With an incredibly effective series of teaser trailers released over the past few months, you may have been lured in and curious as to whether to dip your toes in the pool of stories that create this popular show. To some, the thought of 6 series is great news: your evening sorted after work for a considerable time. For others, the thought of committing to watching 6 series is more frightening than the show itself. The good news is you need not fear; the series in American Horror Story aren’t officially connected, so you can pick and choose to watch certain ones, and not find yourself lost in the middle of a story. However for those who love a good scare and stick through it, some fan theories see connections running through that are nice little treats for die-hard fans. Whichever camp you fall in, we’ve got the low-down on what you need to know, what series are the must-watches, and those you could probably skip.
As an overview, each series is set in a different place and point in time. The show utilises a talented cast by having them return each series as a new character, which really allows the actors to shine, portraying completely different people. There are little hints at upcoming series and what their themes might be, and there are even a few cameos from characters from a previous season, but overall you won’t find many spoilers by watching them out of order – except perhaps series 5 where a cameo reveals a few big character traits in a girl from series 3.
So where should you start? Honestly, series 1 is my favourite. The story follows a family who move into a ‘murder house’, and the ensuing creepy circumstances. Although the premise perhaps sounds a bit clichéd, the story works: it has moments that send chills down your spine, moments of horror and disgust, but it’s intriguing, full of suspense and easy to binge watch. It doesn’t fall into the all the typical horror house movie pits, with twists and turns in the plot to keep you hooked. Dylan McDermott and Connie Britton play the married couple that buy the house, but it’s the supporting cast of neighbours and therapy patients who steal the show. I’d give this series a 4/5 for entertainment, genuinely leaving me scared and edgy around my house.
If you don’t want to watch the series in order, series 5 would be my 2nd choice. This series is set in a hotel built by a serial killer, and is based on a true story. Personally I find series 1 and 5 more engaging because of the elements of true horror stories in them and the ability to read up on all the trivia after an episode.This is the first series that Jessica Lange doesn’t appear in, and I was concerned her presence would be missed in series 5, but in reality it allowed for more balance between the stories and let other, typically more supporting actors, take a lead role. In particular, Denis O’Hare plays ‘Liz Taylor’ in a very moving performance, and something very different to what he’d been given before. Lady Gaga joins the cast in a prominent role, and is actually pretty good. Wes Bentley’s storyline is quite intriguing, and the duo of Kathy Bates and Denis O’Hare has moments of sweetness and empowerment in what can be a prominently violent, dark show. I felt that Evan Peters’ character was a little under-utilised, but as a fan of his, I am a little biased. This series gets back to a point of being quite violent, with lots of blood, gore and sex, so if any of those things offend you… it’s probably not up your street.
Series 2 would be my next recommendation, though series 4 comes close. Series 
2 is set in a mental asylum, so has a lot of potential to be truly terrifying. Unfortunately I did feel it didn’t quite meet that potential, and particularly the ending of the series dampened my overall impression, as it seemed to lose focus on the scare-factor. The aspects focusing on the notorious killer ‘Bloody-face’ made up for weaker storylines, and kept me intrigued.
Series 4 finds the cast in a ‘Freak Show’, while a villainous clown lurks nearby and members of the ensemble meet unpleasant ends. I liked the style of this series, and again saw potential in the diverse range of characters coming together. However this series in particular saw Jessica Lange’s character repeatedly steal the spotlight, which fell a little flat with me. I’d give both these series a 3/5; they are very watchable, but you can’t help but feel they are working towards a good storyline, and get a little lost on the way.
If there’s one series I wouldn’t watch again, it’s series 3; it focuses on a school of witches, but this isn’t Hogwarts. The fact is it wasn’t very much of a ‘horror’ story… The witches weren’t really scary, and the apparent plot ‘twists’ were predictable. The series did feature a few new members of the cast (such as Emma Roberts and Gabourey Sidibe) who did well with the material they were given, but in all honesty the main story is a little dull. If you watch the first few series and really enjoy them, it’s worth watching this once, but I doubt you’d go back for seconds.
So that’s what the American Horror Story back catalog has in store, and if it sounds up your street the good news is the first 4 series are currently available on Netflix, and series 6 has recently started on Fox. As the nights draw in, and the gym membership grows dusty, if you need a new show to get into I’d say October is the perfect time to get your teeth into American Horror Story.
Verdict
AMERICAN HORROR STORY: MY ROANOAKE NIGHTMAREÂ IS ON FOX, FRIDAYS AT 10PM
