American Horror Story 306 Recap: Fond Memories of the Jazz Age

Welcome to the sixth episode of American Horror Story, where I come face to face with my greatest fear: bad New Orleans accents!

We open in 1919, where a man sits behind a typewriter and confesses in voiceover that he is the Axeman. For those of you who don’t know, the Axeman was a notorious real life serial killer that ax murdered several people in New Orleans.

Got lost on her way to a Robert Palmer music video

GOT LOST ON HER WAY TO A ROBERT PALMER MUSIC VIDEO

He describes himself as a “demon from the hottest hell,” which is accurate for anyone who has ever been in New Orleans in July. The Axeman carries his axe in a saxophone case… but wait a minute, don’t they call guitars axes? I might be wrong; everything I know about rock bands I gleaned from Josie and the Pussycats.

Room for one saxophone, sheet music, and a murder weapon

Room for one saxophone, sheet music, and a murder weapon

The Axeman, like all serial killers, enjoys long walks on the beach, sending taunting letters to the police and collecting newspaper clippings of his murders. You know, murdery sorta stuff.

We hop on over to Miss Robichaux’s School for Latent Sexual Longing, where the witches are all in a tizzy. They’ve just read that the Axeman is out for blood tonight, but he’ll spare the homes of anyone playing jazz music. Personally, I’d rather get an axe to the face than listen to jazz, but that’s just me.

Oh Dear, it seems that Bomb Girls has been cancelled!

Oh Dear, it seems that Bomb Girls has been cancelled!

But Kate was finally getting in touch with her feelings!

But Kate was finally getting in touch with her feelings!

Now we’ll never see Betty in jaunty hats ever again!

Now we’ll never see Betty in jaunty hats ever again!

While the witches suggest busting out the Victrola, the phonographs, and the piano forte, their Supreme, Millie, shuts them down. Guess someone else hates jazz as much as I do! BTW Millie is played by Grace Gummer, Meryl Streep’s daughter. From here on out, I’ll be calling her Baby Streep.

How about we go to Taco Bell?

How about we go to Taco Bell?

I can’t go to Taco Bell, Prudence, I’m on an all-carb diet! You’re so stupid!

I can’t go to Taco Bell, Prudence, I’m on an all-carb diet! You’re so stupid!

Baby Streep balks at playing jazz just to please some psycho. Women are about to get the right to vote, the tide is changing, and it’s time to shut this murdering shit down once and for all!

I think we can all agree that the suffragettes were pro-murder, right?

I think we can all agree that the suffragettes were pro-murder, right?

The Axeman walks down the street listening to the sounds of jazz coming from every house. He balks when he hears opera coming from Miss Robichaux’s.

Zip a Dee Doo D—is that fucking La Boheme?

Zip a Dee Doo D—is that fucking La Boheme?

Axeman walks into the school and approaches Baby Streep, who is playing with tarot cards.

Tarot Cards: Because you can’t play UNO by yourself

Tarot Cards: Because you can’t play UNO by yourself

You turned off my music? Party foul!

You turned off my music? Party foul!

Before he can axe her, Baby Streep stabs him in the chest. All the witches descend on the Axeman and stab the crap out of him.They are also all wearing black robes, because group activities are always more fun with matching outfits.

Sisters are stabbing it for themselves!

Sisters are stabbing it for themselves!

Back in present day, Zoe goes through Madison’s belongings, including a tabloid spread with the words “I do what I want!” Where have I seen this before?

Dammit Madison, where did you keep your pot?

Dammit Madison, where did you keep your pot?

Zoe tries on her sunglasses, smells her perfume, steals her underwear, and finds a teeny tiny gun.

Is there pot in this gun?

Is there pot in this gun?

She also finds a teeny tiny bottle of vodka, which rolls onto the floor and into the closet. Zoe chases after the vodka; it’s called priorities, people.

With Madison dead, I guess it’s back in the closet. Wait, is Nan single?

With Madison dead, I guess it’s back in the closet. Wait, is Nan single?

Inside the closet, Zoe discovers a secret hiding place filled with feelings, dental dams, old photos, and a Ouija board.

