My Review of American Horror Story: 13 - Rauhnacht

 

Written by Ned Martel And Charlie Carver 

Directed by Crystle Roberson Dorsey 

Winter (to Kai, re Constance): "She's really hitting that thirteen thing extra hard, right?"

If there was any confusion that this season wasn't all about the number 13 and everything significant about it, how about a snarky line from Winter to further drive the point home for good measure? Yes, Constance is pushing the number thirteen hard.

In particular with the unfortunate Bkack Dahlia aka Miss Elizabeth Short. This was a great episode for Mena Suvari. She gave the standout performance here. I mean, the sense of dread surrounding the poor woman was palpable. I knew it wasn't going to end well for her.

Constance, Tate, Kai, Adelaide and Winter were like vipers with the way they kept sizing up Elizabeth. The poor woman could barely remember her death and seemingly cannot remember her rebirth. Have all these returning faces been reborn? I'm presuming by Mr. Nas but at what cost?

When Elizabeth wasn't having pieces of her history referenced to her by others, she got led all the way down to the lower floor of the Apollyon. Winter talked about Club Hell and then Ms. Venable (Sarah Paulson) popped up at the very moment as a jump scare. Oh, Elizabeth, you should've declined that invitation to the Apollyon. It's not going to end well for her next week.

Then there's Ben. Our sweet heroic leading man made for a distressed dude when Constance decided to drug him and mess with his memories. Tate wanted to dispose of Ben but as predicted, he's needed alive for reasons that hopefully will be made clear within next week's triple bills. Never accept beverages from Constance. That's a lesson for Ben to learn when he gets his memories back.

As for the rest of the episode, a part of my heart has warmed with the new found closeness that Constance now has with Tate and Adelaide. I'm also enjoying the Tate/Adelaide vs. Kai/Winter rivalry as well. That elevator scene with those four and an unsuspecting Elizabeth needed to be longer because it was the best scene in this episode.

- There was some flashbacks to the events of Murder House to fill in bits of Elizabeth's story.

- The shortest episode in the series, clocking in 22 minutes. Oddly the strongest one too.

- Joe the Doorman (Berto Colon) seemed a bit too enthusiastic in setting those dogs on Ben. Constance really went in with some racial stereotyping when Ben rightfully called out her smoking.

- Winter didn't appreciate Adelaide's Christmas puns but didn't mind Constance's summary of her name. There's still issues between her and Kai.

- Standout music: Midnight Masquerade played in the background during Elizabeth's scenes.

- Chronology: Rauhnacht is a German pagan ritual that focuses on 13 wishes. They're on the thirteenth night, so we're into January in New York.

Rauhnacht made for a short but strong episode. A further tragic story for the Black Dahlia with Constance, Tate, Kai, Adelaide and Winter leading Elizabeth to her doom. The Ben scenes were more subdued (as was he) and I did like that Venable appearance at the end.

Rating: 7 out of 10