American Horror Story: 1984 recap: 5 biggest shocks from Red Dawn

American Horror Story: 1984 has been surprising us from the beginning. What are the five biggest shocks from episode 5, Red Dawn?

This season of American Horror Story has been taking its time introducing its key players by shocking us with their back story a few characters per episode. This isn’t to say AHS: 1984 has been playing it slow and steady.

On the contrary, I’d argue that this is the most shocking season yet! Each episode unmasks a few characters, revealing the secrets and motives they’re hiding.

In American Horror Story: 1984 episode 5, titled “Red Dawn,” we got to know Dee Dee (Angelica Ross), who viewers have, up until a couple of weeks ago, known as Nurse Rita, a little better. Before, we believed she was just a psycho obsessed with serial killers.

As it turns out, serial killers run in her blood. She picked up the fixation after learning her father has been murdering women his entire life. It’s still messed up, and there’s no excuse for Dee Dee’s actions, but we do understand her better now. This wasn’t the biggest shock, though. Not by a long shot!

Here are the biggest shocks from American Horror Story: 1984‘s latest episode.

1. The Night Stalker is reborn

Did anyone just think AHS: 1984 was just going to be a slasher series? Gore, murder, mystery, nothing else? I sure did! But leave it to American Horror Story to surprise us, as usual. When the Night Stalker/Richard Ramirez (Zach Villa) was first introduced, I didn’t believe he actually had a connection to Satan. I just assumed he was crazy.

In “Red Dawn,” however, he comes back to life! Now, a lot of resurrections are happening this season, and we’ll get to that in a moment, but his was unlike the others. When Richard comes back to life, he calls “Rita” Dee Dee, a name she hasn’t used in years. Richard also tells Dee Dee how evil blood ruins through her veins. Dee Dee refuses to admit she’s a bad person, so Richard tells her not to take it from him, before pointing over towards Dee Dee’s father’s ghost.

AHS: 1984 may be pulling inspiration from some of the most popular slasher films, but it has now crossed over to another genre.

2. Ray and Brooke

While hiding, Brooke spots Ray (DeRon Horton) walking outside and chases after him. When they hear Mr. Jingles’ keys, the two hide in the cafeteria. Brooke shares more of her story with Ray and kisses him. Brooke tells Ray that they may not get out or Camp Redwood alive, so they might as well live while they can. So they do and have sex.

But, wait a minute…isn’t Ray dead? Yup! Brooke just had sex with a ghost. Afterward, Brooke goes to the fridge for a drink, only to find Ray’s severed head inside. Brooke and Ray are in shock, he had no idea he was dead. Brooke runs out of there completely freaked out. Is everyone coming back to life?!

3. Montana’s reveal

With Richard dead (or so Montana believes), it’s up to Montana (Billie Lourd) to kill Brooke. When she finally catches Brooke alone, Montana attacks her and confesses that she is Sam’s sister. Brooke insists that she didn’t do anything and is not responsible for Sam’s death, but Montana doesn’t want to hear any of it.

Brooke manages to escape by attacking back and eventually kills Montana just as a school bus full of children pulls up.

4. All the deaths

Montana isn’t the only one who dies, Xavier (Cody Fern) also goes, killed by Margaret. The only survivors are Margaret and Brooke, but Margaret pins everything on innocent Brooke, who is arrested.

Benjamin nearly dies, too, but Richard appears to ask Benjamin if he accepts Satan as his savior, insinuating that he’ll bring Benjamin back to life if he does. Needless to say, Benjamin does and the two drive off in a police car they steal.

5. Trapped souls

The other fallen characters, who weren’t resurrected by Satan, are stuck at Camp Redwood. And by the looks of it, they are enjoying this life of purgatory, killing and doing as they please! With Brooke behind bars (or so we believe) and Margaret gone (for now), this is a game-changer.

American Horror Story: 1984 airs Wednesdays at 10/9c only on FX.