Ep 8. Unholy Night

In American Horror Story season 2 episode 8, titled "Unholy Night," the episode opens with a flashback to 1962, where a killer dressed as Santa Claus named Leigh Emerson is apprehended and brought to Briarcliff Manor. Flash forward to present day, where Sister Jude is bustling about to bring some holiday cheer to Briarcliff.

Meanwhile, Lana tries to escape from Dr. Thredson's clutches. She manages to escape out of the asylum but is caught by Bloody Face. He takes her back to his lair and reveals to her that he is actually Thredson. He brings her into his basement where he has set up a nursery for the baby he wants to have with her. He tries to convince her to go along with his plan, but Lana remains defiant.

Back at Briarcliff, Sister Mary Eunice welcomes Leigh Emerson back to the asylum as part of a Christmas pageant organized by Dr. Arden. Sister Jude is furious when she finds out that Leigh has been allowed to return, and that Dr. Arden is using the inmates as his guinea pigs again. Sister Jude tries to convince Dr. Arden to stop with his experiments, but he brushes her off.

Leigh begins to wreak havoc in Briarcliff, starting with attacking a fellow inmate who he believes stole his mask. He then sets his sights on Sister Jude and arrives in her office dressed as Santa Claus. Leigh takes Sister Jude hostage and threatens to kill her, but is stopped by the arrival of Dr. Arden and Dr. Thredson. They manage to subdue Leigh, and Sister Jude is left shaken by the ordeal.

As the episode comes to a close, Sister Mary Eunice confronts Dr. Arden about his experiments and the harm he is causing to the inmates. Dr. Arden seems to be unbothered by her concerns and even suggests that they continue with their work. The episode ends on a cliffhanger as Lana makes a shocking discovery about the identity of Bloody Face.

"Unholy Night," is a tense episode that highlights the darkness and chaos that can occur during the holiday season. The introduction of Leigh Emerson as a villainous Santa Claus adds a layer of horror to an already terrifying show. The performances from the cast are top-notch, especially Jessica Lange as Sister Jude and James Cromwell as Dr. Arden. The episode has a lot of twists and turns, leaving the audience constantly on edge. It is a must-watch for fans of the horror genre.