In the final episode of Part One of “AHS: Delicate,” viewers finally get some insight into the cult-like happenings from the previous episodes. Though this episode doesn’t address every strange occurrence, the audience finally learns Mrs. Preecher’s backstory, and how she is connected to Anna and her stalkers.
Mrs. Preecher’s story begins in 1987 as an up-and-coming fashion designer and a protege of Karl Lagerfeld and Yves Saint Laurent. She has a bright future ahead of her, studying under the biggest fashion designers in the world until her position is compromised when she unexpectedly gets pregnant.
On her way to an abortion clinic, Preecher is approached by the winged creatures that have been stalking Anna. The creatures seem to be part of a cult that steals babies in return for fame. They tell Preecher that if she gives them her baby, they could offer her the world, allowing her to keep her budding future as a fashion designer.
In the same way that Mary Tudor gave up her baby in Episode Four, Mrs. Preecher exchanges her baby and then sells the patent for her handbag design to Marc Jacobs, making her extraordinarily wealthy for the rest of her life.
In the present day, Preecher approaches Dex’s mom and warns her that Dex and Anna are in danger because the cult is targeting their baby next.
The perspective switches to Anna, whose pregnancy symptoms are rapidly worsening. Dr. Hill does a home visit, who dismisses the extreme pain Anna is experiencing, and attributes it to a rib flare, claiming it’s a normal symptom of pregnancy.
But as Anna’s hair continues to fall out, her skin worsens and she coughs up blood, it’s clear her pregnancy is the opposite of normal, but no one believes or considers her concerns.
Much to Anna’s shock, Dr. Hill recommends that Anna should avoid traveling and stress to ensure she and the baby remain healthy. This means Anna must choose between her career and campaigning for her Golden Globe Awards nomination, to ensure that she has a healthy, normal pregnancy, eerily mimicking Preecher’s choice.
Later in the episode, Anna visits Cora, a physiotherapist for a pelvic massage as recommended by Dr. Hill. Anna explicitly tells Cora that she only wants an external massage, and Anna is clearly uncomfortable with the entire idea. Despite Anna’s request, Cora does an internal massage, despite Anna frantically yelling at her to stop.
When Anna comes home and tells Dex she was assaulted, Dex doesn’t believe her. He admits that he thinks Anna is crazy and has been making up the stalkers and strange occurrences that have been plaguing her pregnancy.
Dex’s motives and connection to the cult are still left unanswered. Not only does he gaslight Anna, but he makes it explicitly clear that he doesn’t believe her. In this episode, it’s revealed that his deceased ex-wife Adeline has some connection to the cult, but it’s still unclear how. It’s also hinted that Nicolette and Sonia have ties to Adeline, but how they’re all intertwined is uncertain.
Even Siobhan’s motives are murky. In the final scene of the episode, Siobhan calls Anna and asks if her fame or baby is more important. Anna picks her career, and Siobhan immediately hangs up the phone. Soon after, Anna receives a text that Babette Eno, the woman who won the Golden Globe over Anna, was mysteriously killed in a car crash, effectively eliminating Anna’s main competition for stardom.
By the end of the episode, it’s clear that Siobhan isn’t just a comedic foil and might be the true villain of the season, but her involvement in the cult is still a mystery.
While “AHS” is known for being spooky and ominous, it shouldn’t take five episodes to gain a basic understanding of the plot. Even by the end of Part One, the motives of the characters and their connection to this cult are still unanswered, leaving viewers confused and wishing for a more cohesive storyline.
Rating: 2.5/5
