The most recent episode of the American Horror series, “Milkmaids,” blends artistic, bizarre, and horrific elements to create one of the best episodes the show has ever produced. Julia Schlaepfer, Seth Gabel, Addison Timlin, Ian Sharkey, and Cody Fern are the stars of “Milkmaids.” The episode director Alonso Alvarez-Barreda Equal praise should be given to Our Lady J, who penned “Milkmaids,” for creating the episode’s nauseating plot. www.tvacute.com brings you the AHStories Season 2 Episode 4 [Milkmaids] Recap with spoiler.
AHStories Season 2 Episode 4 [Milkmaids] Recap
By far the best of the opening credits so far 🤩 #AHStories pic.twitter.com/F3MOyDxZWa
— samantha•| Finn Wittrock Follows!~🍩✨ (@Wittrock_Fern) August 11, 2022
The blank screen quickly vanishes to reveal the wife of Thomas Browne (Cody Fern), who has died from smallpox, in a New England setting in 1757. It is not surprising that the town’s fear of the sickness has gotten worse given the sight of the horrible boils that cover the woman’s body. Soon after, Celeste (Julia Schlaepfer), who is convinced she has received a gift from Saint Lazarus, arrives with a plan to rid the community of smallpox. Despite being healthy, her body is covered in boils. She observes that everyone who consumed the boils went on to enjoy the same great luck as her: staying healthy despite the disease surrounding death. The idea disgusts her newest client, Paster Walter (Seth Gabel), who suggests hanging Celeste for her impious behavior.
The second monster layer of the story is introduced when Thomas tells Walter about a neighboring community that burned the hearts of the dead after cutting them out to get rid of smallpox. In their desperation, the men cut out Thomas’ wife’s heart, but Walter advises them to eat it. Walter’s idea turns into a passionate obsession with cannibalism, which later inspires the rest of the village to imitate him.
“Enough!” 🤯
Love Cody in this scene #AHStories
Credit to codyfern_collection on instagram pic.twitter.com/bbbImUbyan
— samantha•| Finn Wittrock Follows!~🍩✨ (@Wittrock_Fern) August 11, 2022
The conflict then intensifies, leading to a rift between Thomas and his son Edward as well as between Thomas and Walter (Ian Sharkey). Given his response to Celeste’s boils, Walter’s quick transition to cannibalism is a shocking turn of events. A strange insight that might leave some perplexed further personifies how deadly pure evil can be, as well as how frightening power can be. The episode’s ostracization of the milkmaids resembles a witch hunt in many ways. As absurd as Walter’s mistrust of the milkmaids may appear, it gives American Horror Stories a creepiness that depends more on the relationships between the people than the actual setting.
When Walter offers cannibalism to the church, they enthusiastically accept it. They are oblivious to the strange idea because of their yearning for relief from their anxiety and suffering, as well as their faith in Walter and the church. Equally perilous ideology can be found in Walter’s recurring claim that “milkmaids can’t be trusted” throughout the episode. Delilah (Addison Timlin) is reviled and mistrusted simply because she is a milkmaid when she offers a potential solution that doesn’t involve human hearts.
“Milkmaids” has all the gore, thrills, and suspense a horror enthusiast could desire. Outside of the genre, this episode is thrilling in its examination of human grief and desperation and how they intertwine. American Horror Stories even offers a taste of romance for a relatively isolated Celeste and Delilah that, while abrupt, fits within the time period.