Aired in 2011
12 episodes
Cast
Evan Peters, Jessica Lange, Taissa Farmiga, Dennis O’Hare, Jamie Brewer, Connie Britten and Dylan McDermott
The first season is set in a haunted house. Over the course of the season, Violet falls in love with Tate, who lives next door. Constance, Tate’s mother, played by Lange, is an evil vindictive woman. Both Tate and Constance turn out to be something different to what the viewer would have expected. The season features various ghosts of past residents.
American Horror Story: The Asylum – Season Two
Aired in 2012
13 episodes
Cast
Evan Peters, Jessica Lange, James Cromwell, Lily Rabe, Zachary Quinto, Joseph Fiennes and Sarah Paulson
The second season, as per its title, is set in an Asylum. This dates back to around the 50s. The asylum is run by the church. There are a number of different story lines going on throughout this season. Evan Peters and his girlfriend meet aliens, Zachary Quinto is the psychotic doctor killing people and blaming it on Peters’ character, Kit. Lily Rabe plays Sister Mary Eunice, and she becomes one of the main focal points of the series as she is possessed by the devil. Again, Lange appears, as Sister Jude Martin, the ex-alcoholic that starts again.
American Horror Story: Coven – Season Three
Aired in 2013
13 episodes
Cast
Evan Peters, Jessica Lange, Lily Rabe, Taissa Farmiga, Dennis O’Hare, Jamie Brewer, Kathy Bates, Sarah Paulson, Angela Bassett, Danny Husten, Gabourey Sidibe and Emma Roberts
The third season is set in a witch’s coven. The coven is run by Cordelia (Sarah Paulson) – she takes in wayward girls that appear to have witching talents. The idea is that they are taught how to hone their skills for good. As per true, American Horror Story fashion, the intention soon turns from good to bad. Fiona (Lange) plays the ‘Supreme’ witch and one of the girls is supposed to take over from her once she dies. This follows the trials and tribulations of the group of young witches. This season includes walking dead, a centuries old witch, a war between two covens, resurrection and lots of witchy spells.
American Horror Story: Freak Show - Season Four
Aired in 2014/2015
13 episodes
Cast
Evan Peters, Jessica Lange, Michael Chiklis, Frances Conroy, Dennis O'Hare, Emma Roberts, Finn Wittrock, Angela Bassett, Kathy Bates and Jessica Lange
With guest appearances from Celia Weston, Wes Bentley, Gabourey Sidibe, Danny Huston, Neil Patrick Harris, Matt Bomer, Lily Rabe, Erika Ervin, Mat Fraser, Jyoti Amge, Rose Siggins, Naomi Grossman, Christopher Neiman and John Carroll Lynch
The Fourth season of AHS is set at a carnival attraction Freak Show. The show is compered and managed by Elsa Mars (Lange) and she 'looks after' an array of people with various disabilities - to whom are referred as Freaks. Set during the 1940s-1950s these sort of attractions were popular events.
Season four brings us the delights of Siamese Twins, Lobster Boy, Strong Man, The Three Breasted Woman, The Bearded Lady, Amputees and an Evil Clown to name but a few.
American Horror Story: The Review
First of all I think its important to say that in my opinion, AHS is one of the best programs running. I enjoyed the first and second season's immensely, but felt so let down by season three. The Coven just didn't excite me the same as the first two seasons.
In order of preference, I would rank the seasons in the following order:
Season one
Season two
Season four
Season three
After the let down that I got from The Coven, and all the hype over season four I was expecting amazing things from Freak Show, yet they never came. It did have its moments, but the whole thing felt a bit forced to me. I didn't feel for any of the characters. The whole season lacked connection and I was so disappointed.