Here are Ryan Murphy's favorite episodes from each season of Halston which premiered on the streaming service in May.
American Horror Story (retroactively titled American Horror Story: Murder House) debuted on FX in October 2011 and immediately became a cultural phenomenon. Fans began scouring the show's opening credits and social media for clues or news about what wickedness Murphy planned to unleash in the season. Following the series ninth season American Horror: 1984, a campy homage to the slasher flicks of the 80s, viewers were "thirsty" for details about season 10 as Murphy's cryptic Instagram posts in March 2020 hinted at a nautical theme.
In March 2021, Murphy announced AHS Season 10's title Double Feature via Evan Peters, who both sat out season 9. Since fans won't have to wait much longer for the double dose of American Horror Story, which is set to premiere this summer, it's a good time to revisit earlier installments. In 2019, Ryan Murphy revealed to EW which was his favorite episode from each season. Here they are and what made them special to the uber-producer.
Murder House, "Pilot"
The first installment of the franchise was years in the making, and the first glimpse into the house of horrors remains Murphy's favorite all-time episode. "That first season sort of reinvented the anthological storytelling space that I loved as a kid and has ushered in a whole new way of MAKING television (creatively and economically), and I’m very proud of that," Murphy told EW. The first episode of Murder House includes one of the series' most memorable characters, "Rubber Man," who Murphy has teased will return in season 10. The first season centers on Dr. Ben Harmon (Dylan McDermott), his wife Vivien (Connie Britton), and their daughter Violet (Taissa Farmiga) as the family moves into a creepy haunted LA mansion. Academy Award-winning actress Jessica Lange, who plays the Harmon's nosy, unfiltered, chain-smoking neighbor, was already a Hollywood legend and one of Murphy's icons, and her role as Constance Langdon garnered her a new generation of acolytes.
Asylum, Episode 8, "The Name Game"
Asylum, a scathing indictment of America's mental healthcare system and its history of barbaric treatment, is set at the fictional Briarcliff mental institution. The staff and patients include a nun possessed by the Devil, a mad scientist, a future television personality, and a serial killer. "The Name Game," which features the deaths of two of Asylum's central characters, takes a surreal turn when Lange's Sister Jude Martin headlines an Ann-Margaret-like musical number to Shirley Ellis' "The Name Game." Murphy told EW that the idea of a song and dance routine started as a joke made by Lange, "but the idea fit what we had planned perfectly." Although shooting the scene took 14 hours, Ryan said everyone involved "had a ball."
Coven, Episode 12, "The Magical Delights of Stevie Nicks"
What self-respecting series about witches wouldn't include an appearance by the "White Witch" herself, Stevie Nicks? The Fleetwood Mac front-woman pays a visit to Miss Robichaux's Academy for Exceptional Young Ladies to serenade her biggest fan, doppelganger, and possible future Supreme Misty Day (Lily Rabe). Be they witches, voodoo queens, or unapologetic racists, the women of AHS's controversial season 3 Coven are bound together by their status as outsiders: a recurring theme in Murphy's work. Murphy told EW that "Stevie Nicks saved my life when I was a teenager because I saw in her a way out, a way to be unique in the world and not give a s*** what anyone says or thinks about you." Nicks didn't disappoint. Viewers were thrilled by her cameo, and Murphy described the singer as "pure magic and kindness."
Freak Show, Episode 1, "Monsters Among Us"
Just when it seemed AHS couldn't get any weirder, Murphy decided to tackle the world of carnival freaks (and the people who love and loathe them) led by a Marlene Dietrich wannabe in season 4's AHS: Freak Show. Murphy told EW the whole concept was Lange's idea, and she certainly leans into the character of Elsa Mars. Murphy has a keen sense when it comes to tapping into people's deepest fears, and Twisty the Clown (John Carroll Lynch) remains one of the show's most disturbing aberrations in a season that includes siamese twins, a bearded lady, and a young stud with a lobster claw for a hand. Murphy described Twisty's brutal murder of two young lovers in the premiere and Lynch's performance as riveting: a welcome distraction from the sweltering Louisiana heat.
