(Major spoilers ahead for the Sept. 26 episode of “American Horror Story: Cult.”)
“American Horror Story: Cult” jumped back in time in its fourth episode, “11/9,” and filled in some much-needed gaps on who’s in the cult — and who might be.
The episode went back to follow several key characters from Election Night up to the show’s present. It presented a ton of new information about Kai Anderson (Evan Peters), who originally seemed like a regular bigot. As it turns out, Kai has been adjusting his apparent beliefs to recruit a number of people to his murdery cause, and this episode finally showed exactly how he’s done it.
One of the biggest events, though, was the return of “American Horror Story” alumna Emma Roberts to the cast as newscaster Serina, much to the delight of many fans.
https://twitter.com/jujulian1223/status/912861888333131777
Emma Roberts is back #AHSCult pic.twitter.com/alXmf01VA7
— ?? Free-thinker ?? (@JayR_Ced) September 27, 2017
https://twitter.com/Pass_da_chicken/status/912859765029720064
so Emma roberts is finally back, but she's a trump supporter???? #ahs #AHSCult pic.twitter.com/yWVy5S90b6
— chiyani (@chisinterlude) September 27, 2017
Emma Roberts right now #AHSCult pic.twitter.com/872BtTvuKG
— Tony Fuentes (@King_tonyyyy) September 27, 2017
Next, the story jumped over to Billy Eichner’s neighbor from hell character, Harrison, to detail how he and Meadow (Leslie Grossman) came to live across the street from the perpetually terrorized Ally (Sarah Paulson). Turns out, Kai’s been working on turning Harrison to his side for a while.
For fans, the whole episode made Kai creepier than ever before — in a (kind of) good way.
All types of red flags are being raised in this conversation with the trainer #AHSCult pic.twitter.com/JxjjuJGrH7
— Diamond✨ (@diamondsaysss) September 27, 2017
https://twitter.com/GiulsCarr/status/912865064880951297
you see somebody getting cut up in the bathtub and instead of leaving, you wanna ask questions? #AHSCult pic.twitter.com/sgb3DQ9nhJ
— caramel drizz ? (@Blvck_Picvsso) September 27, 2017
So you walk in to see a man getting his head cut off in the tub and you that calm……. #AHSCult pic.twitter.com/U8jApAjfdb
— Hooker. (@jokershooker_) September 27, 2017
While Kai getting his hooks into Harrison made sense for fans — after all, Harrison’s boss sure was an absolute jerk — it was Meadow’s response to a certain “discovering your husband cutting up a dead body” scene that really resonated.
https://twitter.com/c_fauchelevent/status/912866311964852224
Me if I was medow #AHSCult pic.twitter.com/EZKHBTNzSv
— Khae (@Khaee__) September 27, 2017
The flashback episode also filled in a lot of story for Beverly (Adina Porter), the news reporter who, up until now, has mostly popped up around the action but hasn’t been a fleshed-out character. That changed in a hurry, and Episode 4 apparently won Beverly a few new fans — especially when she bashed a harassing heckler with her microphone on-air.
https://twitter.com/vanessa_grisso/status/912867974771544064
https://twitter.com/isaacrusso5/status/912867972334608384
#AHSCult OH SHE CLOCKED HIM HOLY COW
— towanda (@freshwaterlip) September 27, 2017
https://twitter.com/HaylishaP/status/912867899534188544
Get him Bev!!! Damn @AdinaPorter is amazing! #AHSCult
— Blue Sunshine ☀️ (@JusHeather) September 27, 2017
Unfortunately for people excited to see Roberts’ return, it was a bit short-lived.
https://twitter.com/avaxbelle/status/912872389742129152
SO MANY TWEETS about people being happy that the puppy is OKAY. ??? #AHS #AHSCult
— Kerri Adler✨ (@Kerri_Lauren) September 27, 2017
The biggest development, though, was finally seeing how Ivy (Alison Pill), Winter (Billie Lourd), Gary Longstreet (Chaz Bono) and Kai all fit together, along with everyone else.
IVY AND WINTER KNEW EACH OTHER BEFORE!!!! #AHSCult pic.twitter.com/JdBEaltTP9
— amber // dpr this month! (@http_amber_) September 27, 2017
https://twitter.com/johnschloe9/status/912875013581213696
The biggest source of excitement? The fact that fans are finally starting to figure out Kai’s plan.
ME RIGHT NOW PUTTING EVERYTHING TOGETHER #AHSCult pic.twitter.com/Lf0By5visH
— (kat)herine (@medkatt_) September 27, 2017
https://twitter.com/I_Like_Koalas/status/912869555130765313
#AHSCult SO KAI IS COLLECTING PEOPLE TO BE CLOWNS AND THEN THEY MAKE IT SEEM LIKE THEY DONT KNOW WHATS GOING ON AFTER THE COPS ARE CALLED
— shauna bear (@Zeptorg) September 27, 2017
https://twitter.com/laddyyjayy/status/912864996660580352
Or are they?
Honestly the biggest plot twist would be if Kai is completely innocent to this whole entire thing #AHSCult
— sabrina (@sabribri_swims) September 27, 2017