Every season of American Horror Story (so far), ranked from worst to best
By Lacy Baugher
American Horror Story: 1984
An AHS homage to the slasher flicks of the 1980s, there’s a lot to enjoy about 1984, with its loud colors, classic scares, and largely shallow, disposable leads. Emma Roberts finally gets the chance to carry a season on her own, and Billie Lourd is particularly entertaining as the sex-crazed best friend that always seems to pop up in stories like this.
But the season ultimately can’t overcome the absence of star Sarah Paulson – this is the first time she hasn’t shown up in an installment of AHS at all – and it introduces too many plotlines that ultimately go nowhere. (What was the point of including the real-life Night Stalker killer, anyway?) There are also too many characters to service, and this season is one of the absolute worst examples of AHS‘s frequent tendency to try and do too much.
Plus, the final “twist” is disappointing, and people on the internet came up with better ideas. (Personal fave: That these guys were actually filming a slasher flick the whole time.)
If 1984 had picked a lane and stuck with it, it probably would be higher on this list. Instead, much like the nostalgia the season so clearly loves, just seems like something better left in the past.