Jessica Lange plays Margaret Thatcher in a sacrifice scene in American Horror Story season 13
An episode of American Horror Story season 13 revealed Jessica Lange as Margaret Thatcher, one of 13 women sacrificed to Mr Nas in a ritual led by Lange's Elsa Mars. Coverage differs in focus: Radio Times on the shock of the scene, The Hollywood Reporter on the episode's story and new cast member Paul Anthony Kelly.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2An episode of American Horror Story season 13 revealed that Jessica Lange plays the late former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, one of 13 women offered as sacrifices to the figure Mr Nas. Radio TimesN “But things got even weirder when the next woman was revealed: Margaret Thatcher (played by Lange).” Read at Radio Times ↗ The Hollywood ReporterLC “Among those being sacrificed is former U.K. Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, another character played by Lange” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ Mixed · 2The Hollywood Reporter says Thatcher is the mystery fifth role Lange had previously teased she would play this season; Lange also plays Constance Langdon and reprises Elsa Mars from season four, Freak Show. The Hollywood ReporterLC “another character played by Lange and the mystery fifth role she previously teased she'd play this season” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ Radio TimesN “saw Lange reprise her role as Freak Show's Elsa Mars” Read at Radio Times ↗ Mixed · 2In the scene, Elsa presides as master of ceremonies over a satanic ritual in which 13 women, said to have been taken before they could reach their full potential, are given to Mr Nas; Radio Times lists others among them, including Eva Braun, Wallis Simpson, Ayn Rand, Brigitte Bardot, Catherine the Great and Elena Ceaușescu. Radio TimesN “Included among them are Hypodermic Sally, Eva Braun, Wallis Simpson, Ayn Rand, Brigitte Bardot, Catherine the Great, Mamie Eisenhower, Elena Ceaușescu, Jezebel and Tuberculous Karen.” Read at Radio Times ↗ The Hollywood ReporterLC “Elsa is presiding over a ceremony in which 13 women are offered as sacrifices to Mr. Nas” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗
Centre · 1Elsa demands that Thatcher apologise; in Radio Times' account she attacks Thatcher as a "school milk snatcher" and says her "callous disregard sent Irish hunger strikers to their death", and Thatcher answers "Crime is crime is crime. It is not political." Radio TimesN “Your callous disregard sent Irish hunger strikers to their death.”“Thatcher responds: "Crime is crime is crime. It is not political. It is crime,"” Read at Radio Times ↗ Mixed · 2Thatcher refuses to apologise and is sent into a fiery pit as Elsa says, "Don't cry for her, Argentina!" The two outlets describe the push differently: Radio Times says Elsa sends her down, while The Hollywood Reporter says Tate Langdon (Evan Peters), in his Rubber Man suit, pushes her in. Radio TimesN “When Thatcher refuses to apologise, Elsa sends her down into the fiery pit” Read at Radio Times ↗ The Hollywood ReporterLC “Tate Langdon (Evan Peters), wearing his Rubber Man suit, then pushes her into the fiery pit.” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ Left · 1The Hollywood Reporter identifies the episode as episode four, "Is That All There Is?", in which Lange's Elsa also performs Peggy Lee's song of that name during the ritual, and which shows Constance had made a deal with Nas, wanting to be a mother again and "do it right". The Hollywood ReporterLC “Lange reprises her role of Elsa Mars from season four’s Freak Show, performing a rendition of Peggy Lee’s “Is That All There Is?” during a satanic ritual.”“she made a deal with the devil — Nas” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗
Left · 1The same episode introduces Paul Anthony Kelly, previously John F. Kennedy Jr. in Ryan Murphy's Love Story, as a younger Mr Nas; Kelly told The Hollywood Reporter that Nas has "villainous traits, but he's not necessarily a villain — there's some good". The Hollywood ReporterLC ““I think he has villainous traits, but he’s not necessarily a villain — there’s some good,” he said.”“Kelly’s first appearance this season as a younger version of Mr. Nas” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ Centre · 1Ryan Murphy previously described the season as an "Avengers-style" crossover featuring returning stars and characters from past seasons. It follows couple Kira (Madelaine Petsch) and Ben (Joey Pollari), with Ben later working as a hospice carer for Mr Nas (Fedor Steer, per Radio Times) under Constance Langdon. Radio TimesN “Showrunner Ryan Murphy previously announced that American Horror Story season 13 would be an "Avengers-style" crossover”“grief-stricken Ben returns to work as a hospice carer for the elderly Mr Nas (Fedor Steer), under the supervision of one Constance Langdon (Lange).” Read at Radio Times ↗ Mixed · 2The season airs on FX, with new episodes on Thursdays and a finale on Thursday 29 October; it streams on Hulu in the US and on Disney+ internationally. The Hollywood ReporterLC “New episodes of AHS: 13 premiere Thursdays at 9 pm ET/PT on FX and 9 pm PT on Hulu, until the finale on Thursday, Oct. 29.” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ Radio TimesN “American Horror Story season 13 airs on FX and streams internationally on Disney+.” Read at Radio Times ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- An interview-led entertainment feature about actor Paul Anthony Kelly's role as Mr Nas, with Lange's Thatcher as a secondary reveal.
