American Horror Story: NYC Episode 4, "Black Out," directed by Jennifer Lynch, transitions the season into a high-tension thriller by utilizing the 1977 Manhattan blackout as a metaphor for 1981 queer marginalization and the HIV/AIDS crisis. Critics praised the episode for its "meaty plot," intense climax, and nuanced character development for Patrick and Gino as the Mai Tai Killer storyline escalates. For more details, visit American Horror Story Wiki . "American Horror Story" Black Out (TV Episode 2022) - IMDb