“FINALLY an excellent episode this season! Lily Rabe is always incredible but this may have been her most impressive outing with AHS yet. She blew me away.” IMDb
The episode (Season 9, Episode 7 of American Horror Story: 1984 ) is widely regarded by critics as a standout installment that shifts the season's focus from generic slasher tropes to a deeply personal ghost story . It centers on the tragic backstory of Benjamin Richter (Mr. Jingles) and the introduction of his mother, Lavinia Richter, played by series veteran Lily Rabe. Critical Consensus [S9E7] The Lady in White
: The episode reveals that Lavinia's rage and "blood that seeped into the soil" are the source of the camp's curse, which keeps spirits trapped and even influenced Margaret to commit the 1970 murders. “FINALLY an excellent episode this season
: The episode leans heavily into homages to the Friday the 13th franchise, specifically the relationship between a murderous mother and her son, which Entertainment Weekly described as a "blatant but effective" tribute. Key Plot Developments It centers on the tragic backstory of Benjamin Richter (Mr
: Brooke and Donna's subplot involves a run-in with a hitchhiker (Dylan McDermott), a sequence praised for establishing Brooke as a "badass" and a credible "final girl". Community Perspectives
: Critics from Den of Geek praised the episode for providing a "meaty" origin story that connects the current hauntings at Camp Redwood to a 1948 massacre, effectively making Benjamin the season's true protagonist.
“Lilly was phenomenal and absolutely nailed the brutal delivery of those harsh lines... This episode was an absolute blast to watch! It was season 1-3 caliber.” Reddit · r/AmericanHorrorStory · 6 years ago