FX’s anthology series American Horror Story (2011- ) has been a household staple among horror fans for over a decade. Created by Ryan Murphy, the show has revolved around a plethora of themes, from a haunted hotel, to a witches coven, to an 80s summer camp. But with a drastic drop in ratings and viewership for recent seasons, the future of this once much-loved series is at stake. Are the increasingly falling numbers an unfair representation of the show’s quality or is there a greater horror story lurking behind them? 

With seasoned regulars and fan favourite actors by the likes of Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters and Jessica Lange ceasing to appear in recent seasons, it comes as no surprise that viewership of the show is now dwindling. As an anthology series, American Horror Story relied on these beloved actors to coax back viewers season after season. The actors’ absences can notably be felt in later seasons which rely on an, although talented, brand-new cast to deliver the show. This cast constantly finds itself grappling to live up to the expectations of fans and fill the shoes of the series legends that came before them. Despite the efforts of the latest instalment, Delicate, bringing back old favourite Emma Roberts to play the role of Hollywood star Anna Alcott, the new season is still ‘shockingly bad to the point it’s almost comical’, according to Outkick Magazine. 

The once great writing in earlier seasons such as Murder House and Asylum is now a distant memory in the eyes of many fans of the show. American Horror Story, which characterised itself with catty, campy and queer dialogue and undertones, now fades into the abyss of new shows which cater to the same audience in a newer, more captivating light. It is hard to tell if these new shows truly pull off this characterisation better than recent seasons of American Horror Story, or if fans have become bored of the show’s predictability and over reliance on it. This does not begin to scratch the surface of the writing issues that plague American Horror Story.  

With plot holes and incomplete storylines becoming ever more present in new seasons, audiences are becoming tired of finishing a show with more questions than answers. Arguably American Horror Story has slipped onto the back burner for creator Ryan Murphy, as his newer shows, such as Pose and Ratched still hit the mark with fans and critics alike. 

The lack of fresh ideas and convoluted plots are more aspects of decline on the minds of many American Horror Story fans. Recent seasons of the show are packed with incohesive storylines, plot holes and repeated material. How many times can the show expect to use the ‘you died and are stuck here forever as a ghost’ trope before it becomes a bore? It comes as no surprise that audiences are choosing to give up on the series with an abundance of new shows to watch with fresh and original ideas. 

Maybe American Horror Story has finally run its course, and fans have been left to watch the show slowly and inevitably fizzle into the archives of pop culture. Or will the anticipated season 13 finally bring a much-needed revitalisation to the show, with rumours of the original cast returning in hopes of ‘getting the band back together’? 

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