Ryan Murphy’s Favorite ‘American Horror Story’ Season Divides the Fandom

Ryan Murphy is one of the creators behind American Horror Story. Though the latest seasons of the franchise may have flopped, the show’s overall impact on pop culture is undeniable.

From its iconic characters to their memorable quotes, AHS certainly knows how to make a lasting impression. That's why even after 12 seasons, we're still talking about it and looking forward to its 13th installment.

But what season does Ryan Murphy himself adore the most?

“Cult” Is Ryan Murphy’s Unexpected Favorite ‘AHS’ Season

“This [Cult] was my favorite season. I think Falchuk agrees. We both felt so passionately about the story, about the terrifying rise of Trump, of people falling under the spell of the cult of personality,” Ryan Murphy said to Entertainment Weekly back in 2019.

What is “Cult” about? It takes place after the 2016 presidential election and follows Ally Mayfair-Richards. Ally is a woman whose phobias and anxiety intensify after Trump's victory. Meanwhile, Kai Anderson, a mysterious cult leader, uses people's fears and frustrations to build his following.

Honorable mention:

“Cult” is worth a watch just for Evan Peters' acting. He played not one, but six characters this season (Kai being his main character).

In fact, the actor got so exhausted by the end of filming that in his interview to The Hollywood Reporter he said: “I’m excited to wrap and go on vacation.”

Fans Are Divided About ‘American Horror Story: Cult’

While Murphy may consider “Cult” to be the finest season of AHS, fans remain divided. There are some who praise its bold political messages and psychological horror. And others who found it too close to real-world events for comfort.

“I think it was terrifying in the way it was so real. These things can happen. They HAVE happened. Maybe not to us, but to others out there. We see it as bleak, maybe, yet there’s others who are genuinely terrified of all those things. The way it was executed was good in my opinion. It was raw and weird and “wtf am I watching.” It was scary in the sense that not everyone understood it, and that’s the whole point of it. The misunderstanding and obliviousness,” Redditor yes6789998212 wrote.

“It's my least favorite for that same reason [“Cult” being too realistic]. Not a single thing supernatural or paranormal. If I wanted reality horror, I can watch the news,” Redditor GreenEyes9678 pointed out.

Where to Watch ‘American Horror Story: Cult’?

You can catch “Cult” on Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video and Apple TV.