While every television show that airs leaves some type of mark, there are some that not only have a significant impact but completely change television in a lasting way. Lost reinvented the puzzle box series, taking a survival drama and layering it with science fiction, the supernatural, and more, and turning it into a cultural touchstone that fans still debate to this day. The Sopranos It completely changed the idea of not only mafia dramas but prestige television in general, paving the way for other high-quality shows while also delivering one of the most shocking endings ever. And then there’s a series that completely changed the way we watched horror television by delivering a perfect season that has since grown to have a rich, dense story that spans 138 episodes and counting.
On October 5, 2011, American horror story premiered on FX. Created by Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuck, the series was created as an anthology series (each season aimed to tell a different story), which put it in a category similar to something like The twilight zone which has long been an excellent example of the horror anthology. However, The twilight zone this was not like that. American horror shopIt was intended to be a twisted story with a set group of characters that would unfold over the course of an entire season, and it took big risks and deeply disturbing terms. It was high concept, brought together great talent, and from the beginning, was extremely controversial. And although not every season since then has been a winner, the franchise is still going strong, not only with a spin-off series in American horror storiesbut a thirteenth season currently airing that could be the most ambitious yet.
American horror story It starts out as a scary horror house, but soon everything connects
The first season of American horror story – now dubbed “Murder House” – had a largely simple premise. The Harmon family moves to Los Angeles in an attempt to start over after dealing with infidelity, miscarriage, and other major challenges in their relationship, only to settle in a house inhabited by the ghosts of the former residents and the ghosts of the victims of their murderous crimes. The first season starred Evan Peters, Jessical Lange, Dylan McDermott and Connie Britton and even just a few minutes into the first episode, it was clear that this was much darker than just a ghost house. By the end of the season, the house has even more ghostly residents and, although viewers don’t know it at the time, it sets the stage for more horror to come with a terrifying child who can only be interpreted as true evil.
but while American horror storyThe first season was shocking, it wasn’t just horror and shock from sensationalism either. Throughout the season there are stories about mental health, complex relationships, and the impact of trauma not only on the people who directly experience the traumatic event, but also on those around them and other generations. Despite all its strange moments, such as the famous “tearing” scene in the first episode and the disturbing Rubber Man, what it did American horror story What was truly terrifying was how human it was and how rooted the story was in the human experience. By the time you get halfway through the season, you realize that this isn’t just the story of the Harmon family; It is the story of many human tragedies and how they all intertwine.
The history of the program only grows thanks to the crossovers
It’s the intertwining tragedies that ultimately create a tight tapestry of story that has sustained the series for 13 seasons, and only grows more complex as the different seasons intersect with each other, sharing characters and stories that suggest a much greater darkness at play. In 2018, the eighth season of the series showed how deep the story really was when American Horror Story: Apocalypse debuted. The season saw the New Orleans Witches (from the Coven season) fight the Antichrist, who is revealed to be an adult Michael Langdon from Murder House. The whole season was a total crossover between Murder House, Covenand Hotel and incorporated a wide range of characters from past seasons, bringing together unresolved elements from those other stories to save the world and restore the AHS world.
The seasons that followed, in many ways, seemed to be largely their own stories, causing some fans to wonder if the ending of Apocalypse Ultimately, it didn’t make sense as the show did some big experiments, including one season that was split into two seemingly unconnected stories. However, with 13, American horror story I flipped the script again. seasons like Worship, Asylumand freak show which had not previously been included in the Apocalypse crossover, appeared in this new season along with characters from red tide and death valley as well as 1984. The interconnected nature of the different characters continues to grow. At this point, it’s safe to say that every character we’ve seen in every episode of American horror story to date has some kind of deeper connection to whatever larger story Murphy is trying to tell, making the ever-changing mystery even more interesting and keeping viewers coming back season after season.
Although each season of American horror story It may not be a hit or even make much sense, it’s a series that knows how to keep pushing boundaries, breaking rules and delivering something that, even if you hate it, you have to admit never gets old. Each season offers something new, explores humanity in a different way, and really shows no signs of slowing down. Fifteen years ago, FX took a big risk on this unique horror series and it paid off, and it might still be the most perfect horror series ever created.
What is your favorite season of American horror story? Let us know in the comments.