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Published Sep 1, 2026, 5:45 PM EDT
Liz Hersey is an Editor and Critic for ScreenRant's TV team, editing, reviewing, writing, and creating content about the iconic shows you love to watch. She began her editing career at ScreenRant in 2019, shortly after joining the site as a Writer that same year.
With a passion for all things books, Liz frequently attends Toronto literary events and conferences, and loves interacting with her book lover community. In addition to being an avid reader of the romance and thriller genres, Liz is a writer of several short stories, and is currently at work on a young adult witch novel.
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Approaching its thirteenth season, American Horror Story has gone through many eras, but its best episode, which aired eight years ago, remains undisputed. Ryan Murphy's hit series, which premiered on FX in 2011, AHS has delivered thrills and chills in numerous settings, from a haunted "murder house" to a sordid hotel to a summer camp, always featuring a cast of regular Murphy collaborators, including Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, and Jessica Lange.
Though the first three American Horror Story seasons were presented as standalone stories, season 4, Freak Show, revealed that every installment of the show takes place in a shared universe. Since then, many characters from previous seasons have continued to pop up, and American Horror Story season 13, set to premiere on September 24, will feature some of the show's biggest fan-favorite characters joining forces to defeat an evil antagonist in an Avengers-esque crossover event.
Such a premise has the potential to flop spectacularly, or it could very well breathe new life into an aging television franchise. After all, American Horror Story's best episode is the reunion-heavy season 8, episode 6, "Return to Murder House."
Directed by Sarah Paulson in her debut, the episode sees warlock Behold Chablis (Billy Porter) team up with Coven's Madison Montgomery (Emma Roberts) as they re-enter the infamous season 1 murder house to investigate the origins of the Antichrist, Michael Langdon (Cody Fern), with help from some of the show's best ghost characters. Though "Return to Murder House" was undeniable fan service, it was so much more and will forever have a place in AHS history.
Why "Return To Murder House" Is American Horror Story's Best Episode
When season 8, American Horror Story: Apocalypse, aired in 2018, enough time had gone by that the show had built up a considerable amount of lore and prestige, but not so much time that it was oversaturated with characters, twists, and scares. This made it all the more satisfying when "Return to Murder House" provided a reunion for American Horror Story's OG season 1 characters, Vivien (Connie Britton), Ben (Dylan McDermott), and Violet Harmon (Taissa Farmiga), as well as Tate Langdon (Evan Peters).
However, the most triumphant return of all was Jessica Lange as Constance Langdon. Though Lange had played other AHS characters in seasons 2 through 4, the show was missing something in the wake of her departure. The tone of a Ryan Murphy show, particularly one in the horror genre, is incredibly difficult to get right, as it needs to nail the perfect blend of high-energy camp, shocking depravity, and sympathetic villainy. Nobody masters that like Lange.
When at its strongest, American Horror Story also has a surprising amount of heart and empathy, and that's on full display in "Return to Murder House." In perhaps the most heartwarming moment of the entire series, housekeeper Moira O'Hara (Frances Conroy) is finally granted her wish to be reunited with her mother after Madison and Behold Chablis dig up her bones and rebury them appropriately, paying off eight seasons' worth of emotional buildup.
American Horror Story Almost Certainly Can't Top "Return To Murder House" At This Point
Credit: Eric Liebowitz/FXThe thing about lightning in a bottle is you can't catch it twice. 15 years in, too much time has gone by for American Horror Story to recapture the emotional magic of "Return to Murder House," not to mention too many stories, characters, and scares. Furthermore, even the diehard AHS fans will admit that the series has diminished in quality from its prestigious early days.
However, if any season has a shot, it's American Horror Story season 13. Like "Return to Murder House," the new season features a highly anticipated return of Jessica Lange, her first since Apocalypse. Joining her in the all-star lineup are Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Angela Bassett, Kathy Bates, Frances Conroy, Emma Roberts, Gabourey Sidibe, Jamie Brewer, John Carroll Lynch, Mena Suvari, Billie Lourd, Leslie Grossman, and more.
FX Networks · Patient File #001 How Well Do You Know AHS? “All monsters are human.”
🏪Murder
HouseSeason 1
🔑AsylumSeason 2
🔮CovenSeason 3
🎪Freak
ShowSeason 4
🌉HotelSeason 5
ENTER IF YOU DARE →
01
In Season 1, the Harmon family moves into the infamous Murder House. What is the name of the latex-suit-wearing ghost who becomes central to the plot?
AChad Warwick BTate Langdon CBen Harmon DLarry Harvey
✓ Correct! Tate Langdon, played by Evan Peters, is the troubled ghost teen who haunts the Murder House. His relationship with Violet Harmon and his dark history as a school shooter made him one of AHS’s most iconic and controversial characters.
✗ You’re dead wrong! The answer is Tate Langdon. Played by Evan Peters, Tate is the ghost who wears the rubber suit. Chad Warwick (Zachary Quinto) is another ghost in the house, Ben Harmon is the father, and Larry Harvey is the burned neighbor.
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02
Season 2 takes place in Briarcliff Manor, a mental institution run by the Catholic Church. What is the name of the terrifying nun who rules the asylum with an iron fist?
ASister Mary Eunice BMonsignor Timothy Howard CDr. Arthur Arden DSister Jude
✓ Correct! Sister Jude, played by Jessica Lange in one of her most acclaimed roles, is the strict disciplinarian who runs Briarcliff. Her complex arc — from cruel authority figure to sympathetic victim of the very institution she controlled — is considered some of the best writing in the series.
