{"id":10953,"date":"2026-10-30T16:24:58","date_gmt":"2026-10-30T15:24:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thetab.com\/filmshrine\/?p=10953"},"modified":"2026-10-30T16:24:58","modified_gmt":"2026-10-30T15:24:58","slug":"american-horror-story-season-13-episode-13-finale-why-satan-gave-up-backlash","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thetab.com\/filmshrine\/2026\/10\/30\/american-horror-story-season-13-episode-13-finale-why-satan-gave-up-backlash\/","title":{"rendered":"Sorry, but why did Satan just give up in the American Horror Story season 13 finale?"},"content":{"rendered":"

*Warning: Spoilers ahead for the American Horror Story season 13 finale*<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

So after nearly 100 years of scheming, ritualistic sacrifices and manipulating his own son, Satan just\u2026 decided to give it all up?! If this left you baffled after watching the American Horror Story<\/a> season 13 finale, here\u2019s what Paul Anthony Kelly has said about his motives.<\/span><\/p>\n

In season 13<\/a> episode 13, titled \u2018Devil of a Good Time\u2019, Mr. Phibes (John Waters) prepares the final ritual. This involves inviting 13 unsuspecting men to Mr. Nas’ apartment and serving them cookies laced with crystal meth, of course. <\/span><\/p>\n

As the men die, Satan’s human body ages towards the 100-year mark he needs to reach to win his bet with God. But just as he’s about to succeed, the younger Mr. Nas (Kelly) intervenes, sparing one of the victims and leaving his age stuck at 99.9 years.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Mr.
Credit: FX<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

He then destroys his older body and kills Phibes, before visiting Cordelia (Sarah Paulson) in her personal hell. After freeing her, he makes a u-turn so big you can see it from space. He announces that he’s no longer interested in ruling Earth and even hands over his apartment to the witches. Is he alright?<\/span><\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Madison (Emma Roberts) suddenly becomes pregnant with Ben’s (Joey Pollari)<\/a> baby and gives birth almost immediately. Initially, it seems the baby is dead, but Satan shows up and revives his new granddaughter. <\/span><\/p>\n

But Cordelia isn’t about to trust the Devil. After Mallory (Billie Lourd) travels back in time to discover a spell capable of defeating him, the witches realise Ben must sacrifice himself to make it work.<\/span><\/p>\n

Despite having just become a father, Ben agrees, stabbing himself in the heart and turning to ashes. His sacrifice allows the witches to trap Satan inside Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper, where he takes Judas’ place at the table.<\/span><\/p>\n

So, after almost 100 years of trying to take over the world, Satan ends up imprisoned in a painting.<\/span><\/p>\n

Paul Anthony Kelly explains why Satan gave up<\/h2>\n
\"Satan
Credit: FX<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Paul Anthony Kelly<\/a> explained that his decision to drop everything really was just because of his love of the game – and is not intended to be a redemption arc. <\/span><\/p>\n

Speaking to <\/span>TVInsider<\/span><\/a>, he explained, \u201cHe\u2019s definitely an individual who goes after what he wants. And in the season, he made a bet with the man upstairs that if he could keep a human presence for over 100 years, he gets it all.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBut in the end, he decides against it because there\u2019s no fun in having it all. Where\u2019s the challenge? He just wants to go back to tormenting and toying with individuals.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Plus, the idea of dealing with 8.3 billion people was just too much admin. \u201cAt the end of the day, that\u2019s not exactly what he wants, or it\u2019s the bigger picture of them having to look after and take care of humanity\u2026 Who wants that responsibility?\u201d Kelly added.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHis midlife crisis is probably the turning point of all of that. And he\u2019s like, \u2018Hey, you know what? I don\u2019t actually want to do this at all.\u2019\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\"The
Credit: FX<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Even though his reasons are self-serving, the actor did explain that there is <\/span>some<\/span><\/i> good in Satan: \u201cHe\u2019s not entirely an evil guy. Evil adjacent, sure, but that\u2019s just his job. Yeah, there\u2019s more to them. It was a little good, if you care to see.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

As for why he chose not to eliminate Cordelia and the witches, Kelly replied, \u201cShe\u2019s family, but also because [there\u2019s] a little bit of him he sees in her: the defiance, the standing your ground and fighting for what you want, whether that be right or wrong. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s admirable. You\u2019ve got a purpose and a goal, and you\u2019re going for it, no matter what. And I think that really rings true within him. As opposed to just being totally devoted.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt justifies his own existence. But these powerful adversaries are also his kin. You know, his daughter, his grandchild. You know, they\u2019re all kind of related,\u201d he continued. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThey come cut from the same cloth as well. Maybe that\u2019s why he doesn\u2019t put up such a big fight. Maybe he\u2019s done fighting for it, you know? Like, okay. If someone\u2019s got to do it, better be the family then.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

American Horror Story season 13 finale is facing intense backlash<\/h2>\n
\"Cordelia,
Credit: FX<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Even though this is a clear explanation, the decision to have Satan do a u-turn in the American Horror Story finale hasn\u2019t gone down well with one side of the fandom – especially when it had spent 12 episodes building up to his world domination. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSo Satan just randomly decides to GIVE UP??? Wth kind of retcon is that?? That\u2019s not even close to believable,\u201d said one person on <\/span>Reddit<\/span><\/a>, while another more bluntly wrote, \u201cIt makes the last season of Game of Thrones look good.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

A third added, \u201cI know AHS has been absolutely dying for a while now but I genuinely cannot believe that the finale was just the devil going \u2018Hey, actually I don’t want this to happen. I am not going to explain why I have came to this decision to just waste 12 episodes not really doing anything anyway and there was no real explanation of what danger could happen but yeah cba, forget it\u2019.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s one of many criticisms of the 13th chapter of the horror<\/a> series, which currently has a measly audience score of 30% on Rotten Tomatoes. <\/span><\/p>\n

That was the worst season of television I\u2019ve seen in my life<\/a>
byu\/Effective-Rutabaga15<\/a> inAmericanHorrorStory<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n