American Horror Story aired back in 2011 and since then, the show has changed the genre of horror on television. People are amazed by American Horror Story because the show re-uses the same actors and actresses but changes the theme every year. I have seen each season of American Horror Story and let me tell you, I have strong opinions towards each one. I am ranking these seasons on the following three things as follows: the plot, character development, and "twists". Here is the list of American Horror Story seasons from worst to best on this week's list.
Worst to Best (Spoiler Free Review)
7. Hotel
Hands down the worst season ever produced by Ryan Murphy. This season was so bad, that I ended up solving the season “twist” on the first episode. With any show, I give it a good five episodes and debate whether or not the season is worth the watch. I only watched about three episodes and realized that this season was doomed.
Let's start with the plot. Man, the plot is horrendous. It's all over the place.
American Horror Story likes to give the viewer different perspectives of different characters at the same time. This season just seemed to bland. I didn’t feel a connection to any character in the show. The character development is choppy, and the overall theme is just not exciting. When I first heard of Hotel, peculiar ideas came into my head.
I was thinking maybe the writers would "wow" us by having some genius idea of how serial killers, ghosts, and the unknown could be at this hotel at the same time or cross paths with each other?
What do we get instead?
We get horny vampires in a Hotel mixed into previous season's ideas mixed with other terrible ideas. Certain actors and actresses who should be highlighted in Hotel are Lady Gaga, Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Denis O’Hare, Kathy Bates, Angela Bassett, Lily Rabe, and Cheyenne Jackson to name a few. The actors and actresses acting was great, just the way they were written into the story and their development seemed a tad bit dull.
This was the only season of American Horror Story that made me mad after every episode. If you have to ask yourself, “Why and what in the world is going on?” after every episode, then you know for a fact that there is a problem with the writing on the show. The whole season just needs to be thrown away.
6. Roanoke
What started out as the second most “hated” season has sprung into what is now an “alright” season in my book. At first, I couldn’t stand Roanoke.
There were certain things that made me dislike the season during the initial first watch. I have to say, the marketing for this season was phenomenal due to the fact no one knew what this season was going to be about. The marketing team did a phenomenal job producing fake teasers for the show before it ever aired. When the first episode aired, I was all in. I felt as if this season was going to be on pare with the first three seasons again.
Then again, we live in the Real World and I was disappointed by the “twist” midseason. The season finale was just bad. Prominent questions kept arising while watching this season such as, “Why don’t they just leave?”, “How come attacks usually happen at night?” and continually kept irritating me. Now there, of course, are good and bad of this.
The good: the dramatizations, the story, the characters.
The bad: the way the plot ended up. I was so disappointed in the season finale, I remember turning off my tv and ranting on Facebook about the ending. Roanoke definitely had a good strong beginning, just ended badly.
5. Freak Show
Freak Show was a weird season. I liked the marketing and trailers for Freak Show a lot, but the plot of Circus was not what I expected. Now the first five episodes were great, but after a “certain” character dies, the season just becomes numb. I wasn’t an active watcher of this season once it came out, but when I caught up to the season finale, I was left with the, “Is that it?” type of feeling.
The writers could have done a better job of delivering scares and story input. The story was "average". It didn't surprise me or make me excited. After the fifth episode, it just plateaus. Nothing exciting or new seems to surprise me anymore. Unlike Hotel, there was actually good in this season.
The good: Twisty the Clown, "Danny", Sarah Paulson, Kathy Bates, and Jessica Lange.
The bad: the story. I even saw photos of what Danny was “supposedly” to “transition” too towards the end of the season and it was never shown? Freak Show had so much potential. I wasn’t mad at this season, just highly disappointed.
4. Cult
The current season of American Horror Story: Cult is still airing on Tuesdays at 10 p.m.
Honestly, this season is on pare with Roanoke right now because its still going. This season is not like any other season because it is dealing with actual real-life fears mixed into the election. At first, I thought this would be the dumbest idea ever. I kept thinking of the Purge: Election Year. If the Purge: Election Year was never made, then American Horror Story: Cult would have been a masterpiece. The idea of Cult didn’t sit well with me.
The marketing team used trypophobia, bees, and clowns as teasers and quite frankly, I am not afraid of clowns nor bees. It took me awhile to get into this season, but when it started picking up the pace, that’s when I started to enjoy it. The overall theme is making people do things by initiating “fear” into the mind. The acting surprisingly is phenomenal. New actors and actresses are being displayed this season and so far are doing a good job.
The plot is somewhat “decent.” I am still awaiting for the mid season "Twist" that will make or break a show. The motives of characters in this season definitely outlay the past three seasons by far.
3. Coven
These last three seasons of American Horror Story have a special place in my heart. All three have something in common: Jessica Lange. Jessica Lange, in my opinion, was in her prime in the first three seasons of American Horror Story. Coven proved that point.
I rewatched Coven about a few months ago and I just couldn’t stop watching it. Everything was on point in this season. The only thing I didn’t like about this season, was the fact that one character wasn’t explained enough but was given the right amount of screen time, which I envy. I actually ended up caring for the characters in this season than any other season.
2. Murder House
The “infamous” murder house season. Murder House was the first season of American Horror Story that blew the stereotype of horror shows on the television at the time. Something like American Horror Story had never been done before. Murder House was good because the idea of ghosts and a haunted house was presented in a different way than the usual. To me, this season was really good but I preferred this season as my 2nd best favorite. The way ghosts are shown in this season laid the groundwork for what American Horror Story use ghosts for other seasons.
1. Asylum
Usually, the second season can be weary or not up to pare with how well a first season has done. Ryan Murphy defied those odds. Asylum was all that I wanted in a season. You have ghosts, monsters, aliens, evil priests and demons? What all can you ask for in a season?
The writers of this season should be commended on how well those ideas were blended into this season. Like Coven and Murder House, you have distinct connect with each character. This season reminded me of a Twilight Zone type of horror. The characters of this season were all connected somehow. I like how each type of horror that was presented in the show was not entangled with one another, which kept the story so moving.
Each episode seemed to either focus on a character that was in the Asylum or introduce smaller stories which led to big focus points. Everything made sense at the end of Asylum, and by that Ryan Murphy, I commend you.
So there it was folks! Hoped you enjoyed my ranting and American Horror Story list. Stay tuned for more things coming your way.