- Emphasis
- Kelly's comments, episode four's plot and Constance's deal with Nas, and Lange's Thatcher as the previously teased fifth character.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Gives little of the Thatcher dialogue and does not list the other women sacrificed.
- Charged language
- “secret fifth character”“major spoilers”
- For example
-
“Paul Anthony Kelly has officially made his entrance in American Horror Story — and revealed the character he’s been keeping under wraps.” — The Hollywood Reporter
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- Treats the Thatcher cameo as a shock moment, leading with the scene and its dialogue.
- Emphasis
- Elsa's insults and Thatcher's replies, the list of sacrificed women, and a recap of the season premise.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention Paul Anthony Kelly's casting or the episode title, and says Elsa, not Tate, sends Thatcher into the pit.
- Charged language
- “hellish twist”“We're going to need a few moments to process that.”
- For example
-
“Jessica Lange playing the late British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher? Could anyone have seen that coming?!” — Radio Times
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- Jessica Lange plays Margaret Thatcher in American Horror Story season 13.
- Thatcher is among 13 women sacrificed to Mr Nas in a ritual led by Lange's Elsa Mars.
- Thatcher refuses to apologise and ends up in a fiery pit, after which Elsa says "Don't cry for her, Argentina!"
- Lange also plays Constance Langdon this season.
Where accounts differ
-
Who sends Thatcher into the fiery pit
- Left
- The Hollywood Reporter says Tate Langdon in his Rubber Man suit pushes her in.
- Centre
- Radio Times says Elsa sends her down into the pit.
Jessica Lange person
Plays Constance Langdon, Elsa Mars and Thatcher; coverage notes she had teased a secret fifth role.
“the mystery fifth role she previously teased she'd play this season” — The Hollywood Reporter
Paul Anthony Kelly person
Says he had free rein to create Mr Nas and sees some good in the character.
“in American Horror Story, I was given free rein to create a character.” — The Hollywood Reporter
Margaret Thatcher person
As a character, Thatcher defends her record ("Crime is crime is crime") and refuses to apologise.
“Thatcher responds: "Crime is crime is crime. It is not political. It is crime,"” — Radio Times
American Horror Story other
The season is billed by Ryan Murphy as an "Avengers-style" crossover of past seasons.
“Showrunner Ryan Murphy previously announced that American Horror Story season 13 would be an "Avengers-style" crossover” — Radio Times
UK and Ireland1 outlet
Radio Times foregrounds Thatcher's British political references (milk snatcher, hunger strikers, Argentina) and the UK Disney+ availability.
“Previous seasons are available to stream now on Disney+ in the UK” — Radio Times
Radio Times
North America1 outlet
The Hollywood Reporter focuses on the cast, the Ryan Murphy franchise and US broadcast times on FX and Hulu.
“New episodes of AHS: 13 premiere Thursdays at 9 pm ET/PT on FX and 9 pm PT on Hulu” — The Hollywood Reporter
The Hollywood Reporter
Left1 article
-
Neutral Cast interview and episode explainer that mentions Thatcher as Lange's secret fifth role.
Centre1 article
-
Mixed Playful, incredulous recap of the Thatcher scene with spoiler warning.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 2 Oct 10:38 First Radio TimesN American Horror Story season 13 sees Jessica Lange play former British PM Margaret Thatcher as part of hellish twist
- 2 Oct 20:13 +9h 35m The Hollywood ReporterLC ‘American Horror Story: 13’: Paul Anthony Kelly Says “There’s Some Good” to Mr. Nas as Jessica Lange’s Secret Fifth Character Is Unveiled
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.