✗ You’re dead wrong! The answer is Sister Jude. Jessica Lange’s portrayal of the iron-willed nun earned widespread acclaim. Sister Mary Eunice (Lily Rabe) becomes possessed by the Devil, Dr. Arden is the sadistic doctor, and Monsignor Howard is the ambitious priest.
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03
In “Coven,” the witches of Miss Robichaux’s Academy are searching for the next Supreme. What title is given to the most powerful witch who leads the coven?
AThe Supreme BThe High Priestess CThe Grand Witch DThe Matriarch
✓ Correct! The Supreme is the leader of the coven, possessing mastery of all Seven Wonders of witchcraft. Fiona Goode (Jessica Lange) holds the title at the start of the season, but her power is fading as a new Supreme rises among the younger witches.
✗ You’re dead wrong! The answer is The Supreme. The Supreme must master the Seven Wonders — telekinesis, concilium, transmutation, divination, vitalum vitalis, descensum, and pyrokinesis — to claim the title and lead the coven.
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04
AHS is famous for reusing actors in different roles each season. Which actress has appeared in more seasons than any other cast member, becoming the show’s most prolific performer?
AJessica Lange BEvan Peters CSarah Paulson DLily Rabe
✓ Correct! Sarah Paulson has appeared in more AHS seasons than anyone else, playing wildly different characters — from Asylum’s journalist Lana Winters to Coven’s two-headed Bette and Dot Tattler to Roanoke’s Shelby Miller. She’s the definitive AHS actress.
✗ You’re dead wrong! The answer is Sarah Paulson. While Jessica Lange starred in the first four seasons and Evan Peters appeared in many, Sarah Paulson holds the record for the most season appearances, delivering transformative performances across the anthology.
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05
In “Freak Show,” Jessica Lange plays the German-accented owner of one of the last freak shows in America. What is her character’s name?
AFiona Goode BElsa Mars CConstance Langdon DSister Jude
✓ Correct! Elsa Mars is the glamorous but desperate ringmaster of “Fraulein Elsa’s Cabinet of Curiosities,” set in 1952 Jupiter, Florida. She dreams of Hollywood fame and performs David Bowie’s “Life on Mars?” in one of the season’s most memorable scenes.
✗ You’re dead wrong! The answer is Elsa Mars. Fiona Goode is Lange’s character in Coven, Constance Langdon is from Murder House, and Sister Jude is from Asylum. Elsa Mars is her Freak Show role — a German émigré chasing stardom in 1950s Florida.
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06
Season 5 “Hotel” introduced Lady Gaga to the AHS universe. What is the name of her character, the ancient vampire-like owner of the Hotel Cortez?
AHypodermic Sally BRamona Royale CNatacha Rambova DThe Countess
✓ Correct! The Countess, also known as Elizabeth, is Lady Gaga’s glamorous and ruthless vampire character. She won a Golden Globe for the role. The Countess collects beautiful lovers, turns children into vampire-like creatures, and has haunted the Hotel Cortez for decades.
✗ You’re dead wrong! The answer is The Countess. Hypodermic Sally (Sarah Paulson) is a ghost in the hotel, Ramona Royale (Angela Bassett) is a rival vampire, and Natacha Rambova is a silent film actress connected to the Countess’s past. Lady Gaga plays The Countess Elizabeth.
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07
American Horror Story was created by Ryan Murphy and which other writer-producer, who also co-created “Glee” and “Nip/Tuck” with Murphy?
ABrad Falchuk BTim Minear CDante Di Loreto DIan Brennan
✓ Correct! Brad Falchuk co-created AHS with Ryan Murphy. The two have been longtime collaborators, also creating Glee and Nip/Tuck together. Falchuk has written and directed many of the series’ most pivotal episodes across multiple seasons.
✗ You’re dead wrong! The answer is Brad Falchuk. He and Ryan Murphy are the creative duo behind AHS. Tim Minear is a frequent writer/producer on the show but not a co-creator. Ian Brennan co-created Glee but not AHS.
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08
Season 6 “Roanoke” used an unusual format for AHS. What was the show-within-a-show structure that framed the season’s first half?
AA police procedural investigation BA found footage horror film CA true crime documentary series DA reality TV competition
✓ Correct! Roanoke was presented as “My Roanoke Nightmare,” a true crime documentary show with talking-head interviews and dramatic reenactments. This meant actors played both the “real” people and the actors portraying them in the reenactments — a mind-bending meta twist that divided fans but made it one of the most unique AHS seasons.
✗ You’re dead wrong! The answer is a true crime documentary series. Roanoke was framed as “My Roanoke Nightmare,” featuring real testimonials and dramatic reenactments. The second half flipped the format entirely with a “Big Brother”-style return to the house — making it one of AHS’s wildest structural experiments.
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Patient File · Case Closed Your Horror Record
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/ 8
Supreme witch — or the first one to die?
↻ SCREAM AGAIN
With this many familiar faces, there's every chance that American Horror Story season 13 will be character-saturated and overly invested in fan service. However, if one thing is clear, it's that these actors are deeply committed to this show. American Horror Story means a lot to them, just like "Return to Murder House" means a lot to the fans. Season 13 may not achieve the greatness of that iconic season 8 episode, but it should be a blast to watch it try.
Release Date October 5, 2011
Writers Halley Feiffer, Ned Martel, Crystal Liu, Charlie Carver, Kristen Reidel, Adam Penn, Douglas Petrie, Todd Kubrak, Reilly Smith, Jay Beattie, Dan Dworkin, Joshua A. Green, Akela Cooper, Asha Michelle Wilson
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Sarah Paulson
Tuberculosis Karen / Mamie Eisenhower
English (US) ·