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. Fordee15
    Apr 16, 2015
    5
    "American Horror Story: Freakshow" is a... a huge let down.

    I was so looking forward to this season, but, after a great first four episodes everything went down hill. Like previous seasons; the plot just became jumbled and 'thrown together'. I was starting to doubt that Ryan Murphy could even hold a plot. It started out so strong, but, as the season progressed, it just spiraled out of    "American Horror Story: Freakshow" is a... a huge let down.

    I was so looking forward to this season, but, after a great first four episodes everything went down hill. Like previous seasons; the plot just became jumbled and 'thrown together'. I was starting to doubt that Ryan Murphy could even hold a plot. It started out so strong, but, as the season progressed, it just spiraled out of control.

    Don't get me wrong- Freakshow has a few redeeming qualities. Great acting, great sets, great atmosphere, great soundtrack, snobby childish Dandy, and a wonderful, wonderful, wonderful send-off to Jessica Lange.

    But, there is essentially no plot. It gets swamped half-way through the season, and things basically just get rolled together into a big blob of meaningless plot lines and drama. Top it off with the amount of wasted characters and... well...

    I really wanted to like Freakshow. But, I could only barely. It has some great qualities, but all these qualities are brought down by the fact that the season was horribly, horribly written.    … Expand
  2. chidime
    Dec 25, 2014
    4
    First off let me say I am such a big fan of AHS. When everyone was quick to dismiss it initially, I stuck with it and even convinced others to watch it. However, i am sorely disappointed in this season. What made AHS such a thrill to watch was the randomness of things. You could never ever predict what was going to happen. For the first 2 seasons, I can say I was never ever bored. ThereFirst off let me say I am such a big fan of AHS. When everyone was quick to dismiss it initially, I stuck with it and even convinced others to watch it. However, i am sorely disappointed in this season. What made AHS such a thrill to watch was the randomness of things. You could never ever predict what was going to happen. For the first 2 seasons, I can say I was never ever bored. There was always something scary, something out of this world going on. the writers had a vision for a one-of-a-kind show and they stuck with it. However, from Season 3 things began to change. They decided they wanted to appeal to teenagers or so and started to add sappy storylines removing the key thing that made them so irresistible in the first place - unpredictable goriness. I thought okay maybe its just that season and maybe they just wanted a more toned-down season for some reason. However, season 4 is just absolutely terrible. Very boring, conventional horror you can see coming from a mile away, very predictable. I am so disappointed. I can't even finish this season. I hope for season 5 they correct their mistakes and go back to what made them so popular in the first place rather than trying to attract more teenagers.… Expand
  3. tmclain1
    Dec 11, 2014
    5
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I was highly looking forward to this season being a fan of the show. However, I've been disappointed. I don't think they should have killed off Twisty the clown as soon as they did. He was so mysterious and then out of nowhere they just tell you everything and kill him. It gets really corny at parts too with over the top dramatic conversations. I don't like Jessica Lange's character Elsa. She acts like she loves the freaks but really she just wants money. Characters keep dying off every episode and they act like it's no big deal. They haven't even had an actual freak show and the season more than halfway over. Evan Peter's character is so whiny and it's annoying. I get it that bad things have happened to him, but I'm tired of seeing him cry. And Dandy. This psychopath is the only thing that makes me tune in. I think he's an annoying man child but at least his character has some depth and is going places.… Expand
  4. dna5442
    Oct 10, 2014
    5
    The movie Identity comes to mind after watching the premier. A little integration may be at play in this season's plot Lange's character still wants to be a star and Peter's character is still angry and over sexed which are the same roles they have played in previous seasons. Paulson's character is the only new and interesting idea. I hope the story becomes more interesting. I supposeThe movie Identity comes to mind after watching the premier. A little integration may be at play in this season's plot Lange's character still wants to be a star and Peter's character is still angry and over sexed which are the same roles they have played in previous seasons. Paulson's character is the only new and interesting idea. I hope the story becomes more interesting. I suppose time will tell.… Expand
  5. slappycider
    Jan 21, 2015
    5
    It was a slow season. Started off slow, ending with a literal bang. The second half of the season is something to marvel, but sadly... it doesn't quite redeem it for me. The whole season has just felt empty, almost pointless.
  6. ariel84
    Oct 10, 2014
    5
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. this is the first season i've watched. not as enthralled as i thought i would be. although the show obviously owes a tremendous debt to tod browning's film, it's not nearly as disturbing. maybe it's the technicolor coupled with the highly stylized filming. doesn't feel like it's really set in the early '50s. the macabre murdering clown is an element that seems superfluous and excessive. if the story only focused on sarah paulson, it would be far more riveting. she's the real star.… Expand
  7. OpinionatedGuy
    Jan 25, 2015
    6
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The fourth season of American Horror Story had a lot of promise at the start but it got weak at the end.

