With a show like American Horror Story, which has run for more than a decade, there have been plenty of seasons. And while the upcoming thirteenth season is very highly anticipated, we must remember that twelve other seasons are genuinely some of the best of TV…and some that are the worst.
In honor of the thirteenth season coming out soon, I knew I had to rank all of the seasons of this show that I have loved (and hated) in the past. Let’s get into it.
12. Delicate
This doesn’t take much explaining.
Season 12, subtitled Delicate, was just…weird. It was nice to have Emma Roberts in a leading role, but I was so detached that I couldn't bring myself to care about the characters at all. It was also interesting to see Kim Kardashian attempt to act dramatically, but I couldn’t get behind it. And honestly, I don’t think I’ll ever watch it again.
I mean, it also makes sense why it was so abysmal, because neither Ryan Murphy nor Brad Falchuk was a showrunner. But still.
11. Double Feature
The shame with Double Feature, also known as season 10, is that it really did have something going for it: two different storylines split into two parts.
I really liked the first half, titled “Red Tide.” It was all about vampires. But the second half, with aliens…it just didn’t flow. And honestly, I barely even remember it. The only thing I truly loved from these seasons was watching Macaulay Culkin in something again.
10. NYC
As someone who grew up on Long Island and visited NYC, I was eager to see what story the eleventh season would give me. And I was also interested in the idea of it taking place during the 1980s, with murders focused directly on the LGBTQ+ community.
But then it kind of, like…fell apart at the end. It started out interesting enough, and I do love a show set in the 80s. But I genuinely can't tell you how much I don’t remember half the characters.
9. Hotel
Yeah, sorry, I actually don’t like Hotel that much. I know that a lot of people do love it because it has Lady Gaga and it’s different from the first four seasons, but to me, it felt like almost too much of a jarring change.
Season 5 does give us some interesting characters, especially Evan Peters as James Patrick March. But for some reason, I can’t give it the same amount of love and attention that everyone else has. What I will say is that the cast was great here, and I believe it was one of the last times AHS had a seriously amazing lineup of stars.
8. Cult
Cult, or season 7 of the show, was a sleeper hit for me. I really didn’t like it at first, but it grew on me over time. I think a big part of it was that this season revolved a lot around politics, and that topic, in and of itself, was such a HUGE issue in America at the time that it felt like co-creator Ryan Murphy hit the nail on the head.
The acting is also quite good. I have to give a special shout-out to Evan Peters, who played seven characters in this season. I mean, my god… no wonder he only did like two more seasons of this after.
7. 1984
To be honest, 1984 (or season 9) is not talked about enough for my liking. As someone who loves horror TV shows and classic slasher movies and shows, this one felt like an homage to all of them. And yes, I eat that kind of stuff up.
Was it the best season? No, that’s why there are six seasons ranked above this. But I do think it’s a decent late-game show addition, with great acting from Roberts, Cody Fern, and Billie Lourd, even if Evan Peters and Sarah Paulson were on this season.
6. Roanoke
Many, many people did not like Roanoke (season 6). But I’m one of the few who do, sorry. I think the idea of having the first half dramatize what happened to real people and then revealing what really happened with the real cast in the second part is extremely creative. And that’s the kind of twist we don’t really see that often.
I still don't think it’s the best season, but I will give credit where it is due and say the idea is, at the very least, intriguing. I don’t think I’d rewatch it, but it’s still good.
5. Apocalypse
Is season 8 an earlier version of the tribute season that is to come with season 13? Yes. But I ate it up like my favorite chocolate chip cookies.
The first four seasons of the show are arguably the best ones (which we’ll get into in a bit), so of course, when you have a season that combines aspects of them and then turns it into an apocalyptic version of it, that’s going to make me very happy. And then somehow, they got Jessica Lange back for a little guest role—which felt absolutely impossible at the time. This is a season I would absolutely rewatch time and time again.
4. Murder House
Yes, I am putting Murder House at four, and no, I will not be apologizing for it.
The first season of the series is great. There’s a reason why the show was renewed after it and why it was so popular. I can’t tell you how often I’ve seen memes and GIFs specifically from this season.
But for all its worth, Murder House needed some time to really get its feet wet. The show had to figure out what it was truly going to become over time, and then eventually it became the great hit we all know today.
3. Freak Show
Freak Show, or season 4, is excellent. It was actually the first season I watched (before catching up), and I was hooked right away. Circuses and clowns always freak me out, so when you combine that with something like this, I was locked in.
Jessica Lange’s acting (as well as her singing performance) was fantastic, and the story was creepy and chilling. I still think about Evan Peters’ clawed character in this season, and it still makes me a little unwell.
2. Asylum
I love season 2, otherwise known as Asylum. Mental hospitals are hands down the perfect setting for any horror TV show, and you really can’t get much better than this. The core cast was still there, the story was tight, and every little aspect was done so well that I still have nightmares sometimes thinking about it.
The only thing I would change about it now is that I wish Lizzie Brochere were in the later seasons because I loved her in Asylum. Either way, I would consider this a perfect season—if not for one other.
1. Coven
If you knew me, you’d know this would not be that much of a surprise.
I am the witch girl, the one who loves anything to do with fantasy TV shows, Harry Potter, or all of the above — spooky galore. So yes, Coven, or known as season 3, is my favorite season. It is also my mom’s favorite season. Let’s say it’s the glorious one we all rewatch in the Ramos household.
I could go on and on about why this season in particular is fantastic. The casting was impeccable, led by the brilliant Sarah Paulson and Jessica Lange, but featuring other amazing stars like Taissa Farmiga, Evan Peters, and so many more.
The story had me locked in—especially the flashbacks to the past. The culture behind it genuinely had me interested in the world and looking up New Orleans' past. All in all, this is my favorite season — and yes, I am excited for season 13 to bring us back to the witches I love most.
You can stream all twelve seasons of American Horror Story on Netflix.
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