American Horror Story is likely most known for being scary, generally creepy, and unsettling. However, the series isn’t just about scares. Several episodes are more focused on storytelling or character development that help establish American Horror Story as a unique, must-watch. American Horror Story first premiered in 2011 with its debut season Murder House. Created by Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk, this horror anthology has aired 10 seasons and just started its 11th, NYC. In 2020, it was announced that the show was renewed through its 13th season.

With so many seasons and episodes available to watch, it’s worth tracking some of the best moments from the show thus far. These are 10 of the best American Horror Story episodes to date.

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

10 The Name Game (Asylum, Episode 10)

     20th Television/Disney Platform Production

Asylum, the second season of AHS, is another fan-favorite. Featuring a cast of some of the show’s best alumni and a creepy plot with lots of depth and twists, Asylum is worth a re-watch if it has been a while since you’ve seen it. This season has plenty of great episodes including some that are downright scary and others that are just so well-written and executed that you’re fully immersed throughout the entire episode. There are also some that have little touches of kooky fun in true Ryan Murphy style, like “The Name Game.”

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

This episode comes after “The Coat Hanger,” one of the heaviest episodes of the season. Kit (Evan Peters) and Lana (Sarah Paulson) are working together to take down the killer, Dr. Thredson (Zachary Quinto), Sister Mary Eunice (Lily Rabe) is possessed by a demon, and Sister Jude (Jessica Lange) has become a patient in the asylum. There’s a lot going on, but one of the most notable scenes in this episode is Sister Jude’s — now known as Judy Martin — performance of “The Name Game” with the other patients. It’s a weird scene that makes little sense, but it’s still a fun change of pace to watch in an otherwise dark season.

9 Slashdance (1984, Episode 3)

     20th Television/Disney Platform Distribution

1984 is arguably one of the best seasons of AHS thus far. It plays homage to the great slasher movies made popular in the ’80s and centers on a series of murders at a summer camp. While this has been seen several times before, 1984 is still unique and doesn’t feel repetitive at all. As one of the best seasons of the show, several of the episodes are top-notch, but one of the best is episode three, “Slashdance.”

In this episode, everyone staying at the camp is trying to escape Mr. Jingles and The Night Stalker, which was based on the real murderer who tormented Los Angeles in the ’80s. This episode has all the pieces and parts that slasher films are known for like chase scenes through the dark woods, jump scares, big reveals and betrayals, loads of suspense and character development all packed into one episode block. This episode has great pacing and gets a lot accomplished. It’s a scary episode full of tension, but it also excels at storytelling by tapping into the psyche and backstories of some of the main characters, painting a clearer picture of who they are. It’s also only the third episode of the season, which says a lot about how the rest of the season went.

8 Drink the Kool-Aid (Cult, Episode 9)

     20th Television FX

Cult is the politically-driven seventh season of AHS that takes place during the aftermath of the 2016 presidential election. This season is unique to others in that it has a degree of realism that previous seasons of AHS haven’t had and that realistic nature is what makes Cult such a disturbing season. This season is full of good episodes and strong performances by “Drink the Kool-Aid” is a standout.

In this episode, Kai (Evan Peters) recounts the stories of infamous cults including Heaven’s Gate, the Peoples Temple, and Branch Davidians by acting as each cult leader. Kai is a role that really showcased Peters’ range as an actor, as he portrayed his main role and each other character with such conviction. Admittedly, Peters’ performance in this episode is what makes it so great. That, on top of the twists, character development and thickening plot that this episode brings forth makes it one of the best of the season.

7 Smoldering Children (Murder House, Episode 10)

Premiering in 2011, Murder House was the first season of AHS. It introduced viewers to the show’s sharp cast and disturbing nature, getting them hooked for the following 10 seasons. Even after all this time, Murder House still remains a favorite among AHS fans. This season brought a lot of creepy imagery, complex plot points and twists, and one of the most intense episodes by far is the tenth episode, “Smoldering Children.”

From flashbacks to a viscious arson to visits from the Rubber Man, “Smoldering Children” introduces a lot of backstory and details to the plot as it gears up for the finale. However, the most intense moment comes when Tate (Peters) tells Violet (Taissa Farmiga) he wants to show her something. It ends up being her dead body in the crawlspace of the house. In a previous episode, Violet attempted suicide and thought she survived, but that wasn’t the case and Tate reveals that she’s been a ghost the entire time. Every time Violet tries to leave the house, she’s brought right back inside, and her response as the weight of the situation hits her feels so genuine and real, it’s almost hard to watch.

6 Boy Wonder (Apocalypse, Episode 8)

Apocalypse was an interesting season in that it had its own storyline, but it also connected to previous seasons Coven and Murder House. Apocalypse was a treat for fans of Coven, but that really came to a head in the eighth episode, “Boy Wonder.” In a test to see how strong he is, Cordelia (Sarah Paulson) has Michael (Cody Fern) take the Test of the Seven Wonders and tasks him with bringing Misty Day (Lily Rabe) back from hell. Fans of Coven will remember Misty as the curly-haired, whimsical witch.

