Episode 5 of American Horror Stories kicks off with a flamboyant introduction to a clique of self-proclaimed influencers ensconced within the lavish confines of "Bro House," a mansion that aptly mirrors their brazen lifestyle. Prepare yourselves, for this quartet embodies the epitome of crass insensitivity.
The narrative plunges us into a whirlwind of revelatory exposition, painting a portrait of 26-year-old Zinn, surrounded by his closest comrades—Wyatt, Barry, and James—all pushing thirty yet refusing to relinquish their youthful recklessness. They've crafted a career out of doing whatever strikes their fancy, unfettered by societal norms. Their antics know no bounds, and even the mundane like the ice bucket challenge seems beneath them, a mere footnote in their wild escapades.
As the holiday season draws near, with just five days left till Christmas, they resort to the darkest of tactics to amp up their online presence: watching and documenting the tragic plunge of a jumper from a notorious suicide bridge. Their callous celebration of this solemn moment, labeling the individual's demise as "going out like a boss," rings hollow, with only Barry voicing a semblance of concern amidst the sea of insensitivity.
This moral quandary echoes within the walls of Bro House, as the gang grapples with the realization that they might have crossed a line they can't uncross. Their fear of losing their grip on this reckless lifestyle fuels their anxieties. (Here, one might cleverly interject a Jackass-inspired quip, acknowledging their descent into a twisted form of extreme entertainment.)
Despite their intentions to capitalize on their ghoulish footage and propel themselves to the 5 million subscriber mark, fate deals them a cruel blow. Instead of gaining, they lose 50,000 followers overnight and awaken to the daunting prospect of 400,000 signatures demanding their expulsion from Twitter's realm.
Panicked, the group huddles to strategize, concocting a harebrained scheme to feign homosexuality as a desperate attempt to divert the public's ire. Little do they know, this tactic backfires spectacularly, resulting in an even steeper decline in subscribers and the confiscation of personal belongings from their lavish abode.
In a last-ditch effort, they surrender to their true selves, realizing that pretending to be anything other than who they are has only exacerbated their predicament. This moment marks a turning point, where they must confront the consequences of their actions and forge a path forward, hopefully, with a newfound sense of responsibility and empathy.
Zinn and his rowdy crew, fueled by a mischievous spirit, decide to make an unexpected appearance at the mall, intent on pulling pranks with Santa. Little did they realize, their antics amounted to nothing more than cringe-worthy frat boy antics, eliciting nothing but disdain from the jolly figure. Santa, unimpressed and foreboding, vowed that they would receive their just desserts come Christmas Day.
That very evening, however, the air took a sinister turn as Detective Deena Gibbs's call shattered their carefree bubble. It transpired that the Santa they had encountered was an imposter, who had eliminated the authentic one slated to work that night, leaving the gang vulnerable and potentially next on the hit list. Urgently summoned to the police station to record statements, their journey never reached its intended destination.
Within the shadows of their basement lair, Wyatt's life was snuffed out in a twisted display of brutality, his demise captured on video and shared online, garnering an eerie celebration of likes. Zinn, disturbed by the morbid celebration, couldn't shake off the gnawing discomfort, even as their subscriber count soared.
His reprieve was short-lived as Zinn soon found himself wrapped in a festive shroud of twinkling Christmas lights, plunged into the frigid waters of the pool. James, too, met his fate, skewered by a twisted act of holiday vengeance—a candy cane crossbow, its sugary facade a cruel deception.
Barry, bleeding profusely, dragged himself towards the computer, his desperate cries for help drowned out by the gush of gasoline cascading down the chimney. As he frantically checked their channel's milestone—five million subscribers achieved—their twisted benefactor, Santa, struck the match, igniting a pyre that consumed Barry, even as he desperately flung himself into the water, too late to escape his fiery fate.
The episode drew to a macabre close, the four boys transformed into grotesque ornaments, dangling from a Christmas tree, their lives reduced to sickening decorations. The elusive killer Santa escaped unscathed, his twisted mission complete, with sinister plans already in motion to select new victims for his twisted holiday festivities.
