American Horror Story, Watch or Pass, Pt 1

American Horror Story comes back on Thursday, September 24th. Finally! Words cannot describe how much I’ve been looking forward to this season.

Long-time fans of the show will know that every season is a standalone story, with the exception of Apocalypse in 2018. There are occasional nods to other seasons scattered throughout, like when Queenie from Coven showed up at the Hotel Cortez. Season thirteen is going to be different. It is going to include every single season.

And everyone is coming back! Jessica Lang, Evan Peters, Sarah Paulson, Jamie Brewer. Though it looks like Taissa Farmiga wasn’t able to be involved. I don’t know how they’re going to reference Murder House and Coven without Zoe and Violet. But I guess we’ll find out.

Now, I don’t think you’d be here if you’ve never seen a season of American Horror Story before. But maybe you jumped around and saw some, but not others. Maybe you only caught part of Freak Show but have seen Murder House five times. That’s no matter. We are in a judgment-free zone here.

With the new season on its way, you might wonder what seasons you should watch to get ready. And which you could probably just read the overview on Wiki for. Luckily for you, I have seen every season. And I have opinions. So today and tomorrow, we’re going to go over whether each season is a watch or a pass. As a bonus, I’ve rated each season from best to worst, and I’ll be including that ranking as well.

Murder House- Watch

Nicole’s Ranking: Number three

This is the house that started it all. The story that hooked the world. The sight of that house alone is enough to raise my serotonin levels.

The Harmons move across the country after a miscarriage, and an affair shatters their world. Unfortunately, they moved into a house that likes to kill people. And then it likes to keep them.

No notes, this is a perfect story.

Asylum- Watch

Nicole’s Ranking: Number eight

Yes, that ranking is low; ignore that. Asylum is fantastic. It jumps back and forth from the past to the present. In the past, Briarcliff Manor is an insane asylum run by the monstrous Sister Jude. Based largely on the horrors of Pennhurst Asylum, the abuses described are all too real.

In the present, Briarcliff Manor’s been abandoned. At least, it’s supposed to be abandoned. But of course nothing’s ever that simple. And more than just the dead roam those unhallowed halls.

Coven- Watch

Nicole’s Ranking: Number five

Oh, I love this one! New Orelanes, witches, horrific real history. This season’s got everything.

Cordeli Foxx runs a school for witches. Zoe is sent there when she realizes that she has magical powers. The power to, well, kill someone by having sex with them.

Meanwhile, the ghosts of New Orleans are all around. Including the ghost of the horrific real-life monster Delphine LaLaurie, and the iconic Mamma Marie Laveau.

(Personal note: Mamma Marie is one of my favorite people in history, a part of my personal witchy practice, and an inspiration. If you want to learn more about her, I recommend the book The Magic of Marie Laveau by Denise Alvarado.)

Freak Show- Watch

Nicole’s Ranking: Number nine

The music! My God, the music from this season is fantastic. I have Jessica Lang singing Life on Mars stuck in my head constantly.

If the name didn’t tip you off, this season is about an old-school Freak Show. I’m sure it was inspired by the infamous cult classic Freak. And yes, the ‘freaks’ are the good guys here.

Actually, this season is kind of heartwarming. The members of the circus and ‘freak show’ are a loving, strong family. A family that will kill someone who endangers another member, to be clear. There’s lots of blood to be seen here.

Hotel- Watch

Nicole’s Ranking: Number eleven

Please don’t let this low ranking fool you. This was an extremely fun season. It’s just that there were ten that were better.

Based on the mysterious history of the Cecil Hotel, AHS Hotel is about a vacation spot no one would want to visit. There are vampires. There’s blood and gay love. Lady Gaga is in this one. It’s just a great time.

Roanoke- Watch

Nicole’s Rank: Number six

Can I tell you a secret? This is the first season I ever watched. And it hooked me. I mean, I was just locked in.

It once again involves a house that I would maybe risk getting disembowelled to live in, this time set out in the woods in the south.

There are a lot of elements in this one. Racism, ghosts, historical violence, ghost-hunting TV shows. Racist ghosts enacting historical violence on a TV show. The whole season’s a lot of fun.

With so many previous seasons, we’re going to have to split this party in two. So, come back tomorrow when we’ll go over the rest of the seasons of American Horror Story to see if you should watch or pass them.

Looking for more TV suggestions? Check out my review of Fallout, Season Two.

My dark science fiction book, Station 86 Volume One is coming out on October second! It contains two stories of murder and political intrigue on the space station of First Contact.