American Horror Story: Sarah Paulson's Characters Ranked WORST To BEST

Ally Mayfair-Richards is the protagonist of AHS's risky seventh season, Cult. Though this particular season is not rooted in horror, there are still plenty of scares and disturbing imagery, and Ally acts the focal point of such terror and threat.

A woman crippled by phobias, weak and anxious, her complex and brilliantly drawn-up arc sees her shed her previous insecurities and fears and become a beacon of hope against the season's titular cult and its insane, manipulative leader, Kai Anderson.

It's an astounding change, aided by one of Paulson's most committed and personal performances, and though there are moments where Cult's political commentary and dark social satire is a little too on the nose, Ally is always there, shining with every scene and giving fans one of the show's most accomplished character evolutions.

Once the victim, the events of the season see Ally combat her issues and become just as violent and manipulative as those that surround her, and it makes for a staggeringly good watch.