We all love the anthology series American Horror Story. But we can agree that not every season is a banger. Read on to find out which season was the worst and which season was the best.
10. Roanoke
American Horror Story really took a dive in quality with this season. It had an interesting premise of a TV reenactment of a violent haunting that changes into a faux reality show halfway through the season. But after a few episodes the novelty wore off. The plot became confusing and convoluted, none of the actors were likable, and it was shot so dark that we could barely see what was happening on screen.
9. Cult
Yeah… we as a country did not need this season. It was a direct response to the 2016 election and it somehow succeeded in making an abysmal election year even more bleak. It paints one political ideology a demented, violent cult and then paints the other side as holier-than-thou and unlikeable. And then equates the two as if being insufferable is on par with being murderous and tyrannical. The result is just a dismal, mean-spirited mess. But unlike the previous entry on the list, it was at the very least, kind of scary.
8. Delicate
You know it’s bad when Kim Kardashian’s performance is considered one of the highlights of the season. But in all honesty, all of the performances, including Kardashian’s, were actually pretty decent. And the visual design was stunning. The problem with the season was its bland story. But to be fair, that blandness may have been the result of the writer’s strike. Not the best season. But certainly not the worst.
7. 1984
American Horror Story: 1984 was actually good for most of the season. But like with Roanoke, this season lost momentum around the middle of its run. It does a great job paying homage to 80’s slasher films. And the main antagonist was evil in such a campy way and it was so much fun to watch. But as stated previously, it got boring around the 50% mark. Plus the show broke its own lore. How can Richard Ramirez show up at The Hotel Cortez on Devil’s Night if he’s constantly getting resurrected at the camp? Make it make sense!
6. Apocalypse
To this season’s credit, unlike some aforementioned entries, it never gets boring. However just because it’s not boring, doesn’t mean it’s great. Though it was never bland, it was quite confusing with its non linear storytelling. Plus some characters like Ms. Venable were completely unnecessary. All that being said, the antichrist storyline was pretty cool and it was great to see all the Coven witches back together again. I’m also glad they brought Misty back from the dead.
5. Asylum
American Horror Story: Asylum may be at the bottom of the good list, but it is still one of the better seasons. This season has quite a few legitimately scary storylines such as an evil murderous Santa, a nun who is possessed by Satan, and an Ed Gein stand-in. But sadly, the show also has aliens. And the alien storyline does not mesh well with the other storylines. It’s hard to reconcile a universe where aliens and the Christian devil coexist. It’s just a bit much.
4. Murder House
This is the season that started it all. American Horror Story: Murder House was pretty innovative for its time. It wasn’t afraid to show gore or violence, and its innovation led to many terrifying moments. However, since the show is constantly trying to one-up itself, it seems a bit dull in comparison to the other seasons. But it will always be iconic for being the very first season of this fun and frightening show.
3. Freak Show
American Horror Story: Freak Show received 19 Emmy nominations for a reason. This season was so much fun. While watching you end up sympathizing with almost all of the characters, not just the main protagonists. The Halloween episode may be one of the best Halloween episodes of the entire series. Elsa Mars is a horrible person, but she’s such a lovable character. And Dandy Mott is a truly unhinged antagonist. However, the musical numbers were a bit much and unnecessary for the show.
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2. Hotel
Lady Gaga should have been in more seasons of this show. This was the season that proved that Mother Monster could not only sing and dance, but she could act too. American Horror Story: Hotel is a wonderful attempt at a cerebral murder mystery. Though this season has biblically-themed murders, bloodthirsty vampires, metaphors for addiction, and a psychotic H.H. Holmes stand-in, it also has a surprising amount of heart and sentiment. It’s wholesomely horrific. The only problem is the addiction demon. That thing was completely unnecessary.
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1. Coven
And the number one spot goes to American Horror Story: Coven! This season not only has a fun and cohesive plot. It also has compelling characters, decent scares, and social commentary that feels genuine, unlike the ham-fisted attempt made by Cult. This season tries to tell you a story rather than throwing random horror elements at the wall and seeing what sticks. Plus, Stevie Nicks guest stars in this season which automatically makes it the best!
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