American Horror Story: Apocalypse Premiere - 5 Ups & 1 Down From 'The End'

1. American Horror Story Is Back

It's been a long time coming, but American Horror Story is finally back on our screens. This entry has a double meaning of sorts, as not only has the show literally returned, but it's also gone back to its roots, delivering one of the best season premieres in recent memory. While Roanoke was an appreciated deviation, much of AHS' allure has been missing since Hotel (some might even say that this allure was gone prior to Hotel).

Apocalypse seems to have recaptured the magic (pun intended) of American Horror Story. It's not just the fact that the season is connected to Coven and Murder House (although that certainly helps), but it's also the fact that there's a decent story at its core. The end of the world is something of a horror cliché but, then again, so are killer clowns and murderous witches and haunted houses. AHS is at its strongest when it embraces this crazy - something that Cult was never able to do, as it was so focused on taking a political stance, and the narrative suffered because of it.

If future episodes of Apocalypse are anywhere near as good as the season opener, then viewers are going to be in for a treat. American Horror Story is back, and it's better than ever (well, better than Cult, anyway).