Wednesday’s “American Horror Story” greatly fueled the show’s progression, transitioning it from a show preoccupied with sex, violence and shocks to one with layer, substance and story.
A key episode reveal involved the explanation for Constance’s (Jessica Lange) previous comment to Moira (Francis Conroy, Alexandra Breckenridge), “Don’t make me kill you again.”
In a flashback to 1983, Constance, apparently having learned of a transgression between her husband and Moira (in the younger, Breckenridge form), walked in on the two in a compromising sexual position. Whereas they did fool around once, this was not what it necessarily appeared to be–Moira had resisted the man’s advances and was en route to being a victim of rape.
This was no time for airing grievances and making excuses, however. Constance quickly shot Moira through the eye, killing her dead and establishing why the older Moira has the messed-up eye. She ranted on her husband, noting this would be the last time he broke her heart. She thought him multiple times in the chest, and then broke down in tears.
Flash forward to the future, in which Ben (Dylan McDermott) finds himself digging into the yard. Moira seems preoccupied with what lies beneath, while Constance seems dead-set on keeping Ben from digging further, going as far as to suggest he build a gazebo over the site.
Later, when Larry kills Ben’s pregnant “mistress” Hayden, he digs further into the ‘grave’ and finds what is evidently Moira’s body. Moira looks mortified, as it is clear the plan is to cover it up.
Sure enough, the episode moves towards the end with Ben covering the trench and building the recommended gazebo.
Was the “reveal” what it seemed to be? That if one’s body is trapped on the site of the house, so too is the soul?
According to Alexandra Breckenridge, “young Moira,” the answer is yes.
“Essentially if you pass away on the property and your body remains there, you’re stuck in the house,” Breckenridge offers,” says Breckenridge in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter. “Most of [Moira’s] purpose is trying to get her body dug up so she can get out of there and move on.”
In the episode, Moira references wanting to be with her mother. Some hints/potential candidates began to emerge, but that remains one of the mysteries still to be fully-revealed.
