American Horror Story: 10 Reasons Asylum Is The Best Season

10. It Was Completely New

When we entered the shwo's second season no one was really sure how it was going to work. At the time there had been relatively few horror anthology shows around, let alone on mainstream television. But coming home to find our favourite alumni from Murder House in completely new roles, as well as some new faces, it was a breathe of fresh air. After the first season wrapped up Murphy promised that the following year would go somewhere new, and boy did we:

"The story is a period piece in a mental institution based largely on truth, and truth is always scarier than fiction."

Capitalising on the success of the first season, FX snared the likes of Chloe Sevigny, Joseph Fiennes, and James Cromwell. The marketing prior to the season was a series of teasers that lured the viewer into what was awaiting. The teasers for Murder House had been good, but Asylum blew us away with the likes of the white nun and a full blown gothic promo.

There was always a feeling that Asylum upped the horror from Murder House, and the second season was probably sink or swim. Murder House had gained cult success, but Asylum was a bigger affair. More expansive settings, a larger cast, and bigger stars - it literally took the horror, skinned it, then made it into a lamp!