REVIEW: American Horror Story – Season 12, Episode 5, “Preech”

Television Reviews

We’ve reached the midseason finale, which I think is an appropriate time to take stock. So far, I’ve really enjoyed Delicate, which has managed to maintain a pretty restrained tone. I usually really like the first few episodes of a given AHS season for this reason, but then it devolves into shock horror and gross-out shots. Delicate has been impressively even in tone, using those scares sparingly and wisely. I hope they can keep this up for this midseason finale and into Part 2, which doesn’t air until next year. 

*SPOILERS*

“Preech” begins with another flashback, this time to Manhattan in 1987. Ms. Preecher had a baby with Dr. Hill, seemingly another spider-baby with the aid of the Ashley’s. In modern times, Dexter’s mom continued prodding him to testify against his father. Anna learns that Siobhan is also working with Babette, her younger rival. Meanwhile, Ms. Preecher approaches Virginia to chat. She tells her story and warns that Dexter and Anna are in danger. Dr. Hill tells Victoria not to travel for awards because of her pregnancy. She asks Dexter to invite Sonia to dinner. It mostly goes well, but Sonia gives some weird vibes, and Nicolette doesn’t like her. Dexter tells Anna he doesn’t believe her. Babette wins the Golden Globe. Siobhan calls and instructs Anna to wait for a call in the morning. When Anna wakes up, Dex shows her an article about Babette’s death. 

This is an interesting reversal, revealing Dr. Hill and his staff as evil and Ms. Preecher as a guardian angel for Anna. Dr. Hill was definitely playing dumb when he “realized” Anna still had a viable fetus, and this changes other things, too. His orders that she not travel whatsoever likely have more to do with her being easily accessible than anything else. If she goes to these awards ceremonies, it may be harder for the hooded women to find her. Cora’s inappropriate touching against Anna’s will is undoubtedly tied to this as well. Whatever she did to her, I’m sure the cultists’ ordered it. “Preech” time and time again asks Anna to choose between her child and her career. Dr. Hill and Siobhan essentially give the impression that Anna can’t have both, which is probably part of the cultists’ mind games. I’m almost certain I was right about Siobhan being in on it. She continues feeding Anna the mysterious red “B12” pills in “Preech,” and Hamish questions her identity and everything about the film he directed. He states that Siobhan provided the screenplay and ordered him to direct it and cast Anna despite professional advice to the contrary. I’m interested in the relationship between these two, even if Siobhan insists it’s not one. Hamish clearly isn’t as dumb as she says, and he cares about Siobhan. I have so many questions about this duo. 

For Preecher’s part, she was a rising star in the fashion world when an unidentified woman asked for her unborn baby. She obliged since she wanted an abortion anyway, and the mystery lady offered her a dream career. This isn’t exactly like Anna’s situation, but there are similarities, like being forced to choose between a baby and a job. Although for Ms. Preecher, it was evidently a pretty easy decision. Girl, same. Everyone also called Preecher crazy and a conspiracist, just like Anna and Virginia. Although I still think Virginia is slightly off, I believe her about her husband. Her case being accepted by a famous lawyer makes it even more believable. I don’t know why Dexter doesn’t believe or remember, but his dad must have done something pretty awful. Preecher wants to help Anna and, by extension, Dexter and Virginia. I like characters like this who seek to protect others from the fate that befell them. So many characters in AHS are spiteful and self-absorbed that this is really refreshing. 

Whatever Siobhan’s grift is, I don’t think killing Babette was a good idea. Wouldn’t Babette’s tragic, untimely death make her more likely to win? People love to shower the dead with accolades, and sympathy for her loss could actually boost the likelihood of an Oscar win for her. I also don’t understand how this would be advantageous for Siobhan since she’s also Babette’s agent or manager or whatever. Is taking down one of your clients to elevate another really the best thing for your own career? Granted, I think Siobhan is in the cult, so she may have other reasons for the madness. After all, she’s sleeping with Hamish despite being disgusted by him. I’m also beginning to question Nicolette’s intentions here. She opens Anna’s gift from Sonia without asking and even snuggles with the stuffed animal for Anna’s baby. What is going on with these people? Nobody in this show has ever heard of boundaries or personal space. Nicolette’s reaction to Sonia is a little suspicious, too. I think the intention is to make us question who could be working against Anna, and it is absolutely effective. Now, I’m only sure that Virginia and Dexter are innocent, and only because Preecher stated it outright. 

We also learn that Adaline was in the spider cult and left for Dexter. This is why the cult has targeted Anna: to hurt Dexter. I’m also pretty sure Sonia isn’t Adaline and isn’t working with the cult. However, there are evidently more people who look like this, not just Sonia and Adaline. Sonia tells Anna she wasn’t wearing green heels at the art gallery, and Nicolette remarks that Sonia looks like her best friend. But she doesn’t know who Adaline was. At one point, Sonia appeared to have the chin zit that Anna and Ivy have. But I didn’t see it again, so maybe it was just the lighting. Or perhaps the makers of the show are messing with us. 

“Preecher” is my favorite episode of Delicate thus far. We get some good tidbits here, but plenty of mystery remains. Anna is surrounded on all sides, and Dexter, her supposed greatest ally, doesn’t believe her. The second half of the season should be a wild ride. I hope they can stick the landing after all this buildup.