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Ranking American Horror Story Seasons

American Horror Story is an anthology series meaning that each of its seasons presents a different story with different characters, though many actors return throughout seasons. Obviously because they are so different, they range in quality from weak to great. Here is my ranking of all seasons of AHS released so far.

9. Roanoke

Yes, Roanoke very easily gets the last spot on this list. While I appreciate its different format, some original episodes, some fine themes and a memorable twist, the season is still very much a cheap, boring found-footage installment with an annoying mockumentary approach to it. The season is also too disgusting instead of being genuinely scary, and the last episode was so mediocre in its talk show format.

8. Hotel

First things first, I do not hate Hotel. It is so much better than the aforementioned season as it’s overall very solid, hugely entertaining and filled with highly memorable, intriguing characters. It’s the sexiest season as well. However, it’s by far the messiest season which says a lot for this show. It’s got very little on its mind, and though it’s very fun throughout, it rarely gave us truly great and/or meaty episodes.

7. Cult

I actually quite liked Cult at the end of the day. It started off as this very annoying, one-note political season which was obvious in its goals and stances and never at all complex. But, it became better and better which led to the second half of it being very engaging and intense. Sarah Poulson killed it in this season as she’s badass here while Evan Peters has never been better himself as this crazy cult leader villain.

6. Murder House

Murder House is an overrated season. As the first episode of the show, it’s important for establishing a lot of important elements to it such as strong characters, great acting and a fine mystery to it. It’s solid and very dramatic and emotional at times. However, the ending itself wasn’t all that great, and the season simply stumbled toward the end as they did now know what to do with it. It’s solid, but very messy.

5. Apocalypse

Apocalypse is an interesting example of a show becoming connected at once as it introduced connections to the first and the third season mostly very successfully. It’s problematic in structure as that intriguing beginning did not matter when all was said and done, but I did like the witches returning in glorious fashion. The villain was also fine, and the action and spectacle are the highlights here.

4. Coven

Unfortunately, what could have been my favorite season ended up in third place. That’s because no matter how hugely entertaining and wonderful this season was, it really ended on a weak note as it lost its momentum and the directors really did not know how to end it properly. With that being said, this is where we reach the greatest seasons with Coven being fun, exciting and very dramatic. Its characters are iconic, the acting is top-notch and the emotion is definitely felt. I also loved its overall mythology, action and high stakes.

3. Freak Show

Freak Show is the exact opposite. It’s the season which actually started weaker and less interesting, but progressed to genuine greatness in its second half. It has many iconic characters in it, and it’s just might be the darkest, most twisted and brutal the show has ever been, but done right and disturbing instead of just gory. It has some of the greatest villains of the entire show and some of the highest stakes too.

2. Asylum

Asylum also took its sweet time, but eventually it became great. What I appreciated the most about this particular season is its realism. It’s the most sophisticated, most grounded in reality and most psychologically complex season of AHS that features stellar performances across the board and a genuinely strong overarching storyline. It’s the rare season that actually was well connected and well-structured for the most part. Thus, it’s the best executed and . Thus, it’s the best executed and, according to many, the best season of the show ever. But not to me, in my opinion that title goes to…

1. 1984

Yes, I actually do find 1984 to be the peak of American Horror Story. And I was utterly surprised and floored by its quality. Sure, it’s silly and campy, but I loved that about it. It needed more horror elements, but the comedy has never been better. The humor is so good in fact that it made me smile and laugh countless times throughout its well-oiled nine episodes. I loved the main friendship in it, I found the emotional anchor in its most tragic family truly moving, the finale astonishing and the backstories for once all working splendidly. It’s the only season of the show that’s entertaining and superbly paced through and through. The characters are also super funny, and the villains are fantastic. 1984 is consequently the most entertaining and in my opinion the greatest season of this show so far.