'American Horror Story: 1984' finale has fans torn over storybook happy ending following Camp Redwood's gory bloodbath
This article contains spoilers for Season 9 Episode 9: 'Final Girl'
This was probably the cutest, most adorable feel-good type season finale that 'American Horror Story' has ever blessed fans with, in the nine long years the Ryan Murphy anthology horror has successfully aired on FX. And emotional as fans might be after watching that wholesome AF ending, they aren't sure how to feel about the very cathartic turn of events brimming with Karmic relief, purely because of how unlike the show it was. Filled with twisted maniacs put to brutal justice and sappy family reunions and forgiveness, while half of the fandom can't stop gushing about it all teary-eyed, the rest of them found the lack of unfairness in how things turned out, to be very underwhelming.
The season finale showed Mr. Jingles' son - Bobby, arrive at Camp Redwood in 2019 to find out about his father. In his journey of digging deep into what happened to Jingles, Bobby learns the truth about the camp's purgatorial realms from Montana and Trevor who are still trapped in the grounds of the massacre site. They tell him how the 40 souls roaming the grounds are on constant deathwatch over Richard Ramirez, who keeps coming back to life thanks to Satan, but this army of the undead is relentless and innovative every time, killing him brutally in newer ways so he can't even take a single breath.
Bobby is rescued by Donna as he manages to escape from Ramirez's attack and together they are able to track down Brooke, who was assumed to be dead by Donna all these years. The reunion between the two Final Girls is touching and has us convinced of their bonds' raw potential for being more than just friends. As for Margaret Booth - she was taken out 30 years ago by the dead people too. They tied her and chopped her body parts off one by one, before shoving them into a meat grinder and thus ending her life. In the present, Lavinia - Jingles' mother, aka the Lady in White, is the campgrounds' supreme. The dead obey her as their prime authority and eventually when Margaret tries attacking Bobby, both Jingles and Lavinia come to his rescue.
It's been real, Redwood. Thanks for the bitchin' memories. #AHS1984 pic.twitter.com/Awpcb0ittJ
— AmericanHorrorStory (@AHSFX) November 14, 2019
The season ends with Bobby finally managing to run out of the camp's gate, and when he looks back, Lavinia, Jingles, and little Bobby - Jingles' brother who this new Bobby was named after - are standing at the camp's gates, waving at him, urging him to run away and live. It was all very emotional, but also a rarity considering AHS signatures - perhaps what has fans confused how to feel about it. Taking to Twitter, a fan wrote: "I genuinely don’t know if I’m satisfied with that ending but I love this season." Another one chimed in saying: "Ok even tho I’m still crying from that ending... did anyone else feel let down that we didn’t get to see a @BillyIdol moment on #Ahs1984 tonight... bc I’m feeling a bit unfulfilled." Speaking for that section of the fandom, a third fan chimed in stating: "Partially happy with the ending but overall I'm kind of underwhelmed."
The rest of the fandom, however, can't stop gushing about the picture-perfect ending "Interesting finale," shared a fan on Twitter, adding: "The season was different but fun. I'm personally happy that there was a happy ending." Another one elaborated on their take, writing: "Enjoyed the season, Margaret finally getting what she deserves in the worst way possible was awesome, was really glad that it was a semi-happy/touching ending with not every single person killed. Just wish the season was a little longer than 9 freakin episodes." The best reaction was perhaps of this one shocked fan who couldn't believe that Karma finally worked on the show. "Did I just watch the one AHS season where I’m actually satisfied with everyone’s ending. I’m emotional," they shared.