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The Rise and Fall of American Horror Story

Popcornsoups

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The Rise and Fall of American Horror Story | Video Essay

American Horror Story was once one of the biggest shows on television, but in recent years its popularity and critical reception have taken a noticeable decline. In this video essay, we explore the golden era of AHS, the nostalgia-fuelled chaos of Apocalypse and whether the franchise has finally run its course.

Whether you love it or hate it, Ryan Murphy’s bold and often divisive vision has left a lasting mark on modern horror TV. Join me for a deep dive into the world of American Horror Story as we explore the highs, the lows and the even lowers.

Timestamps:

0:00:00 - 0:03:50 The Creation
0:03:51 - 0:08:58 Murder House
0:08:59 - 0:11:10 The Golden Era
0:11:11 - 0:17:26 Asylum
0:17:27 - 0:20:31 Coven
0:20:32 - 0:26:28 Freak Show
0:26:29 - 0:30:43 Hotel
0:30:44 - 0:35:54 Roanoke
0:35:55 - 0:37:22 Cult
0:37:23 - 0:42:29 Nostalgia is King
0:42:30 - 0:46:29 Apocalypse
0:46:30 - 0:48:13 The Later Years
0:48:14 - 0:51:52 1984
0:51:53 - 0:56:14 True Crime as Horror
0:56:15 - 1:01:03 The Spin Off
1:01:04 - 1:04:45 Violet and Tate
1:04:45 - 1:10:41 Was it Ever Good

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#americanhorrorstory #ahs #videoessay

20 Comments

@Popcornsoups Creator 3 months ago Pinned

Is True Crime Evil! A full on deep dive into the genre including Murphy's Monster, Devil in Disguise and Internet Culture:
https://youtu.be/mSmUEwlI2h0

@rosebyanyname 5 months ago

You just know that Ryan Murphy saw Weapons and was immediately pissed he didn't come up with Aunt Gladys himself

@corimitchell6094 5 months ago

The messed up pregnancy storyline that gets thrown in every season has always felt SO WEIRD to me

@erika30pinki 5 months ago

My 16yo self was eating this up, I never noticed anything bad, everything was perfect, until Jessica left, she left and took my blindfold off. 😂

@Roma_eterna 5 months ago

Real talk, I forgot AHS was still running 😂

@kitnoles6199 5 months ago

I’ve always said I really like half of Asylum, but the entire alien plot is just. There.

@digitalchapel 5 months ago

I wish we had more ensemble casts doing anthology series... it was so fun to get attached to the actors and see them be reborn into new roles to love them for all over again in the next season. I get why it's not a more common thing, but it was one of my favorite things about AHS.

@Haxprocess 5 months ago

I genuinely cannot believe this show is still going lol

@JoanWhack 5 months ago (edited)

I’m still crying over Meep’s arrest. It was one of the most haunting moments through AHS’s run.
Also forgot to mention how Twisty the Clown’s entrance in Freakshow was heavily inspired by Zodiac, the film about the zodiac killer that the actor John Carroll Lynch had been in before.

@jjerkamillo 5 months ago

I stuck with the show until 1984 like an idiot. Eventually I just couldn’t deal with their constant “let’s randomly switch the plot and villain halfway through the season” thing they pull every time, so I finally gave up.

@gabrieldilone8470 5 months ago

I actually liked Roanoke more then people around me did. I liked the switch in the middle of the season. I feel like it was very underrated

@demis362 5 months ago

My gf was given the "Normal people scare me" hoodie as a gift and she refuses to wear it in public lmaoo

@catinthekitchen2 3 months ago

Liz Taylor was the star of Hotel

@lampenfieber 5 months ago

I actually enjoyed Hotel despite it's nonsensical storytelling and almost non existent plot, one thing I found absolutely odd were the vampire twins in Hotel, which I don't even remember if the writers did anything with them.

@Destinyirus278 5 months ago (edited)

Violet was honestly such a relatable character to me as an overly emotional 11 year old girl on tumblr it felt like a character represented that & the “love” storyline (not realizing how toxic it was at the time) & the plot twist about violet was something that blew my mind watching it as a kid

@McPlebeian 4 months ago

I had it in my head that AHS was 7 seasons. I thought it ended with Apocalypse and didn't even know there was a "Cult"

@LateNightLime 5 months ago

Ryan Murphy really leant into that using real murderers when you run out of ideas didn't he... The dinner in hotel really hits a bit different knowing he went on to do the Monster series.

@SpacedGhostonaCoast 5 months ago

Totally agree with you that O’Hare’s performance every time was nothing less than amazing; why would you not want that talent on every season?!

@gaspardp7314 2 weeks ago

Sarah Paulson's soul is currently trapped in Ryan Murphy's basement and every time he starts writing the synopsis for a new show with blood on human parchment she shudders as her mind bends under the dark spell that forces her to be in his shows