I’m surprised American Horror Story is still on the air.
It is even harder to believe that American Horror Story Season 13 has reeled in the likes of Angela Bassett, Jessica Lange, Evan Peters, and Sarah Paulson for encores.
The truth is, the show has not felt relevant in years, and recent seasons have largely come and gone with little impact.
The franchise arguably hit a low point with American Horror Story Season 12, “Delicate,” which spent far too much time trying to make Kim Kardashian’s acting career happen instead of telling a compelling story.
After that reception, Ryan Murphy is now returning to the witches of American Horror Story Season 3, “Coven,” to try to drum up interest.
On paper, that sounds like a smart move.
In practice, it is hard to get excited when we have already seen this play out in American Horror Story Season 8, “Apocalypse,” arguably one of the least satisfying nostalgia experiments in recent TV history.
Once the initial novelty wore off, Apocalypse became a messy attempt to merge American Horror Story: Season 1, “Murder House,” and Coven. It had the characters, but not the narrative logic to justify bringing them together.
It spent an entire season killing off beloved characters left and right, only to undo everything with a time travel reset. That is the core issue.
American Horror Story Erased An Entire Season of Events
If a story can be erased, then it becomes difficult to invest in anything that happens within it.
Time travel is one of television’s most frustrating plot devices when used this way. Without lasting consequences, it risks turning entire seasons into wasted effort.
That is why it is hard to care about the witches returning again. We have already seen their arcs reshaped into something that ultimately did not matter.
And yet there is still a pull there.
I would be lying if I said I did not want to see Sarah Paulson back as Cordelia Goode.
Jessica Lange’s return is also a big deal, but if early reports are accurate and she is playing Constance Langdon from American Horror Story: Murder House, then another crossover is clearly on the table.
After Apocalypse, is that really what anyone wants?
Murphy seems to think so. But between rumors of a “Penthouse”- style structure where each episode focuses on a different floor and talk of half-hour episodes, this new season is already sounding overcomplicated.
The Series Is Getting a Revamp
If the runtime rumors are true, it is hard to imagine FX letting the show limp along for weekly episodes that barely break 20 minutes. Doubling up episodes might help, but that is a workaround rather than a fix.
At this point, it feels like the series is throwing everything at the wall to see what sticks, which is sheer desperation.
I would like to believe Murphy understands the legacy of American Horror Story and is building something worthy of it.
But with so many projects on his plate, it is fair to question whether he has the time or focus to pull it off.
Right now, that is a tough sell, and since the show has been struggling creatively for years, it’s hard to imagine a late-stage comeback being in the cards.
What are your thoughts on everything that’s been teased so far about American Horror Story Season 13?
Do you believe the series can stage a comeback, or is it well past its prime?
What are your thoughts on how Apocalypse handled time travel?
Let’s conjure up a conversation in the comments.
Let’s keep the conversation going — it’s the only way the good stuff survives.
Say something in the comments, share if you’re moved to, and keep reading. Independent voices need readers like you.
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