    Its main problem was the plot and the way how it was narrated. In this season’s plot, a group of freak show performers have to survive the odds. It doesn’t sound exciting at all but that’s not the real problem. The real problem was that the writers don’t know how to narrate its plot into a 13 episode story. The strongest point of the plot was the antagonist of the first half of the season named Twisty the Clown. But when he was killed off in the middle of the season, the antagonist title is given to Dandy Mott which he showed a lot of promise to be a much more scarier villain than Twisty the Clown but he ended up being a spoiled brat.

    The nowhere going plot also affected the character development this season. Like Dandy Mott, a lot of characters showed a lot of promise that they could be complex written characters but they ended up being underdeveloped thanks to its shallow plot narrative.

    The shining light of Freak Show was its acting performance. I would like to highlight Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Finn Wittrock, Angela Bassett, Kathy Bates, John Carroll Lynch and of course, Jessica Lange. It’s sad that they’re not given much to do with their characters but at least they tried their very best on what’s given to them.

    Another good thing about Freak Show was the way how it was directed and shot. The cinematography really feels like it’s set in the 50s.

    Despite everything that’s wrong with it, I still enjoyed watching Freak Show and that’s why I rated this season a bit higher than I should have but its flaws cannot go unnoticed. I hope they improve its story telling next season and even if they didn’t, they better make it entertaining at least.    … Expand
  8. tods
    Feb 7, 2015
    5
    So the quality of each season has steadily declined from the first in my opinion. A sense of scare or surprise definitely seems to have been almost lost this time round so calling it horror is just not right as there barely seems to be anything frightening at all this season. However i do feel some of the reviews have been slightly harsh to rate the whole season before seeing its end andSo the quality of each season has steadily declined from the first in my opinion. A sense of scare or surprise definitely seems to have been almost lost this time round so calling it horror is just not right as there barely seems to be anything frightening at all this season. However i do feel some of the reviews have been slightly harsh to rate the whole season before seeing its end and to that end my score is somewhat higher.… Expand
  9. imthenoob
    Feb 23, 2016
    4
    They took a pretty interesting premise and ruined it. Once again, No real plot or character development. They killed off the main villain 4 episodes in instead of keeping him for the entire season, Twisty was the only reason it was worth watching and killing him off so soon sort of ruined that. There were bits and pieces in the later episodes that were good but as a whole, This seasonThey took a pretty interesting premise and ruined it. Once again, No real plot or character development. They killed off the main villain 4 episodes in instead of keeping him for the entire season, Twisty was the only reason it was worth watching and killing him off so soon sort of ruined that. There were bits and pieces in the later episodes that were good but as a whole, This season wasn't that good.… Expand
  10. Danil
    Oct 12, 2015
    5
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Not as horrible as Coven. Still it is a complete mess of a story. Apparently the writers didn't bother to keep track of what they were writing. In one episode the kidnapped girl gets dragged back to the clown by Dandy, the kid sees him as well. The next episode they can't figure out who the second clown was. One episode the strongman tries to kill the strongwoman and the freaks want to execute him. The next episode the strongman and the freaks run around the woods together searching for Ma Petite. Also rather than crying about their lives the bearded woman could just shave her stupid beard and the lobster boy could get an operation.
    I bet it was a torture for Lange to play that cheesy over the top German mistress. No wonder she decided to leave.    … Expand
  11. potatoman222
    Jul 17, 2017
    6
    Com personagens pouco desenvolvidos e narrativa problemática, American Horror Story nos entrega aqui seu pior ano ate agora. Como de se esperar, as atuações estão fantasticas como sempre.
  12. jackaz15
    Oct 11, 2018
    5
    American Horror Story Freak Show’s bizarre elements and unique cast were squandered by monotonous characters and lethargic writing, which relied on themes rather than genuinely chilling narratives. (5/10)
  13. LilScience
    Oct 24, 2015
    5
    O Freak Show realmente não foi uma das melhores temporadas do AHS,eu esperava muito mais dela pois foi a despedida de Jessica Lange,que é uma ótima atriz de longe.
    Não podemos focar em nenhum momento da série que digamos é o melhor,pra mim o melhor foi quando foram levar a Ethel Darling (Kathy Bates) para o além (pra morte bem eu não entendi muito),mas o fato foi que a série estava muito    O Freak Show realmente não foi uma das melhores temporadas do AHS,eu esperava muito mais dela pois foi a despedida de Jessica Lange,que é uma ótima atriz de longe.
    Não podemos focar em nenhum momento da série que digamos é o melhor,pra mim o melhor foi quando foram levar a Ethel Darling (Kathy Bates) para o além (pra morte bem eu não entendi muito),mas o fato foi que a série estava muito sem um meio,digo oque é importante na série? O espetáculo? O garoto mimado? Mas de fato o momento mais legal foi quando o garoto mimado morreu,quer dizer os integrantes do Freak Show matou que foi ótimo mas de resto não achei uma temporada tão interessante.    … Expand
  14. Felindie
    Jul 15, 2019
    6
    'Freak Show' didn't bring the best of 'American Horror Story', the whole idea never was convincing.
  15. Dsros96
    Oct 29, 2018
    4
    This was hard to watch. Uninteresting plot and random plot twists that don't make sense. Lack of supernatural elements. Overused musical shows. Jessica Lange plays the same role for the 4th time.

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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