There’s got to be at least a joint in here or something

There’s got to be at least a joint in here or something

Could not get the rights to “Ouija Board

Could not get the rights to “Ouija Board”

Zoe shows the photos to Queenie and Nan, and rightfully asks the question: where did all the fucking witches go? Apparently there used to be more than three students in this school, and Hogwarts hasn’t opened an American program, so what the hell happened?

Since all the adults here are either blind, racist, or drunk, I’m taking charge

Since all the adults here are either blind, racist, or drunk, I’m taking charge

Um Zoe, we were told there would be marijuana at this meeting.

Um Zoe, we were told there would be marijuana at this meeting.

Zoe takes charge, because that’s what she’s all about now, and says that they have to find Madison. She busts out a bottle of absinthe, because booze always helps people find what they’re looking for… if that thing is an unsatisfying sexual experience and a headache. Thanks, alcohol!

What makes you the leader of this outfit?

What makes you the leader of this outfit?

A complete character retcon. I can kill people with my vagina AND a chainsaw now!

A complete character retcon. I can kill people with my vagina AND a chainsaw now!

Good enough for me!

Good enough for me!

The twitches bust out the spirit board and use a shot glass to contact the ghostly realm. The only thing I’ve ever contacted with a shot glass was all of my exes, but whatever.

The spirits command you to drunk text your ex a picture of your cat!

The spirits command you to drunk text your ex a picture of your cat!

Queenie is hesitant to mess with the board; her grandma once released a spirit and the spirit burned her house down. So you know, fuck spirits.

Fuck all y’all, I’m gonna go shave Marcia Brady’s hair.

Fuck all y’all, I’m gonna go shave Marcia Brady’s hair.

Someone starts communicating with the twitches through the spirit board. It’s someone who was murdered in the house, which narrows it down to about five hundred people. JK, it’s the Axeman. Queenie breaks the shot glass before they release any more murderers.

Team FingerBang Unite!

Team FingerBang Unite!

Meanwhile, Fiona is in the hospital receiving chemo.

Most Fashionable Cancer Patient

Most Fashionable Cancer Patient

Turns out, chemo gives her mind reading abilities, and she hears the thoughts and worries of the other patients. Fiona, in no mood for this, rips out her IV and goes to leave.

Ma’am, you have yet to meet your deductible

Ma’am, you have yet to meet your deductible

So this is all out of pocket? I’d rather die.

So this is all out of pocket? I’d rather die.

The doctors convince Fiona to stay, and she admits that the only reason she’s going through chemo is to stay alive to help Cordelia. Fiona also wishes for one last great love affair before she goes. Hey girl, Spalding is still single.

Meanwhile, back at Miss Robichaux’s School for Teen Sleuths, Zoe finds out all about the history of the Axeman from the internet. She also tells us that a sax is also referred to as an axe. The more you know!

These pop-up ads are getting really dark

These pop-up ads are getting really dark

Nan and Queenie read in the old witch diaries about the Axeman’s murder. Apparently his soul is stuck in the house, and he wants to use Zoe to get released. Zoe is convinced he knows where Madison is, because all ghosts know all other ghosts, right?

Look, I found some handwritten erotica! Let’s read this instead of talking to serial killers!

Look, I found some handwritten erotica! Let’s read this instead of talking to serial killers!

I only read erotic fan fiction on the internet; you guys know that!

I only read erotic fan fiction on the internet; you guys know that!

Queenie and Nan are NOT on board with this plan, so Zoe goes ahead without them.

Are you there, Satan? It’s me, Zoe

Are you there, Satan? It’s me, Zoe

Zoe asks the spirit board for Madison’s location. She offers him release in exchange for the info, which… GROSS. She says “release” like, ten times in a creepy sexy voice and it’s upsetting.

What am I wearing? Just a tasteful sidebraid.

What am I wearing? Just a tasteful sidebraid.

The Axeman spells out “attic” on the board, and Zoe climbs into the attic. She finds Spalding’s creepy doll house tea party setup, and dead body smell.

Axe body spray? Really, Spalding?

Axe body spray? Really, Spalding?

She opens the trunk to find Madison’s decaying body, and Spalding covers her mouth before she can scream! I legitimately screamed at this scene and then felt immediately embarrassed.

