connie is stabbed to death by…Twisty the Clown. Yes, Twisty the clown makes an unexpected return, but that was just one of a handful of cameos.

The whole thing was weird and confusing and the whole thing was compounded by the fact that none of it was real. Rather…it was an American Horror Story video game. Yup.

American Horror Stories Season 1 finale recap:  An American Horror Story video game

The scene pulls out to a woman named Michelle (Mercedes Mason) and her son Rory (Nicolas Bechtel) who was playing the video game. The artist behind the game is none other than Michelle herself, but Rory doesn’t think his mom did a great job. He pointed out all the inaccuracies of the game, including characters that were in it but shouldn’t have been since they didn’t die in the house.

Hoping to make this game a resounding success, Michelle goes above and beyond and purchases the Murder House property. Her ex-husband, Steven (John Brotherton), chalked off her decision as another impulse obsession, but that didn’t stop Michelle from moving in on Halloween night.

Murder House fans know that Halloween night is the one night the spirits inside the house can leave the house and do as they wish through the night. Michelle arrives at the house and bumps into Dr. Ben Harmon (we meet again, Dylan McDermott!), who immediately divulges his afterlife story. Then Ruby (Kaia Gerber) shows up threatening death and destruction as she killed Michelle on the spot.

One year later…

Michelle leaves the house on Halloween to go visit Rory, who isn’t very happy to see her. In fact, he’s pissed that Michelle went to the house in the first place knowing the legend behind it. He thinks that the house should be burned down because he’s tired of hearing about Murder House (so are we, kid). But if he burns the house, it means all the spirits within it will be freed and no longer haunt the house.

Despite Michelle’s pleas for him not to, Rory follows through on his promise and burns down the Murder House. Ruby tries to stop him because going away means she will never see Scarlett (Sierra McCormick) again. She’s unsuccessful in stopping him because Ben and the other girls do want to be freed of the torture they’ve been dealing with for so long. I’m not sure how, but Ruby uses the phone she has (which still has service for some reason) to text Scarlett about the situation. But it’s too late.

American Horror Stories Season 1 finale recap: Murder House no more

There is yet another time jump (around three years) where Scarlett returns to the property which now has a lavish condo there. She buys the ground floor condo (she’s apparently now an assassin with money) and hopes to bring back Ruby in some capacity.

It seems for a moment that Ruby is indeed gone for good but then she shows up in Scarlett’s bed. Instead of crossing over like everyone else, Ruby waited for Scarlett–that’s sweet, I guess? But don’t get too attached to this happily ever after because this whole thing too was a video game.

The scene once again cuts back to Rory playing the video game, but this time way prouder of his mother. It’s everything she could have wanted to hear from her son. And just as we think we’ve said goodbye to this Murder House thing once and for all, we see the stinking red rubber ball come out from the couch. Ugh, so does this mean Murder House or some part of it is still very much a thing? And was this all a video game for reals? I don’t get any of it, do you?

Please. save. us.

This whole episode was just too confusing and weird, and even the cameos couldn’t save it. And that’s all I have to say about that.

Let’s hope this was the last time we have to see Murder House.

What did you think of the season one final of American Horror Stories? Tell us in the comments below!