Michael succeeds and brings Misty back, thus reuniting Cordelia with all her girls from Coven to figure out how to stop Michael from essentially causing an apocalyptic disaster. However, no nod to Coven would be complete without a Stevie Nicks appearance and performance. It’s a fun episode with plenty of callbacks for longtime fans of the series and well-thought-out story development that carries on in the following episodes.

5 11/9 (Cult, Episode 4)

“11/9” is another standout episode from Cult. What makes this episode so great is the way it holds a mirror up to society at the time. This is something that polarized the audience at the time, with several people not wanting the show to get too political. However, Cult manages to deliver important messages without feeling preachy. Given what 2016 America looked like then and in the years after, this season wasn’t too off-base in its depiction, regardless of how exaggerated some parts may be.

“11/9” mostly takes place on and leading up to election night 2016. It highlights the tension of people fearfully going to the voting booths and even touches on voter coercion, which was a real concern at the time. In terms of the story progression, Kai is seen ramping up his cult and convincing people to become new members. This episode manages to showcase AHS’s range as a show. It can be creepy and weird and terrifying, or even a little off-beat and fun. But it can also be real and dark and provide an introspective view of society at any given moment that aims to make you think and feel.

4 Madness Ends (Asylum, Episode 13)

“Madness Ends” is the finale of the second season, Asylum, and it’s a unique final episode for AHS. Very rarely do we see characters get semi-happy endings, wrapped up in a bow in the AHS universe, but “Madness Ends” delivers a little bit of that while still staying true to the show’s roots. This episode features a time jump and shows what happened to some of the season’s characters years later.

This episode makes the cut for its storytelling. Oftentimes, people watch a show, and following its final episode, ask questions like, “What happened next?” or “Where are they now?” This episode answers all those questions and highlights some of the characters that you likely started to care about later in the season, like Sister Jude (Jessica Lange).

3 Gaslight (Double Feature, Episode 5)

The tenth season, Double Feature, was essentially two seasons in one. The first six episodes were part of Red Tide and the last four were part of Death Valley, two unique, separate stories in one season. Double Feature is a season you either love or hate. It’s a different approach than any other season before it, which some didn’t like, but it’s hard to deny that despite the experimentation, it still managed to deliver a story and cast of characters that were interesting to watch.

“Gaslight” comes from the first half of the season, Red Tide. The entire season is a unique take on vampires. Essentially, people take pills to harness their talents and take them to the next level. For example, if you’re a decent writer, taking a pill could turn you into a bestselling author. However, the trade-off is that they turn you into a vampire and if you take the pills but aren’t actually talented, you become a sort of vampiric zombie, forced to wander around in search of blood forever. In this episode, Doris (Lily Rabe) takes one of the pills and the audience is forced to follow along for her downfall as she realizes she was never actually talented. This episode is peak AHS storytelling and is done in such a powerful, yet entertaining way.

2 Bitchcraft (Coven Episode 1)

Coven is an example of AHS at its peak. It had an incredible storyline and cast of characters and was a delicious blend of horror and fun. Several Coven episodes are some of the best in the series and are worth praising, but one of the best is the premiere episode “Bitchcraft.”

This episode introduces the audience to the group of witches at Miss Robichaux’s Academy for Exceptional Young Ladies. Each girl showcases their powers and bold personalities, setting the tone for the rest of the season. There’s also Sarah Paulson and Jessica Lange, who play a mother-daughter duo who are constantly butting heads, and Kathy Bates makes her AHS debut as the New Orleans socialite Delphine LaLaurie. From the iconic scene of all the girls dressed in black, walking around New Orleans with their matching parasols to the campy, entertaining banter between them, “Bitchcraft” set the tone for a great season.

1 Return to Murder House (Apocalypse, Episode 6)

“Return to Murder House” is a prime example of fan service — in a good way — and those who have been with the franchise since season one absolutely loved it. Apocalypse featured crossovers from both Coven and Murder House, but all of that came to a head in the sixth episode where Madison (Emma Roberts) and Behold (Billy Porter) return to Murder House to gather information on the antichrist they’re dealing with, AKA Michael (Cody Fern).

There are several callbacks to season one in this episode, including the return of several OG cast members including Connie Britton, Jessica Lange, Dylan McDermott, Taissa Farmiga, and Evan Peters. It’s a crucial episode in the Apocalypse storyline, but it also revisits the Murder House story, even providing closure to some of the characters trapped inside the house. It’s a strong, well-executed episode that shows the range AHS can have as more than just a one-off show to watch when you need a good scare.