Hotel, Episode 1, "Checking In"
LA's infamous Hotel Cortez is the setting for the fifth season of the anthology series. An odd assortment of eccentric characters call the hotel home, but the most glamorous resident is The Countess, played by the season's breakout star, Lady Gaga. Murphy told EW that Gaga is why this episode is a standout one for him. "I loved working with her so much then and now. I am so proud of where she’s gone as an actress, but she always had chops, right from the minute she stepped on the set," Murphy said. Hotel is based on a true story and "Checking In," although a sumptuous feast for the eyes, is stomach-churning even by Murphy's standards.
Roanoke, Episode 6, "Chapter Six"
Season 6 tackled Murphy's reimagining of what happened to the lost colony of Roanoke. But a season that begins as just another ghost story, throws viewers for a loop when, midway through, it abandons the reenactment format in favor of a reality show. It's a jolt to see Kathy Bates switch from playing a territorial knife-wielding ghost terrorizing a young married couple to a method actress who goes off the rails, and not all fans were on board. However, for Murphy, the episode proved to be invigorating. "This was the season that made me think, 'Ok, this show can go for 20 years.' Because we can keep playing with the format, the form. It proved to me we didn’t have to have every season be a grand spectacle," Murphy told EW.
Cult, Episode 11, "Great Again"
Season 7, Cult, was inspired by the 2016 presidential election and Donald Trump's meteoric political rise, and Murphy revealed to EW that it was his favorite of the show's seasons. There's nothing subtle in Murphy's message about the dangers of disenfranchisement. "Great Again" is the series finale, and it pits Kai Anderson (Peters) against Ally Mayfair-Richards (Paulson), who has cultivated her own group of devoted followers. Murphy said of Paulson and Peter's onscreen chemistry: "They are so close and really understand how to work with each other and get underneath each other’s skin like brother and sister, so it really clicked. And it was satirical to boot, which I loved."
Apocalypse, Episode 6, "Return to Murder House"
"Return to Murder House" was a crossover episode seven years in the making. American Horror Story: Apocalypse brings back the witches of Coven to battle Michal Langdon (Cody Fern), aka "the Antichrist." Of course, they don't know they're dealing with the son of Satan until twice resurrected Madison Montgomery (Emma Roberts) and Behold Chablis (Billy Porter) visit Michael's birthplace to unearth Michael's mysterious past. The episode marks the return of Lange, who exited the series after season 4, and includes most of the fan favorite cast from season 1. Porter and Roberts make for entertaining sleuths, but the reason why this is one of Murphy's favorite episodes is because of what transpired behind the camera. Murphy's longtime muse and collaborator Paulson directed the episode. "The shot composition, the angles, the suspense building. That was all her. Everyone loved her, and everyone rallied, and it felt like the family got back together again," Murphy told EW.
1984, Episode 5, "Red Dawn"
By far the most tongue-in-cheek installment of the series, AHS: 1984 is considered to be the show's worst season. "Red Dawn" has Robert's Brooke Thompson losing her virginity to a dead guy and trying unsuccessfully to figure out who's a killer, who's a victim, and who has a pulse. Usually, when help arrives, it means the end of the carnage, but in this picturesque purgatory, it just means a higher body count. Murphy told EW how much he loved the "women power" in this season. Roberts is the quintessential final girl, and Murphy was so taken with Billie Lourd's performance, he revealed he was writing a miniseries for the talented actress. While Murphy gushed about all the female cast , he had a special shoutout for his longtime pal Leslie Grossman. "The scene where she destroys my fave Gus Kenworthy in a boat is really a masterclass on commitment," he said.
With American Horror Story already renewed for another three seasons, and Murphy soliciting ideas from fans on what themes to tackle next, his list of favorite episodes is sure to evolve in the years to come.