For nearly ten years now, the FX network of channels has become the home to a much beloved horror series that is unlike anything that came before it. Unlike
Black Mirror where every episode is a self contained story with a largely different cast and setting,
American Horror Story has each of its seasons play out as different miniseries with a beginning, middle and end. Often with the same cast but in different roles as well as some other actors too. It was created by the people behind
Glee which is surprising considering that this show is in a completely different genre and for a mature audience. While the show's different "cycles" as the seasons are known as are each different in its story, characters and settings, some have connections to one another. This can be things like characters from the other cycles appearing or other things too. So with a lot of awards won and plenty to enjoy or be scared at, we're in for a good time as we look at the nine cycles that this series has had so far:
Murder House
So in the first cycle (which was originally known simply as
American Horror Story before being given its subtitle later on), the year is 2011 and a family known as the Harmons move into a newly restored mansion in Los Angles as a means to have a fresh start after Vivien (played by Connie Britton) has a miscarriage
and Ben (played by Dylan McDermont) in turn has an affair. But upon moving into the house, they learn that not everything as it seems as the place is seemingly haunted by ghosts of its former residents and its victims. Sure enough some things happen that cause the Harmons and their neighbours to be at the mercy of the titular Murder House, and they may become ghosts within it themselves. The first season sets up the series quite well. The horror element is definitely there and the first cycle adds a bit of strangeness to the mix and twisted areas too. Little did people know at this point that every series would be different as far as story, characters and settings are concerned. But the cast would largely be the same and would include more actors as time goes on. But yeah a great first cycle overall. 9/10
Asylum
In the second cycle, we go to the past in the year 1964. This time we are in the titular asylum which is known as the Briarcliff Manor as the cycle focuses on the characters that work within and the inmates too. We also cut to the present too where the asylum has become abandoned and on the brink of being sold or destroyed. Though some things can never escape the past. With more of a scare factor and a few subjects tackled that relate to present day events (at least at the time of this cycle's original broadcast), this series seems to be the logical step forward for the show because as you may remember from my Outlast review, asylums can be scary places. Mental health is of course a scary thing to have in itself with many seeing it as a negative thing. But its thanks to these different institutions that people get the help they need. I hate calling any place that deals with mental health problems an asylum, but it's definitely a more appropriate name for a place when the inmates are far more dangerous than one might think. But overall another great cycle. 9/10
Coven
Returning to the present as its main setting, this third cycle is about a coven of witches that descended from Salem. All with unique powers and abilities, they all fight for survival
in a world where different minority groups are at each other's throats. Plus we get flashbacks to the actual Salem Witch Trials and various other time periods too. While much lighter on its horror content with more humour this time around, this cycle is the near perfect combination of creepy and camp. It's kind of interesting to see characters that could be mistaken for being the horror equivalent of superhero teams and its this season where most of its cast are largely mainstays in the overall show. Having made an appearance in all or most of the cycles. So yeah another great cycle overall, but could have done with a bit more horror. 8/10
Freak Show
The fourth cycle ended up being the first of the show to have some connections to other cycles which in this case was with
Asylum due to the reappearances of various characters from that cycle. So as the name implies, we are in 1952 where one of the last remaining freak shows (another word I hate using to describe anyone) is struggling to survive. Within it is the Siamese Tattler twins (both played by series mainstay Sarah Paulson) who want out of the show and start a more normal life. Then there is Jimmy Darling (played by series mainstay and Quicksilver himself, Evan Peters) who has lobster hands and is also after that normal life while trying to find reason to have his troupe be accepted among society. Plus many other characters as well as their manager and adoptive mother Elsa Mars (played by the more reoccurring than mainstay Jessica Lange) who dreams of performing at a full house while accepting that it may not happen due to her commitments to the show. It's a good cycle that explores the fear that people have when seeing those that are deemed different as well as the fear that the people who are different have when thrown into a situation that has consequences of either or both sides. Its really one of those classic kinds of horror scenarios about monsters that really are not monsters and yet people find reason to call them as such. Another great cycle. 9/10
Hotel
Continuing the connection thing that the last cycle had, the fifth cycle is established as being in the same period and universe as
Murder House and
