Once upon a time, American Horror Story was appointment TV.
It’s hard to believe nowadays, considering the last handful of seasons have arguably come and gone with little fanfare. The clickbait casting of Kim Kardashian was a big turn-off for many of the show’s most passionate fans.
But back in the day, there was nothing quite like American Horror Story on the air, and those early seasons were great.
The cast of the most successful seasons of the anthology hit included the likes of Sarah Paulson, Jessica Lange, Angela Bassett, Emma Roberts, and Evan Peters — all in-demand actors to this day.
After the polarizing reception to American Horror Story Season 12 — subtitled “Delicate” — there was no telling where the series could go next, or if it would even return.
American Horror Story Flatlined Creatively Years Ago
The show had been going on without much purpose for years by the time it reeled in Kardashian as a villain.
As a fan since American Horror Story Season 1, it saddened me how far the series had fallen. Don’t get me wrong: American Horror Story Season 11 was surprisingly well-put-together and featured standout performances.
However, the seasons preceding and following felt uninspired and veered too far from what made the series one of the best anthologies to hit the small screen.
American Horror Story airs on basic cable, allowing it to embrace the horror and grotesque elements fully, but without a compelling storyline, what do we really have?
When news broke late last month that the much-rumored American Horror Story Season 13 would bring back favorites Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Angela Bassett, Kathy Bates, Emma Roberts, Billie Lourd, Gabourey Sidibe, Leslie Grossman, and Jessica Lange, I was gobsmacked.
Whenever Ryan Murphy said in the press that he wanted the likes of Paulson and Peters to return, I couldn’t help but feel like they were too good for the show now. It felt like lip service to keep fans holding on to the hope of their returns.
Lange herself seemingly agreed when she balked at the idea of returning at the Glasgow Film Festival earlier this year, indicating that the door was well and truly shut on a comeback.
Who could blame her? The show’s popularity has dwindled since she very wisely walked away, and hey, the reaction to American Horror Story Season 8 was less than stellar.
Can Another Crossover Season Work?
The installment was a mashup between American Horror Story Season 1, “Murder House,” and American Horror Story Season 3, “Coven.”
Going by the subtitle “Apocalypse,” the season suffered from severe pacing issues that didn’t suit the weekly rollout strategy offered by FX.
On a rewatch, it flows much better without the lengthy wait between seasons. But still, it’s surprising that Lange has had this heel-turn, unless, of course, she’s been told that American Horror Story Season 13 will be its concluding chapter.
Look at the stacked cast of fan-favorites, and the addition of Ariana Grande. FX appears to be putting a lot of money behind the next chapter, boasting one of the best casts in franchise history.
Either that, or the network has reviewed the numbers and poor response of late and decided that opening up the budget and including some more big names is the best way forward to salvage the series.
If I had to guess, we’re definitely headed into the final serving of American Horror Story, and the big question will center on how it will all come together.
Finishing the series with Season 13 sounds about right, considering the unlucky nature of the horrors the characters have faced over the years.
There have been rumors that another crossover season could be in the offing for years, and maybe it could right the wrongs of American Horror Story: Apocalypse to bring the series’ most popular characters to a more definite ending.
Could Scream Queens Characters Resurface on American Horror Story?
Then again, the franchise could be taking a hard left turn with an original horror for its likely last serving.
Only time will tell.
Another theory is that it will be tied to Scream Queens in some capacity.
Ryan Murphy’s FOX dramedy, starring Grande, Lourd, and Roberts, was way ahead of its time and was unfairly canceled after two seasons in 2017. However, the super-producer has been open about bringing that universe back.
The possibilities are endless for sure, but the only way to make this fantastic cast worthwhile is if storylines are mapped out properly before the writers take pen to page.
Far too often, American Horror Story feels like a collection of concepts that should have never made it out of the creatives’ minds when breaking storylines.
What are your thoughts on the series’ likely final chapter?
Do you think there’s any way it can continue beyond Season 13? More importantly, do you want it to?
Let’s dive into it in the comments section.
If you’re looking for another show to deliver the thrills and chills, you should totally check out It: Welcome to Derry. It’s genuinely terrifying!
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