‘American Horror Story: Apocalypse’ Is the Best Season Since ‘Coven’

Being an American Horror Story fan is always a hit or miss affair. Some of the greatest, creepiest episodes of the series are often sandwiched in between meandering plot lines, eye-rolling plot twists, and surprise aliens. But American Horror Story: Apocalypse is still going strong right when it matters most, making it the most delightful season since the last time we saw our favorite witches. Mild spoilers ahead for AHS: Apocalypse. 

Because subtlety is not a thing that exists in the world of AHS, Apocalypse takes place directly after the end of the world. The season, which is a crossover between the Murder House and Coven seasons of the show, dissects exactly how the world has ended and how it may be saved. There are a million reasons why Season 8 was practically destined to be catnip to any fan of the show. With Vivien’s (Connie Britton) fabulous hair and searing looks and Violet (Taissa Farmiga) and Tate’s (Evan Peters) warped romance, Murder House was the morbid classic that introduced everyone to this twisted world. Pairing it with Coven, a season of television defined by Sarah Paulson, Emma Roberts, and Frances Conroy’s snarky witches and scathing one-liners, was an act of genius.

But the real brilliance of Apocalypse rests not in its in-universe connections or story structure but in its execution. There’s a level of self-awareness to Apocalypse that other seasons of AHS have missed. “You want to see your favorite witches verbally destroy everyone in sight?” creators Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuck seem to be saying. “Wonderful. Here’s five hours of savage quips and incredible costumes.”

If you really think about it, the build up for Apocalypse made little to no sense. Why did the series spend so much time on Emily (Ash Santos) and Timothy (Kyle Allen), two young lovebirds who are dead by Episode 3? How did we spend an entire season on the witches of American Horror Story without ever knowing about the existence of equally savage warlocks? Who the unholy hell is in the gimp suit this season?

But that’s the beauty of Apocalypse — you’re not supposed to think about it. It’s a nonstop joyride of a season. Of course Madison Montgomery would go on a road trip with the only magical person who could be as bitchy as she is, Billy Porter’s excellently named Behold. Naturally when you’re recapping something as serious to AHS lore as the Seven Wonders, you would tell it though a cutesy 1920s silent film montage. And if you have Stevie Nicks on the premises, why wouldn’t you pause your episode and story to let her perform “Gypsy” as herself? She’s Stevie Nicks; she demands all of our attentions.

This is the love letter that is Apocalypse, and it has a lot to say. Either you’re in for one liners, spell-casting, and gorgeous set and costume work; or you’re not. Regardless of whatever you’re doing or whether you care about loose ends, AHS is just here to have fun, Jessica Lange monologues and all.

This lean-into-the-madness mentality has brought about some of the greatest moments we’ve seen from the show in years, from Kathy Bates casually saying “Hail Satan” to discovering that Madison’s (Emma Roberts) personal hell is working in a Bed, Bath and Beyond. It’s joyful Murphy-verse nonsense, the likes of which we haven’t seen since Season 1 of Scream Queens. In a TV environment that consistently takes itself too seriously to an embarrassing degree, it’s a fun and well-acted breath of fresh air.

At the moment Apocalypse only has two more episodes left to stick its landing. The finale has always been what American Horror Story struggles with the most, but Season 8 is in a surprisingly great position for a satisfying conclusion. There are at least two major confrontations left — the face-off between the Supreme Cordelia (Sarah Paulson) and the antichrist Langdon (Cody Fern) three years in the past; and their inevitable fight after the end of the world. All of the major players are accounted for, and the stakes are clear. Characters, motivations, and battles haven’t been this well defined since Coven introduced us to Miss Robichaux’s Academy in 2013.

As it is Apocalypse almost certainly does not match the structural expertise of arguably the best season AHS ever released, Asylum. But by embracing the intentionally over-the-top tone that once turned casual fans into diehard fanatics, American Horror Story has become something it hasn’t been in a long time. It’s finally fun again.

New episodes of American Horror Story: Apocalypse premiere on FX Wednesdays at 10/9c.

Watch American Horror Story: Apocalypse on FXNOW and FX+