Coven which would actually be confirmed as the cycle plays out. So within the Los Angeles area, lies a mysterious hotel. Within the hotel, there are ghosts of those that had been killed inside the hotel which serves as their permanent purgatory. As well as some other horror like beings, there is also a vampire of sorts known as the Countess (played by Lady Gaga of all people) who often invites strangers into the place for some bloodsucking fun. This cycle is interesting because unlike previous cycles, none of the characters are the main focus. You get Iris (played by the reoccurring Kathy Bates) who is the hotel's manager because she wanted to be closer to her son (played by Matt Bomer) who hates her. Then there is detective John Lowe (played by Wes Bentley) who becomes a regular at the hotel when an incident that caused him to lose his own son, causes friction with his family, and he soon becomes aware that there may be another purpose for him going to the Cortez. It may get confusing and so much to focus on. But it is another great season that may be similar to
Murder House, but upped the anty greatly and has one of the best soundtracks in the show so far. 9/10
Roanoke
Now for something a bit different for the sixth cycle. The first half plays out as a fictional
documentary with interviews of those affected by the event and dramatizations of what transpired. While the second half serves as the sequel to the documentary, but told through found footage because the events become real and affect the cast and crew to the point where some of them die. All ending with its finale featuring fictional news reports and even a ghost hunting show of the events that transpired. It is very different to any of the other cycles with its publicity being a mystery in itself. But it is definitely a horror in every sense of the word with all that's going on being scary, bloody, full of gore and even has some possession and jump scares too. The best one so far may be an understatement, but the chances of having a series or cycle quite like this again are unlikely. But still another great cycle that demonstrates that they are not done yet with what they can do and perhaps being within the area of a blood moon is perhaps not the best idea in the world. 8/10
Cult
When the 2016 election took place, a lot of different shows wanted to incorporate the negative aspects of it into their storylines. Because of this, lots of those shows were panned because critics just felt that the negativity of the result and the lead up to it, caused the otherwise beloved shows to be at the mercy of what happened. Now
American Horror Story went down that path too by having its seventh cycle be set before, during and after the election with a focus on the people that the Trump administration ignore which is largely everyone who is different. Cults are formed, residents are scared and it all comes down to a dramatic change in the US government (well at least in the fictional sense). Its not really all horror this time around with the actual horror element being the fallout of election night which to many people from all sides is a horror story in itself. I like how this cycle was broadcast long after the election when the dust had settled and people started to accept that this is how life will be. Who knows what the 2020 election will bring, but chances are that it must be better than how things are right now. But overall, a more decent than great cycle this time around. 7/10
Apocolypse
Well we were all promised a return for
Coven and this cycle is it. So an apocalypse takes place in the world that causes a nuclear winter. A select few of the human race is invited to be put inside various sheltering facilities all over the world that are run by a corporation known as "The Cooperative" who want the human race to survive. But as told through flashbacks, this impending event led to the witches of
Coven to learn
about a being that is said to be the new Supreme who has saved various witches from their personal hells and would soon make the male counterparts be at the top again
prior to the apocalypse. But seeing as some of the males have their own concerns about this new supreme, they team up and together they learn more about this being which leads them go to the place where it all began, the
Murder House. As the one cycle that has more connections to other cycles than any other cycle, its good. Despite being marketted as a crossover between
Coven and
Murder House, it actually features appearances and mentions of things that were in
Hotel,
Roanoke and
Cult too. I honestly feel that a cycle like this is better being used as a final or milestone cycle because it basically celebrates everything that the show has managed to do and even has most of the reoccuring and mainstay cast in it. Yeah a great cycle despite the horror being in short supply. But still servicable and great. 8/10
1984
The ninth cycle is the first to not feature series mainstays Evan Peters and Sarah Paulson who have both been in every cycle up to this point. They will be missed, but its ok. So in a cycle that is basically slasher horror that's reminicant of the Halloween and Friday the 13th franchises, a group of teens travel to work as counselors at Camp Redwood for the summer of the titular 1984. But unaware of a serial killer that lurks within, they try to have a good time while slowly learning of the killer and try to avoid him any way they can. Going back to something that is basically classic horror feels like a good move for this cycle after a seriously over the top cycle previously. I like this one a lot. It reminds me of all the slasher horrors that I have watched this month and while it would be all too familiar to most, it does try to do its own thing too and it works well. Yeah another great season. 8/10
The overall series is great. Its definitley horror in every shape of the word with some cycles being more horror than others and its well performed by the cast and well created by the crew. I really enjoyed it and look forward to seeing more cycles in the future. 8/10
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