Emma Roberts’ American Horror Story Characters, Ranked From Worst to Best

Maggie Esmerelda (Freak Show)

We’ll bet that faux psychic Maggie didn’t foresee herself landing at the bottom spot on this list. Nevertheless, there she has landed.

Roberts did a fine job portraying this con woman with a heart of gold in American Horror Story‘s fourth season, but the truth is that she simply wasn’t given much to portray. Even for someone who started out as a villain — and this show has given us some capital-V villains over the years — Maggie never fully captured our interest, to the point where we often forget that Roberts ever crossed paths with Elsa Mars and her far more memorable band of freaks.

Anna Victoria Alcott (Delicate)

More of a prop than a person, Anna only had two modes — bewitched or bewildered — for the entirety of Delicate‘s first half. And while that may sound intriguing on paper, it didn’t give viewers a chance to understand who she is and what she’s all about. If you asked us to describe her, we wouldn’t have much to say other than… perpetually confused?

In fact, the only thing that kept Anna from dropping below Roberts’ Freak Show persona on this list was that hilariously over-the-top PSA she recorded in support of women’s bodily autonomy. (“It’s my body, and I’ll get pregnant anytime I want… which is now!”) It was a frustratingly brief tease, reminding viewers what Roberts is capable of, before sucking the life back out of her.

Serena Belinda (Cult)

The fact that this one-episode wonder ranked so highly on our list is a testament to what Roberts is capable of bringing to a character. She made a meal out of the local newscaster’s relatively little screen time, ultimately blessing us with one of the franchise’s most memed moments. (“Oh, it looks like we have some clowns desperate for airtime.”)

R.I.P., queen.

Brooke Thompson (1984)

We certainly went on a journey with this one, didn’t we? So much happened to Brooke during this nine-episode slasher of a season, it’s easy to forget that we met her on her wedding day, drenched in the blood of her nearest and dearest. Sure, it wasn’t the greatest way to start a marriage, but it made for a heck of an introduction.

Fully realized and constantly evolving, Brooke was a character we rooted for every step of the way — which is a lot more than we can say for some of the characters below her on this list.

Madison Montgomery (Coven/Apocalypse)

Surprise, bitch! We bet you didn’t think you’d see her here.

Just kidding, as if any of Roberts’ other characters can even hold a candle to this ruthlessly savage, totally badass, not-to-be-effed-with spellcaster. She may not have turned out to be her coven’s Supreme, but she’s still the supreme ruler of this list.

To date, Madison is the only one of Roberts’ characters to have appeared in two separate seasons. And Ryan Murphy, if you’re reading this, we’d gladly welcome her back for round three.