Just when television audiences thought Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk’s long-running horror anthology couldn’t possibly escalate its chaotic mythology any further, the FX flagship series delivered a tumultuous season 13 finale. Titled "Devil of a Good Time," the milestone episode brought the sprawling, high-stakes war between the Coven and the forces of darkness to a dramatic head, leaving fans with plenty of shocking twists, major character deaths, and tantalizing questions about the future of the franchise.
Throughout the thirteenth installment, witches across generations have pulled out every magical stop in their arsenal to defeat young Mr. Nas, the sinister central villain brought to life by actor Paul Anthony Kelly. The narrative tension reached a boiling point following revelations that Ben, portrayed by Joey Pollari, is actually Satan’s biological son. Compounding the family tree complications, veteran franchise icon Jessica Lange pulled double-and-triple duty by playing Constance Langdon and Fiona Goode—revealed to be twin sisters and daughters of Satan alongside Sister Jude, also played by Lange. With such an unholy lineage driving the plot, Thursday night’s finale delivered maximum narrative velocity.
In the concluding chapter of the season, young Mr. Nas wasted no time eliminating perceived threats, executing his medical specialist, Mr. Phibes, played by guest star John Waters, as well as an older version of himself. Meanwhile, Fiona took the time to introduce Constance to the foundational practices of witchcraft, subtly positioning her for a potential future within the Coven. Romance also blossomed in deeply unconventional American Horror Story fashion when Ben and Madison, played by Emma Roberts, engaged in a sudden tryst. The encounter immediately resulted in Madison becoming pregnant and giving birth to a daughter. When the newborn initially appeared lifeless, young Mr. Nas intervened, miraculously bringing the baby back to life.
However, the forces of light were far from ready to surrender. After Mallory, played by Billie Lourd, utilized her chronokinetic powers to travel through time once more, she and supreme witch Cordelia, played by Sarah Paulson, realized the grim reality of what must be done to save the world: they had to convince Ben to make the ultimate sacrifice. Overcoming the dark pull of his heritage, Ben ultimately agreed to the plan, plunging a sword directly into his own heart. His body dissolved into ash, effectively shattering Satan’s hold on the mortal plane. Young Mr. Nas met a similarly ironic and inescapable fate, trapped indefinitely inside The Last Supper painting—a poetic punishment foreshadowed by Constance during her very first interaction with Ben in the season premiere.
Following the conclusion of the season, The Hollywood Reporter spoke with Paul Anthony Kelly about the surreal experience of anchoring American Horror Story season 13 as its primary antagonist, sharing the screen with legendary franchise royalty, and whether audiences might ever see young Mr. Nas rise again in the recently renewed fourteenth season.
When Kelly first signed on to join the sprawling ensemble, he admitted he had very little foresight regarding the ultimate trajectory of his character or how the terrifying narrative arc would conclude. Production schedules meant scripts were being developed concurrently with filming. With only five episodes written when Kelly stepped onto the set and a total order of 13 episodes, the journey required a willingness to embrace narrative unpredictability and play along with whatever twists the writers’ room cooked up next.
Balancing a demanding shooting schedule with personal life milestones meant Kelly hadn’t yet had the chance to sit down and watch the finale as it broadcasted live. Currently deep into production on The Housemaid’s Secret, and balancing the responsibilities of caring for a newborn baby at home, the actor joked that his television-watching days have taken a temporary backseat. Despite starring in prestige television, his own leisure viewing time remains practically non-existent.
Reflecting on his character’s grand designs, Kelly noted that Satan’s ultimate ambition for his son Ben was to recruit him as a second-in-command, effectively attempting to lure him into the "family business" of eternal damnation. When asked about his initial reaction to learning that Ben would choose self-sacrifice over joining forces with his demonic father, Kelly laughed, admitting he was entirely flabbergasted and deeply unimpressed by the character’s moral choices.
Viewers tracking the season noticed subtle shifts in young Mr. Nas’s behavior, particularly moments of unexpected mercy, such as sparing a man in the opening sequence, showing compassion to a dog, and resurrecting Madison and Ben’s infant daughter. Kelly confirmed that these moments were deliberate choices reflecting his character’s complex nature, ultimately culminating in a decision to call off the great game and spare a handful of lives along the way. Explaining why the powerful villain allowed the Coven to close in on him to such a dangerous degree, Kelly pointed out a familial connection: Sarah Paulson’s character is technically his grandchild, introducing a warped sense of domestic dynamic into the apocalyptic showdown.
The finale also featured a darkly humorous fate for John Waters’ character, who found himself thrust back into the fiery depths of hell. Kelly explained that while Waters was indeed condemned, the destination aligned perfectly with the eccentric filmmaker’s earthly ambitions. Having always desired to make a classic biker movie, Waters’ character is now doomed—and seemingly thrilled—to direct the project for all eternity.
While many American Horror Story characters have a habit of cheating the grave through resurrection, time travel, or supernatural loopholes, the finale’s closing moments felt remarkably definitive. Trapped within the confines of a painting under the perpetual watch of the Coven, young Mr. Nas faces a purgatorial sentence. When asked whether the villain is truly gone for good or if there is a chance of resurrection in a future installment, Kelly maintained that nothing is ever completely off the table in the Ryan Murphy universe, jokingly suggesting that an eventual "season 18" could easily feature the dramatic return of young Mr. Nas. For the time being, however, the actor confirmed that the definitive answer rests entirely in the hands of the writers, with no firm plans currently locked in.
Similarly, the ultimate fate of Constance Langdon, who spent the season brokering dangerous bargains with the forces of darkness, remains delightfully ambiguous as the dust settles on the Coven’s victory.
For Kelly, one of the absolute highlights of joining the legendary horror franchise was sharing the screen with undisputed acting royalty. Among his most memorable moments on set was filming a sophisticated tango dance sequence opposite Jessica Lange, an experience he described as an undeniable career high point. The physical demands of the role also provided plenty of entertainment, particularly during elaborate death scenes involving heavy prosthetic work and practical special effects. Kelly recalled a memorable mishap during the sequence where young Mr. Nas eliminates his older self, noting that a massive spray of theatrical black goo accidentally soaked him entirely, turning a gruesome cinematic moment into a thoroughly fun behind-the-scenes memory.
Stepping into the American Horror Story ecosystem for the first time, Kelly found immediate mentorship and camaraderie among the cast. In addition to spending significant time learning from Jessica Lange, he formed a lasting friendship with Sarah Paulson. Surrounded by a masterclass of legendary performers, he embraced the opportunity to absorb their craft while navigating the terrifying world of the show.
Although Kelly had fallen somewhat out of rhythm with the later iterations of the franchise after following its initial stellar seasons, he held a particular fondness for Freak Show, citing its unique atmosphere as a personal favorite. With FX officially renewing American Horror Story for a fourteenth season, speculation immediately turns to whether the breakout villain actor might find a way back into the fold. Kelly acknowledged that given Ryan Murphy’s penchant for resurrecting past actors, narrative concepts, and thematic threads, a return is entirely within the realm of possibility. Should the call come in for season 14, he confirmed he would seriously consider stepping back into the shadows.
Having thoroughly enjoyed his baptism by fire in the horror genre, Kelly expressed a strong desire to continue exploring terrifying narratives in future acting projects.
All episodes of FX’s American Horror Story: 13 are now available to stream on Hulu.