American Horror Story popularized the horror anthology genre, but 13 seasons after the show debuted, it’s time to call it a day. When AHS first aired in 2011, the show delivered an outstanding, compelling series, with incredible actors that just worked. However, when the show delivered a second season, with some of those same actors returning, and a brand new exciting premise which delivered that same horror and anticipation to an even greater extent, it broke the standard format.
Of course, there were anthology shows before AHS, but its influence in popularizing this kind of storytelling and variety is undeniable. All of that said, the show appears to have it’s peak early in the runtime, and now it’s struggling to recapture the magic in the latest seasons. Since the show is already renewed for a 13th season, perhaps that should be where they call it a day, and lay the show to rest.
American Horror Story’s Highest-Rated Season Was Season 2 & That’s A Long Time Ago
AHS: Asylum Is A Distant Memory At This Point
The fact is that the show’s most beloved season, and the one to receive the most widespread positive praise, came all the way back in season 2. According to IMDb, this season had the greatest ratings for the episodes of the season, and when considering the drama and intrigue that came in season 2’s AHS: Asylum, it’s no wonder it stands out as the strongest season to date. However, that also means the show has been going downhill ever since.
Of course, there have been highs and lows, with some standout seasons that felt like the show was back on form, but the facts don’t lie. Despite some good, the show has steadily declined in quality, with some of the latest seasons standing out as the absolute worst of the series. The show has had more than 10 years and 10 seasons to correct its course and try to get things back on track, but it seems clear that this is not going to happen anytime soon. So, maybe it’s time to let it go.
Will American Horror Story Season 13 Really End The Show?
AHS Season 13 Is Unlikely To Fix The Show’s Problems
American Horror Story has accomplished spectacular things in its time. To date, the show has been the recipient of 17 Primetime Emmys. It highlighted incredible talent, and helped to launch the careers of talented young actors like Evan Peters, Billie Lourd, and Taissa Farmiga. It gave way for other anthology stories, both within the horror space and other genres, to be explored to great effect. All of these accomplishments are truly outstanding and worth praise, but it doesn’t mean the show should get a free pass when it comes to declining quality.
Most shows that start going downhill, or take a dip in viewing figures tend to be canceled pretty swiftly. However, AHS has survived longer than most, and at this point, with many of the best seasons left far behind, it isn’t clear how or why the show keeps coming back. It has been renewed for a thirteenth season, back when it was also approved for season 12, but perhaps the show should finally take a bow, and accept that its best days are behind it. The best option at this late stage is to end American Horror Story with season 13.
