American Horror Story

:

Season 4
  • Network: FX
  • Series Premiere Date: Oct 5, 2011
Season #: 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
User Score
7.1

Generally favorable reviews- based on 508 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 334 out of 508
  2. Mixed: 94 out of 508
  3. Negative: 80 out of 508
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User Reviews

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  1. kris2fur
    Jan 26, 2015
    3
    Worst American horror story yet.
    This series detracts from the previous ones even the coven which was a step in a different direction.
    Towards the end it reminded me of the horrible end seasons of sons of anarchy just death, senseless death, repayed with senseless death. The only thing that made this even a horror story was the ominous spirit and the clown. With out them this could    Worst American horror story yet.
    This series detracts from the previous ones even the coven which was a step in a different direction.
    Towards the end it reminded me of the horrible end seasons of sons of anarchy just death, senseless death, repayed with senseless death.
    The only thing that made this even a horror story was the ominous spirit and the clown.
    With out them this could barely be considered a horror story.
    Why is metacritic fuelled by fanboys? User scores mean nothing everyone who liked it gives it a ten no matter what and everyone who hated it gives it a zero. This is destroying metacritic.
    If this is Jessica Langes last season you wasted her. She has played better roles in the previous series.
    I liked seeing the softer side of the axeman or the carpenter that was good.
    Other than that I really look forward to flipper boy being an evil character… again.
    Hopefully we can get back to the horror roots and get some actual wrap up of the series, maybe even some decent cross connect between the series.
    I honestly would not recommend this series over the others, ever.    … Expand
  2. xenojoey
    Feb 1, 2015
    0
    I hoped it would get better after watching each episode. As I was hoping, the season was over. All I can say is that these writers need to be replaced for season 5
  3. MyaMarisse
    Oct 21, 2014
    1
    I think since season 2 this idea of introducing "musicals" is just out of line, this season "Freak Show" seems like its going to become a "Freak Glee"... Im not even bothering in watching another chapter... listening the 2 heads girl singing "Criminal" was enough.. bye bye AHS
  4. sahuet
    Oct 23, 2014
    0
    NO, NO, NO...

    I am shocked by how many people think this season is so terrific, scary, mind blowing, etc.

    I am a huge fan of the series, but this season is so cliche!

    And the clown, really?!

    Watch Vulgar and you will see a scary clown story!!!
  5. Slysister
    Jan 22, 2015
    2
    Where did the horror go in this season of AHS? It is not scary, creepy or unsettling one bit. There is not even any sick or twisted humor like in the previous seasons. Even the sex stuff which is suppose to be shocking is lame and tame. The plot-lines were tired and predictable. The dialogue made a joke out of great acting. I could not take Elsa or Dandy serious for one second. And someoneWhere did the horror go in this season of AHS? It is not scary, creepy or unsettling one bit. There is not even any sick or twisted humor like in the previous seasons. Even the sex stuff which is suppose to be shocking is lame and tame. The plot-lines were tired and predictable. The dialogue made a joke out of great acting. I could not take Elsa or Dandy serious for one second. And someone thought they were Baz Lurhmann this season, having the characters burst into modern song all of a sudden. But while Baz is a master at his craft, this felt like I was watching the Rocky Horror Picture Show minus any wink to the audience. The best part of this whole season was the opening credits, and yes I watched til the final episode just hoping something redeeming would happen.… Expand
  6. sweetD
    Oct 19, 2014
    3
    AWFUL!!! POORLY WRITTEN!!! AND JUST FLAT OUT BORING!!! I was willing to suffer through the paint-by-numbers dialogue, but a Fiona Apple inspired Mosh Pit...yes...a Mosh pit breaks out...is just wildly unacceptable. The writing for AHS has been suffering and this season is a HUGE SIGN that its time to put this show out of its misery!!!
  7. andarial6670
    Dec 10, 2014
    3
    This season feels weak compared to its predecessors. The pacing is horrible and most of the earlier episodes are just character development. We're on episode 8 as I'm watching this and there's still no clear picture of where this plot wants to go. I understand that there's supposed to be this huge underlying connection between all the seasons of AHS but with how bad this season is so farThis season feels weak compared to its predecessors. The pacing is horrible and most of the earlier episodes are just character development. We're on episode 8 as I'm watching this and there's still no clear picture of where this plot wants to go. I understand that there's supposed to be this huge underlying connection between all the seasons of AHS but with how bad this season is so far and how mediocre season 3 already was, I am really not expecting much anymore. It's not really scary, interesting or well written. It just seems like a chore to watch.… Expand
  8. Brozzzzi
    Jan 22, 2015
    1
    American Horror Story has lost whatever mystique it once held. Season 1 and 2 seemed ripe with possibility. Creative and awesome. Things since then have gone downhill to the convoluted, disorganized and absolutely idiotic show that it has become. Like many of his shows, Ryan Murphy starts with a great idea then loses it half way through (Nip/Tuck). Instead of sketching out the season’sAmerican Horror Story has lost whatever mystique it once held. Season 1 and 2 seemed ripe with possibility. Creative and awesome. Things since then have gone downhill to the convoluted, disorganized and absolutely idiotic show that it has become. Like many of his shows, Ryan Murphy starts with a great idea then loses it half way through (Nip/Tuck). Instead of sketching out the season’s storyline, it feels like he and his writers improv each new episode – and turn a blind eye to story continuity. In “Freak Show” Elsa has wooden legs, but in some scenes is seen wearing a skirt with no prosthetic legs. One minute a clown killer is on the loose, then a freaks museum, then a spoiled billionaire, then suddenly Elsa is on the hit-list, then suddenly she’s absolutely famous, then its all over? There are soooo many inconsistencies
    it was tough not to cringe through most of this season, and
    Coven.

