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If the idea of getting a Ring doorbell has always freaked you out a bit, American Horror Stories understands your fears exactly. Directed by Max Winkler and written by Manny Coto, “Aura” explores what happens when a seemingly innocent piece of technology keeps capturing visitors that aren’t really there. What starts as a ghostly saga transforms into something richer and far more interesting as it questions how well we really know the people closest to us.
Unlike installments such as “Dollhouse” and “Rubber(wo)Man”, this Season 2 episode doesn’t expand a known piece of American Horror Story lore. Instead, it tells a short, sweet, and satisfying story in a little over 40 minutes. But just because there aren’t any direct connections, that doesn’t mean this episode is completely separate from the larger AHS world. Consider this your guide to the fun Easter eggs and guest stars you may have missed.
This isn't Joel Swetow's first time dealing with the supernatural on TV.
Oh, the classic-bait-and-switch. At the beginning of “Aura”, it seemed that Joel Swetow’s creepy intruder was poised to be this episode’s big bad. With his hollowed eyes and long hair, he fit the description perfectly. But as episode revealed, Swetow’s Mr. Hendricks never meant Jaslyn (Gabourey Sidibe) any harm. Instead, the recently deceased janitor wanted to apologize to her for being inappropriate when she was a child before moving on to the other side.
Tough Swetow is new to the world of American Horror Story, he’s had some experience with supernatural thrillers on screen. One of his most recognizable roles was that of Avatar Alpha in the original Charmed. He’s also appeared in Lucifer as Niels Schuman, Kidding as Rabbi Michael Epstein, and Silicon Valley as Rod Morgenstern as well as in the sci-fi series The Orville, Star Trek: Enterprise, Stargate SG-1, and Star Trek: The Next Generation. So chances are high you’ve seen him before.
Gabourey Sidibe may have encountered some real ghostly energy on the set of 'AHS.'
It’s always wonderful to see Gabourey Sidibe, the full-on force behind Coven’s Queenie. But did you know that the real Sidibe had a spiritual spooking of her own? And it had nothing to do with $199 cameras.
In 2015 during a panel for the TV Academy, Sidibe shared the behind-the-scenes American Horror Story moment that scared her the most. At the time, she was filming Coven. “I was in the hair and makeup trailer with one makeup artist and we heard scratching, like something was trying to get in our trailer,” Sidibe said. “I turned to the lady and was like, ‘PRAY! PRAY RIGHT NOW!'”
But that wasn’t the only time working on Coven freaked out Sidibe. For the episode “Go to Hell”, Sidibe had to learn a chant to summon Papa Legba (Lance Reddick). “It would stop and then start again. People were like ‘Ooh, it’s Papa Legba’ and I was like, ‘Shut up you guys, words have power!'” Sidibe said. In that same panel, the actor admitted that she’s scared of “everything and everyone.” It’s a testament to how great she is that it never shows.
Max Greenfield has appeared in this universe before, but never like this.
New Girl fans got a lovely surprise in “Aura” thanks to Max Greenfield. This isn’t the first time that Schmit has appeared in Ryan Muphy’s universe. Greenfield first starred in the Hotel season of American Horror Story as Gabriel, a heroin addict who gets his last fix at Hotel Cortez. He also starred in The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story as Ronnie, a Miami local who crosses paths with Andrew Cunanan (Darren Criss) at his most dangerous.
Both of these roles portray Greenfield as a sympathetic figure. That’s not who Bryce is in “Aura.” Jaslyn’s controlling husband is more like his scummy role in Promising Young Woman. If you want more of creepy Greenfield, that’s where you should start.
What happened to Jaslyn's parents sounds a lot like the Golden State Killer and the Bunny Man.
A huge part of Jaslyn’s anxieties in “Aura” have to do with a crime we only see briefly. When she was a child 20 years ago, a man in a bunny mask broke into her house and tied up her parents. It’s unclear if he assaulted or killed them, but based on the screams we hear, nothing good happened that night.
At first glance, this home burglary subplot feels like it was inspired by the disturbingly true case of the Golden State Killer. This California criminal was responsible for at least 13 murders, 50 rapes, and 120 burglaries during his reign of terror. Joseph James DeAngelo Jr. would often break into the homes of his victims using windows and doors he had previously unlocked, a detail that mirrors the masked man entering young Jaslyn’s room. As he became more confident, he started to target couples. It wasn’t unusual for him to tie them up as he assaulted the women.
However, the mask this American Horror Stories assailant wears is more in line with the Virginian legend of the Bunny Man. Most variations of this urban legend involve a man dressed in a bunny costume attacking victims with an axe or a hatchet.
There is one more reason why the most traumatic night of Jaslyn’s night is important. This is the second time in American Horror Story and American Horror Stories‘ history that something rabbit related is connected to untold terror Last season’s “Drive In” revolved around a crazed director (John Carroll Lynch) airing his banned film even though he knew it caused people to turn into hyper violent cannibals. The name of that fictional film? Rabbit Rabbit.
This is the second time 'AHS' ghosts have communicated with the living through technology.
Looks like we have another rule for American Horror Story’s ghosts. Ever since Murder House, we’ve known that ghosts can form if they die in certain locations. The Murder House, Hotel Cortez, and Camp Redwood have all been breeding grounds for ghosts. But last season’s “Game Over”, a trippy installment that combined a playthrough of a video game with ghostly lore, hinted that ghosts could also communicate with the world using technology. “Aura” seems to confirm that theory.
