Every Season Of American Horror Story - Ranked

American Horror Story was still relatively young in 2014 when it released its fourth season, Freak Show. In a similar way to 1984, it suffered partly due to its previous seasons being such juggernauts. Murder House, Asylum, and Coven were hugely popular, so Freak Show paled slightly in comparison.

However, if you like the aesthetic, gore, and creepy Americana that makes AHS what it is, then chances are you’ll like this season.

It focused on the theme of Freak Shows in early 20th century America. Ryan Murphy was partly inspired by the 1932 horror, Freaks – both the film and the AHS series have a scene where the members of the show get terrifying and bloody revenge on a sadistic outsider.

There’s a lot to like here: Jessica Lange as a Marlene Dietrich-type character; AHS’s first dip into clown horror; two Sarah Paulsons for the price of one via Siamese twins.

Perhaps most interestingly of all, this season rounds off with a “happy ending.” The performers all become reunited in the afterlife to live in peace as a family, their past crimes forgiven. This is unusual for AHS, a show that like to twist the knife as the end of a season in some tragic/uncomfortable way.

But there’s something about this ending that is comforting – the characters of this show have to endure such horrors that it’s warming to see them catch a break for once.