    It’s a shame that with such an amazingly talented cast, Murphy makes them perform the most eye rolling of scenes. Not to mention this last season “Freak Show” seemed to be a who’s who of Murphy’s gay besties, each having short, pointless cameos.

    If by somemiracle Lang decides to stay another season, I hope they methodically sit down and come up with a clear, original story with less twists and turns and more substance.

    I give American Horror Story – Freak Show an F- grade. Not because the cast wasn’t amazing, but because the writing and story were beyond repair. (Much like Coven and Murphy's other work)    … Expand
  9. Monstrosus
    Oct 10, 2014
    2
    American horror story.... yeah right more like American gross out story. There are 5 things that define this series

    1. Portray women as perfect beings and if they aren't perfect it's probably because of a guy. 2. Demonize (white) men every chance it gets 3. Make up the story as they go along 4. Social justice warriors 5. No horror what so ever unless killing someone with your    American horror story.... yeah right more like American gross out story. There are 5 things that define this series

    1. Portray women as perfect beings and if they aren't perfect it's probably because of a guy.
    2. Demonize (white) men every chance it gets
    3. Make up the story as they go along
    4. Social justice warriors
    5. No horror what so ever unless killing someone with your genitals counts as horror these days.

    First season was all about the guy who cheated on his wife and tried to make up for it the entire season, while his wife is portrayed as the perfect woman who didn't do anything wrong. And of course the white male psychopath who did a school shooting.

    Second season already showed their horrible writing, and they really had no idea what the end goal was. Of course as in season 1, you have the male psychopath who enjoyed killing women this time, why can't it be a female psychopath? Oh that's right females can't be psychopaths only white men are capable of becoming one.
    1 male actor was a "good" guy who was surrounded by female do gooders. starting to see a trend here?
    As their sjw crusade continues naturally they turned this season all about lesbians.

    3rd season was a complete cluster of bad plots. What really grinned my gears was that all men were servants of women they didn't even try to hide it, that it is a feminist show this time. It starts off with a drunk spoiled brat who got "raped" by a rugby team and got butthurt over it, and thought the perfect punishment was to kill them all by exploding their bus, cause of course "rape" is worse than death by feminists. as in season 2 there was one good boy who didn't rape her and because he died in the bus explosion, they turned him into a Frankenstein creature, who basically was the witches loyal dog the entire series. then you have the male white butler who is naturally a psychopath. In this season the sjw theme was racism and feminism.

    fourth season I couldn't even endure to watch the entire first episode. The cliches are present once again. I can already see the sjw trend, that you need to accept ANYONE no matter how moronic they act or look except for white people of course who are naturally psychopaths like the clown this time. Once again the same male actor who is the good guy, surrounded by the SAME female actors who's acting starts to feel forced. The music was annoying and badly edited I couldn't even hear the actor voices because the music was playing the entire episode. The badly done erotic scenes were just cringe worthy,

    This tv show is sjw propaganda at it's finest. if they truly were pro diversity they wouldn't make the same cliches over and over again. This show is racist towards white people and abuse every stereotype towards white men. while promoting sjw every chance it gets.

    I give it a two because I enjoyed season 1 somewhat until i realized what the tv show was really all about.    … Expand
  10. michelobannon
    Oct 28, 2014
    0
    I've watched this show from this its beginning, I am utterly disappointed with this season. Glee is dead, there is no reason AHS should have singing for an empty tent, or at all really. What a sad rip off of the classic "Freaks". And now there's Lord Voldemort!?! Ryan Murphy just stop it. I had a bad feeling when I heard you were directing so I guess my instincts were right.
  11. Evic21
    Sep 7, 2015
    1
    What can I say, there is no specific plot except a bunch of sub-plots that don't connect with one another. I felt nothing for any of the characters, the main themes were predictable and obvious and I just found parts of it more comical than scary. Don't even waste you time with this season.

Awards & Rankings

76
#76 Best TV Season of 2014
24
#24 Most Discussed TV Season of 2014
36
#36 Most Shared TV Season of 2014

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
69

Generally favorable reviews - based on 19 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 19
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 19
  3. Negative: 0 out of 19
  1. The Daily Beast
    Reviewed by: Kevin Fallon
    Oct 9, 2014
    70
    It’s hardly [his crowning achievement], lacking the aggressive whimsy and emboldened storytelling that’s made him the pied piper to a nation of TV-watching weirdos, mocked and ignored. But there’s a seriousness with which he’s given this first Freak Show outing that actually piques more of a curiosity than trotting out the expected onslaught of spooks, one-liners, and cheekiness could’ve possibly be done at this point in the American Horror Story run.
    Read full review
  2. Under The Radar
    Reviewed by: Zach Hollwedel
    Oct 9, 2014
    75
    Freak Show starts off strong, offering more than just a taste of the spooky, bloody, quirky season to come.
    Read full review
  3. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
    Reviewed by: Rob Owen
    Oct 8, 2014
    50
    The over-long season premiere--it's 63 minutes without commercials, so expect it to run close to 90 minutes on air; set yoru DVR accordingly--feels disjointed and the characters seem underdeveloped.
    Read full review
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