American Horror Story: Cult - Episode 6 Mid-Western Assassin (Review)

People like Mr. Anderson and Trump are not the garbage. They are the flies that the garbage draws. 

It's time that we stop worrying about the flies and and start hauling away the garbage. - Sally Keffler 

Wow guys! You all know I've really been loving this season of American Horror Story so far, but literally every episode just keeps getting better! This one is no exception! Before I get into my review I have to note that there are two edits of this episode, due to the tragedy that occurred in Las Vegas. The episode opens with a mass shooting, so Ryan Murphy and the other producers decided to cut the more graphic parts of that scene from the version that aired Tuesday night. The unedited cut was then made available On-Demand and on FXNow. For the purposes of my review I watched the unedited version of the episode. With that out of the way, below is my in depth review of American Horror Story: Cult Episode 6 titled Mid-Western Assassin!

This episode opens with an intense scene that takes place during one of Kai's political rallies. We hear Kai giving a speech when suddenly gunshots ring out. We follow Ivy through the crowd as others are being shot around her. She hides behind a fountain as gunshots are still going off. Finally, SWAT arrives and surrounds the shooter who is revealed to be Ally. She drops the gun seemingly in shock and the camera pans over to show Kai lying on the stage shot. This scene is done extremely well in my opinion. The cinematographer Gavin Kelly and Director Bradley Buecker make a great decision to film a large portion of the scene in a single steadicam shot following Ivy through the crowd. This adds a great deal of intensity to the scene and makes the viewer feel like they are there with her. Allison Pill, also has a stand out performance in this scene. You can feel the terror just by watching her reaction to what is happening around her. Once again, this season provides a well done, shocking cold open to hook it's viewers into the rest of the episode.

After the credits we pick up with Ally when she sees Meadow get taken last episode after being told about the cult. She hangs up on Ivy and begins locking all the doors in her house. Dr. Vincent then calls her. She questions why he called as she is starting not to trust anyone. He tells her that Ivy called him and told him about what happened. She opens up to him about what Meadow told her, but he does not believe her and recommends that she come in for a session (of course he doesn't). Ally hangs up and decides to go try and save Meadow.

After grabbing a knife and some pepper spray, she runs over to the Wilton's. When she gets there she finds a window she can climb in through and comes across Harrison and Detective Samuels having sex (again everyone on this show is horny I swear). She sneaks passed them and finds Meadow tied to a chair in the garage. She unties her and tells her to keep quiet and follow her. As they are leaving Meadow picks up a bag knocking over a tool box in the process (damnit Meadow). Detective Samuels hears it and tries to stop them. They escape the garage and run into Harrison outside. Ally pepper sprays him in the face allowing them to reach her car.

Ally takes her to her restaurant where she asks Meadow to explain everything to her. In this scene Meadow delivers the line of the night after walking in and immediately asking, Oh, can I have a cappuccino? (Meadow kills me she's so funny). Ally sits her down and demands answers. She tells Meadow to convince her that Ivy is part of the cult. My wife is not in a fucking cult! Ivy's not the type. She's not a joiner. She hates all organized religion. She doesn't believe in anything. Meadow simply replies, If you already believed in something, there wouldn't be any room for him. This is an interesting point that raises quite a few questions about ideology and beliefs. Naturally the first question out of Ally's mouth after this statement is who he is. We then cut to the morning where Meadow is telling Ally about Kai. They see him on the news preparing to debate in a town hall. Ally says that she recognizes him from stopping the protests about her and Meadow informs her that he paid those protestors (I KNEW IT!). She asks if they were all members of the cult, but Meadow says that Kai has to choose you to join.

