American Horror Story: Apocalypse review: Michael Langdon’s origins revealed

Cordelia allows Langdon to attempt the Seven Wonders, a part of her secret plan to hopefully beat the Antichrist in the future.

American Horror Story: Apocalypse begins at the Hawthorne School, as we’ve gone pre-apocalyptic to learn more about how the end of everything came to be.

Cordelia experiences a dream/prophecy where she sees a demonic man with a “white face” and the destruction of Miss Robichaux’s. She is ripped apart and eaten by cannibalistic humans before waking up from her dream. Upon awakening, Cordelia is reunited with Queenie and Madison, and goes back to tell the warlocks of her vision. She explains that the fate of the world relies on what she does next, which surprisingly is to allow Langdon to perform the Seven Wonders.

Before we see the magical exam go down, we’re finally given more background about Mallory — there’s heavy foreshadowing of Mallory having uber powerful magical abilities. Then during a discussion between Cordelia and Myrtle, Cordelia reveals that she is fading, which means that her time as the Supreme is ending. Another backstory that’s revealed this week is Coco’s. Cordelia is called into a meeting where she meets Coco and her father. It isn’t super clear from this encounter whether or not Coco does actually have powers, but her salty attitude remains the same.

While the Supreme seems to be weakening, Langdon is seen soaking in his newfound glory amongst the warlocks. He undergoes a blessing ceremony in preparation for the test of the Seven Wonders. John Henry Moore, one of the council of warlocks, leaves the school to try and learn more about Langdon. He’s caught on to the fact something is very wrong with the boy. When fellow councilman Behold Chablis suggests Moore is jealous, Moore expresses it is fear that pushes him to find more answers about Langdon.

Unfortunately, Moore won’t get far. He stops alone at a gas station at night (never a great move in a show like this) and runs into Langdon’s adopted mother. She lights him on fire and leaves him to, presumably, die.

We learn that Ariel, the Grand Chancellor, is in cahoots with Landon’s mother, and while he doesn’t know about Langdon’s demonic lineage, he does want to do whatever it takes to see a man become the Supreme.

Langdon goes through the Seven Wonders with ease, viewed by us as a classic film montage. The final task is of course the most dangerous — Descensum, the ability to project one’s soul into the afterlife.

Cordelia asks Langdon to not just perform Descensum, but to bring Misty Day back from the dead. Ariel protests this, saying it is unfair as it is impossible to retrieve her and that Langdon will die in the attempt. Cordelia lays down the law when Ariel challenges her, leaving us with this quote:

"I have humored you men and coddled your fragile egos, but in no way does that mean you actually have a say. I outrank you. So, I suggest you fall in line because I am still your Supreme."

Langdon is able to bring Misty back, giving us nearly every main Coven character this season. That’s exciting, right? But then, we realize this also means Langdon has passed the Seven Wonders, making him the next Supreme. Not so exciting…

Misty Day explains to Cordelia what happened in perdition when Michael saved her. She says that she senses evil in Langdon, something she has learned to recognize since she was a child. Cordelia reveals that she will never let Langdon be the Supreme, but she let him perform the test to learn how strong he was and to keep him close.

We see the witches back together eating dinner and Stevie Nicks joins them, and, in true American Horror Story camp nature, performs a song for all of them.

Cordelia sends Madison on a mission to learn everything she can about Langdon. Chablis eavesdrops on the conversation and says he will come along as he now has his own doubts about the boy.

The episode closes by revealing Madison and Andre are being sent to the Murder House from season 1.

Thanks to these flashbacks, we know more about Michael Langdon’s evil nature and Cordelia’s budding plan to defeat him.

What was your favorite part of tonight’s episode? Seeing the Coven reunite? Stevie Nicks’ performance? Something else witchy? Let us know in the comments!