Hello!
It's been a while! I took a little break from blogging... work got crazy busy and I was just too tired, ya know? The world is crazy and sometimes, creativity just isn't flowing.
But I'm back with something I've been wanting to discuss for a while: American Horror Story.
One day, many moons ago, I was home from college just laying in bed trying to find something to watch on Netflix. I was using my ex-boyfriend's account (he hadn't kicked me off yet, and I was a poor college student who couldn't afford my own account), and I was bored to tears. This was before other streaming services had taken off or even been created yet.
I came across a show called American Horror Story. I had heard of it on social media, but wasn't sure it was my jam, but I had heard good things and thought I should give it a shot.
Oh, boy! That one decision let to a tumultuous relationship with AHS that I wouldn't change... well, mostly.
So I am going to rank the seasons based on my opinions. From what I have seen on the internet, my opinions very much differ from the typical consensus, which is frustrating, because, ya know, my opinions are correct ;)
I want to stress before I get into this that my opinions, specifically the negative ones, have nothing to do with the actors. In every season, the acting and performances are spectacular. I have no qualms with the performances. If I didn't like a season, it was not because of the acting. I just want to make that very clear!
So as a reminder, below is a list of the seasons from season one to the most recent season that has aired so far.
Murder House
Asylum
Coven
Freak Show
Hotel
Roanoke
Cult
Apocalypse
1984
And yes, I have this list memorized because I talk about it often enough, and I have seen each season soooo many times.
So I am going to rate them from least favorite to favorite. Please know that these are just my opinions, and anyone is allowed to have differing opinions. Mmmk? Cool! Here we go!
Coming in 8th place (yes, 8th and not 9th.. this was intentional... you'll see): Freak Show
Honestly, I was soooo hyped for this season. The trailers for it looked so creepy, and I was here for the Twisty the Clown villain. Clowns are my nightmare, so I was prepared to be terrified.
However, after just a few episodes, they killed off Twisty and brought in the new "villain" Dandy. To say that I was disappointed was an understatement. Dandy, in my opinion, is one of the most pathetic characters in television history. I know that it was probably the intention to have him be pathetic, but I was really upset that they got rid of this creepy character (Twisty) who had such a devastating past. You wanted to like Twisty and help him because it wasn't all his fault that he ended up the way he did. Dandy was just a spoiled rotten child-man who killed because he could for his own selfish and douchey needs.
I also feel like they didn't allow the characters to reach full potential. There was so much they could have done with the characters they had, and I'm still so sad that it was a failure. I think some of the performances were really great and there were a few redeemable moments by some of the actors, but it just couldn't make up for the bad decisions that were made in the story line.
7h Place: Cult
Ok so this season started off soooo strong. The timeline of the season started after Trump won the election against Hilary in 2016. It was a bit too real for my liking because the election was still so fresh for so many of us. Up until this point, it seemed like AHS had mostly toed the line between reality and fantasy, and I liked that. I don't typically want things to be too real when I'm watching horror, but I was mostly prepared for this season because I knew the sort of premise. It looked super interesting, and I was excited to see where they took it.
The first half or so of the season was genuinely great! It had some really creepy moments and great plot twists.
Unfortunately, in the back half ish of the season, they switched it up and turned it into a cult.... which, to me, didn't work. I know it was the title of the season, so I should have expected it, but there were these weird flashbacks to past cults and weird plot lines that were pushed on the characters. I won't go into too much detail because it was literally too bizarre, but it just didn't work to me. It didn't fit with what the characters had developed in the first half of the season.
I understand the season was all about fear, and cults are kind of like the epitome of fear, but I just didn't get how it all fit together. Meh.
6th Place: Coven
This one might really upset some people. I know a lot of people love Coven. And I do, too...
But it just.... ugh...
There was SO MUCH POTENTIAL! They had the perfect cast and the perfect ideas. But there was just so much missing. I couldn't tell you what was missing, but something was missing. I feel like they didn't get nearly close to reaching their potential. They got closer with Apocalypse (the coven characters are back among others). But if we are looking at this season alone, I just wasn't that impressed. I feel like there's so much more they could have done...
It did have its bright sides, though. The characters they created were really great! The women in this season were incredibly showcased, which was so wonderful to see (they're always showcased, but this season especially). Some of the plots, like the seven wonders, were really fun and inventive! And.. I mean.. my queen, Stevie Nicks, was on this season... and Kathy Bates... So.. there's that... :D
Overall, unfortunately, I was disappointed. It just didn't hold up to what it could have been.
5th Place: Apocalypse
So as I mentioned previously, this season made up a bit for Coven and the potential it could have had. Overall, it was a fine season. It was fun seeing different flashbacks and the twists and turns the story and the characters took. There weren't that many surprises once we got to episode three or four, so that was slightly disappointing, but it was still a fun ride getting to the end.
