So we’re all just going to be endlessly living in the Ryan Murphy universe now, are we?
If you haven’t heard, two things have happened in the last couple of days that are major news for fans of Ryan Murphy’s work. Glee is getting a rebooted and will come to Hulu and Disney+. I don’t think I’ve ever gone back to a previous playlist so fast.
In addition, Deadline reported American Horror Story has been renewed for season 14, just a few weeks after the season 13 premiere. While season 13 is airing, season 14 is reportedly already in the works. Ryan Murphy said he already had a story in mind, but we hadn’t had confirmation until now that another season was happening.
And now, we must ask why? After watching season 13, what is the point?
What are we doing? Right now, it just feels like overkill.
AHS 13 could have been the perfect finale season
My biggest issue with the renewal is that American Horror Story: 13 is the best place to stop the series. Is it the best season ever? No. I had a feeling it wouldn’t be when Murphy said it would be more of a “tribute season” than anything else.
This season has also confused a lot of fans — including me. Now, it feels like it’s finally starting to take on some semblance of a story, but the twists, turns, loops, and dives we’ve had to take to get there weren’t fun. It didn’t help that the premiere-schedule episodes were so short. These episodes normally run for almost an hour. Now, we’re just barely reaching a half hour. It doesn't even feel like the same show, at times.
However, all of these critiques aside, this is the place that still would have been the best to stop this show. Thirteen has always been an unlucky number in the world of horror, so having this show end on season 13 would have made a lot of sense because, you know, it’s called American Horror Story.
Murphy also somehow assembled many of the original cast and crew from earlier seasons to return to this show, even though none of them have been there in the last few seasons. Heck, Evan Peters stopped appearing after season 10 (and only the first half), and now he's back to reprise a few of his iconic roles.
He even got Jessica Lange back. Do you know how many times she said she wouldn’t come back? Murphy has some true magic to get all these performers to go on these journeys with him.
What's next after season 13, though? I have a feeling that the regular cast will probably not come back after season 13 unless season 14 is another level of iconic. I don’t think this is a new age for the show. I believe everyone coming back was just for this one season, and we’ll never get that again. That's what it feels like. So what’s the point in even continuing?
American Horror Story has lost what made it so good
For years, it felt like we were on a good trend with this series, with new stories each season and a solid linear storyline. But as the series has progressed, it's gotten darker and less well-written each time. I can barely get through the latest AHS seasons because much of it doesn’t make sense, and the acting is so stiff.
That said, AHS: 13 still has callbacks to older seasons and characters we all know, so we’re not entirely lost. Most of the time, though, in these other seasons, we don’t know what is going on, and nothing is really explained that well.
I don’t understand why we’re continuing this show when the last few seasons haven’t been well received, and the only reason this season is doing relatively well is the returning cast. If that cast likely won't be back for season 14, why are we still doing this?
Murphy also has plenty of other shows and projects coming out. Why keep wasting time on something like this that has clearly run its course and has the perfect final season lined up? Money is the easy answer, but if the ratings aren't going to be there, it might just flip entirely.
This is still a big horror show for me, and one I always recommend, but usually only the first few seasons. There comes a time and a place where every show has to call it. And we’ve long surpassed this. But I suppose as long as Murphy has connections at FX, we'll keep entering these twisted worlds for a long time, even if they don’t make any sense.
You can stream all 12 seasons of American Horror Story on Hulu. New episodes of season 13 premiere weekly on FX on Thursdays and stream the next day.
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