Back in December we see Meadow sitting in Kai's house drawing the designs for Ivy's mask. She is watching as Harrison and Samuels flirting. She narrates her story to Ally. I'd been in love with Harrison since I was ten, but I never knew what love was until I met Kai (oh no the poor woman). She continues to tell Ally how Kai made her feel loved and accepted. We see sequences of her helping him carry out his plans while she tells the story. A larva bee has to shed its skin to become the queen. It can be painful, but the dark must prevail to bring forth the light. And you burn brighter than anyone. Kai's manipulation is on full display in this scene at the expense of Meadow until she walks in on Kai giving that same exact speech to Ivy. We see Meadow having a meltdown as she packs up her things. Kai walks in on her and asks what she is doing and she tells him that she is leaving. She explains that their plan is crazy and won't work and that she knows he doesn't really love her. He has Harrison and Samuels tie her up and throw her on the ground. They leave as Kai walks over to her. You're worthless. You don't exist. You're nothing. He pulls out a boxcutter.

The scene then cuts to Harrison and Samuels throwing Meadow into the hole that Ally found her in last episode. She tells Ally that she'd be dead if she hadn't found her. Ally tells her that if the cops won't listen to them they'll go to the next town over or to the FBI, but Meadow argues that she knows no one will believe them. She tells Ally that there is only one way to stop Kai. They have to kill him ('cause that's going to end super well). American Horror Story: Cult is doing an excellent job at giving us the backstories on all of the cult members over time in a way that fits the narrative of the current story. With Meadow we get a much needed explanation on how she got in with Kai and also a possible explanation of how the opening scene of the episode happens.

After the break we see Kai at the town hall giving a speech about how the new administration in the White House believes as he does that there needs to be a radical change at the local level of government. Washington, D.C. is not gonna save you when the boogyman comes. And mark my words, he not only will come, he has come to our little hamlet. The monsters are here. It's time to be scared. Suddenly, a woman named Sally Keppler, wonderfully played by AHS veteran Mare Winningham, in the crowd speaks up. She tells Kai that he is not actually a conservative, but a reactionary show is just trying to make people scared. She gives him statistics about crime in their town and how the percentages have actually gone down in recent years not up. She continues, People like Mr. Anderson and Trump are not the garbage. They are the flies that the garbage has drawn.  It's time that we stop worrying about the flies and we start hauling away the garbage (wow they actually just said that).

She announces to cheers that she is going to run against Kai in the election. He points out that the deadline is past and she replies that she is going to apply for a write-in candidacy in the morning. He wishes her luck then she walks up to him and says, You're gonna thank me for this one day. A young man's certainty is also his burden. I'm gonna relieve you of both (she is so gonna be the next murder). This who scene is great for a couple of reasons. First, it provides Kai with another obstacle that he has to remove in this episode and also gives a foil to his political arguments. Second, it stands as a great dissection of the current political climate in the U.S. Fear has become a huge factor in shaping both election results and policy decisions.

We cut to another flashback showing Ivy and Winter after election night. Ivy is freaking out after seeing Gary at the polling station. She tells Winter that they are going to be put in jail and she will never get to see Ozzie grow up. Winter assures her that everything will be okay and tells her that she needs to meet her brother (oh god). They walk down to the basement as Kai is sitting in front of the TV watching protests against the president. Protests across the country. The sheep are afraid. They are bleating into the wind. A day late and 74 electoral votes short. He tells Winter that he needs to speak to Ivy alone and she leaves, much to Ivy's protest. He tells Ivy to sit with him and offers his pinky. She turns him down until he tells her what he knows about the situation with Gary. He threatens to let Gary know who it was that attacked him unless she complies.

