By Jessica Broverman, Editor
One of the top rated shows on television is the “American Horror Story” series. Four seasons have taken its viewersʼ attention and have yet to let it go.
From “American Horror Story: Murder House” to “American Horror Story: Freak Show,” the series are so different that we can consider them to be completely different from one another.
The main actors and actresses that portray these roles are Jessica Lange, Evan Peters, Lily Rabe, Kathy Bates, and Sarah Paulson, amongst many others.
The first season, “Murder House,” is centered on a broken family that moves into a haunted home in an effort to start fresh. Though this sounds like a typical low budget scary movie, this is one of the best seasons for AHS. It is not a few spirits, but dozens of spirits that haunt the home of the Harmon family. Some are evil, others are kind, and a few are satanic. Many things occur in the first season that are completely out of the ordinary and push the boundaries. It shows how even a family that is falling apart can still come together and be happy, even when faced with improbable circumstances.
The second season, “Asylum,” is pretty straightforward with its title, many would say. However, this season is based around an attractive news reporter that just happens to be a lesbian. She begins a news story about the conditions in a corrupt insane asylum only to find herself being held captive. Aliens are also part of the plot twist in the season two pilot of AHS. The usage of language and small gestures that churn your stomach will make you feel uncomfortable, but you will find that you cannot turn away from the screen. Nymphomaniacs, a corrupt Nazi doctor, a sinning nun, and murders all play a large role in the horrifying second season.
Season three is probably the most tamed out of all four seasons. “Coven” is based on witches and begins with a young girl learning her powers. Though this season is a bit low-key, it still is shocking and gives you that eerie feeling we all get around Halloween time. Some plot twists of “Coven” are the mother-son relationship between several of the characters, zombies, and even torture that is based off of true events. Marie Laveau and Delphine LaLaurie are two characters based off of people in real life from New Orleans. Laveau was a voodoo priestess, while LaLaurie tortured and murdered slaves in her home.
The current season, dubbed “Freak Show,” plays off of several fears that we all feel. Centered on a circus theme, this season features the bearded lady, frightening clowns, a twoheaded woman, and the never-suppressed theme of death. From frightening painted faces, to uncomfortable gestures throughout the episodes, this season is one that will impress. Though “American Horror Story: Freak Show” has just begun, it is clear that it will match up just as well with its counterparts.
AHS airs on Wednesdays at 10:00pm on FX; past seasons can be found on Netflix.