Cordelia is brought home by Fiona and Hank, and she’s outfitted with some sunglasses and a cane. She’s also wearing black now, bc symbolism.

Well, since you can’t see anymore, we figured we’d cancel Netflix Instant

Well, since you can’t see anymore, we figured we’d cancel Netflix Instant

I was halfway through Veronica Mars, you son of a bitch!

I was halfway through Veronica Mars, you son of a bitch!

Cordelia is furious with Hank, as every time she touches him she gets flashes of him banging that redhead. She demands an end to the bullshit— someone lost her sight but gained some backbone.

Cordelia kicks him out, and Fiona calls him Jughead, which is hilarious.

I’ll just take my crown hat and my hamburgers and leave!

I’ll just take my crown hat and my hamburgers and leave!

Since being blinded, Cordelia has been given the sight (which I guess is what we are calling her powers now). Fiona tells her it’s the greatest gift to have, but the hardest one to live with. So it’s like magical herpes?

Don’t be sad. It really goes downhill after the second season

Don’t be sad. It really goes downhill after the second season

Fiona tries to help Cordelia undress, but her touch causes Cordelia to live through Myrtle’s burning. Cordelia is heartbroken. This show really loves putting Sarah Paulson through the ringer. I hear that next season they’re going to shoot out her kneecaps and give her a dairy allergy.

What else have you been keeping from me?

What else have you been keeping from me?

Let me get some full-length gloves and get back to you

Let me get some full-length gloves and get back to you

Fiona decides to leave Cordelia alone, but she’ll send Delphine to check on her. Great plan, because Cordelia will certainly not have any traumatic visions touching a racist 200 year old mass murderer and torturer.

As Fiona gets the fuck out of there, the twitches interrogate Spalding. Nan uses her mind reading skills to translate for him.

We’ve found Madison’s body, but where is her weed?

We’ve found Madison’s body, but where is her weed?

I bet you’re wondering how Zoe managed to escape his clutches? She knocked him out with a porcelain doll! You guys, only on this show are Madam Alexander dolls used as weapons!

Beaten with my own tea party guests! Oh, the shame.

Beaten with my own tea party guests! Oh, the shame.

They put a metal spatula on a hot plate and burn Spalding for information. He tells them that he killed Madison for creepy sex reasons, which jives with his whole doll house creepy aesthetic. He also says they can’t do shit to him, because… I don’t know why. Maybe he has butler tenure?

Oops, did we kill him? Someone get another rug

Oops, did we kill him? Someone get another rug

Queenie is ready to kill him, but Zoe senses that he’s lying. Instead, Queenie spatula burns her own face, thus burning Spalding’s. I mean, he’s sitting right there Queenie. Just burn him directly. No one likes a show-off.

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Chelsea

Chelsea Steiner was born and raised in New Orleans, which explains her affinity for cheesy grits and Britney Spears. She currently resides in sunny Los Angeles, where she works as a screenwriter/blogger/sex educator. She's the writer/director of Thank You Come Again, a queer sex positive web series based on her experiences working the Pleasure Chest, which you can follow on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. She’s obsessed with dachshunds, Buffy, 90's dance parties, and roller derby. She loves the word "Jewess" and wishes more people used it to describe her. Follow her ramblings on Twitter and her cute puppy pics on Instagram.

Chelsea has written 46 articles for us.

8 Comments

  1. I call the Gummer girls, Baby Meryl whenever they are on anything. I personally prefer Mamie to Grace but that’s just me. I feel like Ryan might be trying to get Meryl’s attention with that casting choice. Especially considering Jessica Lange is saying she will only do one more season. Could you imagine Meryl on tv every week? I would die.

  2. 1. Damn, even with those acid burns, Sarah Paulson is hot as all get out.
    2. Why does no one want to be friends with Misty Day? She can bring you back from the dead! And her accent makes my ears all warm.
    3. CORDELIA FOR SUPREME. Zoe for nothing.

  3. When Zoe is looking for the right spell there’s a book called Archiv für Gynaekologie which is German for archive for gynecology.

    I though that was kind of hilarious. With Zoe’s deathly vagina and all.

  4. haha I’ve never watched this show and have no idea whats going on. But filming is f*cking up the streetcar line so I felt like I should check out the recap at least

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