It's difficult to compare each season of American Horror Story, because they're all so complex, unique, and all around horrifying. From alien abductions to two headed ladies, this show encapsulates so many weird and wonderful things that I attempted to rank each season based on what I love about them.
5. Coven
As excited I was for a season about witches, Coven didn't live up to the hype. Yes, it introduced Cathy Bates to the show, with possibly the most evil character AHS has shown us to date, but the storylines didn't stand out to me. Each episode went from focusing on the witch hunters or Kyle's personality-less body, figuring out who the Supreme was or the century-long feud with the voodoo coven. There were too many things happening at once, and it never felt as though the writers knew which direction they were going in. I also wasn't a fan of the fact that they decided to leave Misty Day in her own personal hell for all of eternity, despite her being one of the only decent people to grace this show. We miss you, Misty.
4. Freak Show
Freak Show had the array of characters to make this season great. Not only were they based on real people, but they also ranged from a man with lobster hands, a woman with two heads, and Dandy of course. However, this season depicted too much drama for a show titled American HORROR Story. Granted, they had their fair share with Twisty the clown and the lizard girl, but they focused far too much on storylines like Bette and Dot finding love, Dell and his own personal struggles, and Jimmy and Maggie's relationship. I missed the horror side too much and I didn't find myself excited for every episode like I was with the previous seasons.
3. Hotel
Hotel interested me from the very beginning, knowing they could go so many places with it - especially with Lady Gaga joining the cast. As crazy and wild as some scenes were from the very beginning of this season, that's what this show is all about. Whether it was the killing sprees of ravenous vampires or dinners with real-life serial killers, Hotel gave us characters and stories that left us gripped until the last episode. Liz Taylor was the clear standout character within this season, with her backstory proving to be both powerful and inspiring. The only reason this season isn't higher is because the remaining two seasons that are left to be ranked are simply too good to top.
2. Murder House
Murder House started it all. I loved the mystery encapsulating every single story and the constant questions woven through every episode. There were fascinating characters like Tate (who's backstory unnerves me to this day), Moira the two-sided maid, and Nora, the desperate woman who only ever wanted to be a mother. The story progressed well and constantly came up with twists and turns along the way to keep the audience guessing. Murder House formed a truly eerie basis for American Horror Story that kept viewers coming back season after season.
1. Asylum
Asylum was everything that is great about American Horror Story. It depicts memorable characters such as Oliver Thredson, the dreaded Bloodyface, Lana Winters, the unluckiest reporter there ever was, and Dr. Arthur Arden, the most chilling doctor I've ever viewed on screen. Not only did this season capture the societal struggles of the time through interracial marriage and homosexuality, but it also managed to entwine in alien abductions and musical numbers. It's also completely gruesome. Asylum introduces human experiments and the possession of Sister Mary Eunice. The acting is also impeccable. This season made me love Jessica Lange because of the way her character, Sister Jude, went from pure evil to utterly mad. The ending is also satisfying, having tied up all the loose ends, yet still lingering a possible mystery in the audience's face with the very last line. This season also gave us Pepper, the best character of all.