She sits with him an takes part in the ritual. He asks her what fills her heart with dread and she replies the new president. He becomes and angry and tells her to go deeper, pushing her until she blurts out, The thought of laying in bed next to my wife (well damn Ivy wtf). He asks her when she first started hating Ally and she replies on the happiest of her life. She explains how she wished to be the one to give birth to Ozzie, but couldn't due to health issues. After Ally gave birth to him she became too attached to Ozzie, in Ivy's opinion not letting her play a substantial role in taking care of their son. Ivy laments how one time she actually called Ozzy 'my son' instead of 'our son.' Kai stokes her resentment saying that Ally tried to keep Ozzie close to her on purpose to shut out Ivy from his life (Wtf Kai. You're such an asshole). He asks her if she would be happier with his hot sister, but she says only if she could have Oz too. He asks if she thought about murdering Ally, but Ivy replies that she does not want to put Ozzie through that. In response they decide to make sure no court will grant Ally custody of Ozzie. We finally get the reason why Ally is being targeted and Ivy's motivation for being a part of the cult. To be honest, I'm not sure how I feel about this explanation as it is an all too common negative trope with same sex women couples who have children. This is the direction that the writers have chosen to take and I can only hope that they somehow turn it around later in the story. AHS does have a pretty good track record of LGBTQ+ positive representation so I will wait and see what they do with this aspect.              

We jump back to Ally as she brings Meadow to Dr. Vincent's office (why? Don't trust him). She tells him that Meadow is another victim of the cult and he needs to talk to her. She says that she will be back and asks him to keep Meadow there until she returns (terrible idea). He tells her that he is worried about her and does not want her to let her fear drive her decisions. Ally simply replies, Look me in the eyes and tell me this is fear, then leaves. This episodes continues with the theme of how fear can cause people to make rash decisions.

Sally Keppler can be seen sitting in her house when there is a knock at her door. Ally calls out to her saying that she has important information for her. Sally lets her in and begins to roll a joint. Ally tells her that there is a cult in the city run by her opponent, Kai. She continues explaining to her about Meadow and that she can corroborate her story. Surprising Sally instantly believes her (well damn) saying, I'm not surprised. This is the kind of shit that happens whenever the patriarchy is threatened. She continues to tell Ally how cult leaders throughout history have come to be as a reaction to women's lib. Men are told their whole lives who they're supposed to be, so they never figure out who they really are (well, damn). Every society that has chosen to lead with fear has undone itself (again with the theme of letting fear control your decisions). Once they start talking about a plan, the clowns break into the house (goddamnit). Sally grabs a gun and tells Ally to go hide. Ally runs out of the room and finds a hallway with a bunch of doors.  

Sally is surrounded by the cult waving her gun around at each of them. They are all staring at her waiting for a moment to strike. Please, one of you assholes make a move. I'm desperate to make an example of someone. Before she can fire they all close in on her. Detective Samuels grabs her and knocks the gun out of her hand. Ally can be seen hiding in the bathroom as the struggle can be heard off screen. Kai is standing over Sally when she spits in his face. He takes off his mask and taunts her. Killing me is not gonna stop the march of progress, she boasts. Maybe, Kai replies. But it's still gonna feel so fucking good. She stands up to him, This is a spasm in democracy! You're nothing but a passing fever (she is such a badass). Kai laughs at her remarks.

After they have Sally restrained Kai walks over to her computer and begins typing a note on her Facebook. I have come to realize something, that the truths we have always held to be self-evident: all men are created equal, knowledge is power, ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country, they are all bullshit. The future will be guided by self-interest, self-promotion, and narcissism. And that is a future I cannot stand. He finishes the fake suicide note and walks back over to Sally. No one's gonna believe any of that! Sally protests. Kai replies, Of course they will. It's on Facebook (the writers really like taking digs at Facebook this season lol). Sally begs Kai not to kill her, but her pulls out her gun and puts it to her chest. She begins to scream as he pulls the trigger.

After Sally is shot we can see Ally hiding in the bathroom reacting to what she heard. Ivy hears her scream and walks down the hallway looking for where it came from. She goes door to door until she reaches the bathroom Ally is hiding in. She opens the door to see her wife crouched in the corner crying. Ally recognizes Ivy under the mask and calls out to her (Poor Ally OMG). Suddenly, Harrison can be heard looking for Ivy saying that they need to leave. Ivy closes the door, not telling the others that Ally is there. This scene adds a unique dynamic to the relationship between Ally and Ivy at this point in the story. We just had a scene where Ivy was telling Kai how much she hates her wife and wishes she were dead, but when she has the chance to give Ally over to the cult she chooses not to. This leaves us with a lot of questions. How committed is Ivy really to the cult? Does she actually completely hate her wife or is their still some love left that she feels for her? What does all of these events mean for their relationship going forward? Perhaps in later episodes we will get a real confrontation between the two where they can finally discuss everything with no secrets.