The first episode, specifically the first 15 ish minutes, are terrifying. It got to the point where I actually started to have anxiety. It was so real. At any moment, it felt like that could be my life. It felt real. I typically don't care for crossing the line into too much reality, but the rest of the season really went back into fantasy, so I was okay with it. I was worried, for a bit though that the entire season would feel that real.
I LOVED that they brought Coven back into it, and I reallllly loved that they brought Murder House back in. They really resolved the Murder House questions and concerns I had, so that was absolutely lovely.
It wasn't a bad season by any means. I wasn't all that surprised by the turns it took, and a few things seemed a bit obvious, but overall, it was a fun ride.
4th Place: Asylum
This season would have ranked higher if not for the aliens. I don't know what it is, but the whole aliens plot really annoys me and feels gratuitous. I just don't get it. I don't know what else to say about it...
But the rest of the season was soooo good! It was exactly what I would think a season called Asylum should be. It was creepy with plot twists that were fabulous!
It had this creepy imagery that gave me chills, and it made me cringe at certain parts. Bloody Face was a great villain. There were villains that turned into heroes and heroes that turned into villains. It was just absolute perfection!
Minus the aliens LOL
3rd Place: 1984
WHAT A FUN SEASON! This is the most recent aired season, and I had a blast! Yes, like most AHS seasons there were twists and turns, but turning a season of AHS into an 80's slasher film was soooo fun! I can't really say much else about it because I don't have much in the way of critique. It was so much fun! Honestly, if you aren't sure AHS is for you, this might be the season to watch. It's a bit gory, a bit creepy, and fun. If you enjoy the Scream franchise especially, in my opinion, this is the season for you.
It's basically aware that it's this cheesy slasher show without being too gratuitous. It's funny and charming and follows the typical rules of slasher films from the 80's.
My favorite part about it was that I didn't really give a shit about any of the characters. Usually, I really love a few characters so when they probably inevitably die I am disappointed. That's typically what I want in horror movies, but not this season. In the season, anyone who dies, and a lot of them die (don't wanna spoil too much), I'm not upset.
It's fun. Highly recommend.
2nd Place: Hotel
This is my boyfriend's favorite season, and I totally get it. Vampires, ghosts, gore! Oh my!
Lady Gaga!!!!!!!!!!!!
If I am just picking a season to watch randomly, this is the one I pick. It's charming as hell, creepy, dirty in a good way (not like that, you perve), and oddly heartwarming!
Elizabeth Taylor is my favorite character in the entire season. Her character arc, especially at the end, really adds a beautiful warmth to the entire season.
There's some heartbreak, for sure. I cried a few times, to be honest.
It's just such a good season!!! I can't really say much else about it...
1st Place: Roanoke
This is where it seems my opinion differs from a lot of other people's opinions. I am obsessed with this season. It's so meta! It's not really AHS until the end of the season because it's a show within a show for most of it: My Roanoke Nightmare! It's so crazy and such an inventive way to do a season.
It has some creepy history (Roanoke, duh), which is fascinating to me. I love creepy unsolved crimes or stories like Roanoke, and I love how they delved into the idea and made their own ending to what happened to the lost colony.
I love that some of the characters play more than one character. I love that Sara Paulson plays three characters!
This season is the best season in terms of imagery and production. It's just so good! Yes, it's really gory, which I think turned a lot of people off. But if you're a horror movie fan, you should be able to appreciate this season even if it isn't for you.
Kind of like some old horror movies, I'm not naming names..... buuuuut they suck. They are genuinely terrible. However, I respect the hell out of them for what they did for the industry. So I have hope that people who don't like Roanoke at least respect it for what it is. It's just soooo good!
I can't even verbalize my thoughts on it because it's just perfection on every level. I have no qualms about it really.
I remember watching it for the first time and being incredibly confused because I didn't understand what the show was, but I wasn't mad at it because I loved it. I loved the confusion of not knowing what was happening!
It's just so good! If you're a true horror fan and you like a bit of innovation, please please please watch this season. It's my absolute favorite.
Now, to explain the season that was not mentioned in the above rankings: Murder House
I don't believe Murder House belongs on this list. I couldn't possibly rank it. It's the best because it was the first. It exemplified what the show was going to be. It was THE American Horror Story. Nothing will ever compare because nothing can do what this season did. It changed the game in horror television.
It's perfect in its innocence. And I think anyone who is a true fan of AHS will probably agree with that statement.
I think ranking it in the list of other seasons is a disservice to it. I personally think that it stands alone as the best season of AHS.
So that's it... those are my opinions. I know for a fact that a large portion of people disagree with me, and that's ok. You can be wrong :D
Overall, AHS, although it has its things that I'm not a fan of, is a great show. I can only have some of these negative feelings about some of the seasons because I'm invested. Even the seasons I don't care for, I still enjoy watching the show (although, I'll admit, I don't really see myself rewatching Freak Show or Cult for a long time). It's almost always a fun ride.
So that's it for this one... Thanks for spending the time to read :)
Byeeeeeeeee