Ally returns to Dr. Vincent's to come up with a new plan. She tells him that the cult killed Sally and that Ivy was with them. He questions her on who she is talking about, but then she notices that Meadow is gone. She asks him what happened and he tells her that Meadow didn't tell him anything and wanted to leave. She expresses her frustration asking him why he let her leave. You promised me you'd keep her here! He tells her that he can not force her to stay and that he is concerned. I know whatever you think you saw is very real to you (of course he doesn't believe her). He tells her she should check into a mental hospital before she does something she'll regret. Ally leaves him with a simple Fuck you.  

We pick up back at the rally before the shooting occurs. Ally is walking up to the crowd and looksThis is the face of true love (NO MEADOW! NO!). Ally is standing over Meadow's body holding the gun and shaking when the SWAT team surrounds her and tells her to drop the gun.
around when she spots Meadow. Meadow is moving through the crowd trying to get closer to the stage. Ally calls out to her, but she ignores her. She gets to the front row and pulls out a gun. Ally screams, but it is too late. Meadow begins firing into the crowd and shoots Kai in the leg. Ally runs up to her and tries to talk her down. She reaches for the gun as Meadow points it to her own face. Before pulling the trigger she says,

We then cut back to the scene where Kai is standing over Meadow with a boxcutter. He kneels down and cuts her bonds. You are nothing in the eyes of the unenlightened world. But to me you're everything. He kisses her, then continues. You're the only one who sees me, who's not afraid to see the truth.  He continues to kiss her and explain to her how he needs to be elevated to the national stage and that she is the only one who can help him. She asks him how and he replies, I need to be assassinated. They begin to undress as she states that she can't kill him. You'll try and fail, he replies. I'll be shot, hospitalized, and then recover stronger than ever. We're a Christian country. Everybody loves a resurrection. They begin to have sex as Kai continues to tell her his plan. He tells her that he will send her to Ally so she can tell her the truth. Because when it comes out of her mouth, that's when the truth can hide in plain sight. He keeps talking up how she is the only one who can do this task. After she protests that she would crack under pressure from the police he tells her that she won't have to be interrogated. It'll be our eternal secret. Our everlasting love. Do you understand? (Yes Kai, we understand you're a total asshole).

The episode ends with Ally being arrested as Ivy watches and Kai being rolled to the ambulance on a stretcher smiling. This whole scene is extremely intense and proves just how well the writing has been this season. Watching Kai manipulate Meadow to commit this crime is both heartbreaking and disturbing. I honestly felt bad for Meadow and wished that her life could of gone in a different direction, because the writers chose to humanize her in a way where you didn't want to see her submit to his manipulation. They leave us with a great cliffhanger for Ally's story leaving us wanting the next episode right away.   

This season is really bringing it with such a focused story that continues to draw us in and keep us guessing. It's a bit of a departure from the usual AHS fell, but it's a welcome change. This season is grounded in reality which is different, but just as horrifying as previous seasons. The horror is inspired by actual reality that we are all living in. The mass shooting scene that opens the episode is a perfect example of this. I'm sure there are fans who do not like the political nature of this season, but I think it was smart move by Murphy and co. The way this season is currently playing out has the potential to become the best written season of the show to date.

American Horror Story: Cult - Episode 6 Mid-Western Assassin keeps up the streak of the rest of the season with another 5 out of 5 cauldrons!

I hope you guys enjoyed this episode a lot, I know I did! Feel free to discuss the episode and share your opinions in the comments below!