“American Horror Story” is not foreign to revisiting its own mythology, and Season 13 takes that ideology to another level. Rather than introducing an entirely new cast of characters, “AHS: 13” feels like a reckoning of all the American Horror Story lore that paved the way for the haunting new season.
Familiar faces from seasons “Murder House,” “Coven,” “Freak Show,” “Hotel” and “1984” appear alongside a string of new characters, creating the ultimate interconnected season. These familiar faces make the season more intriguing as we question why they’ve been brought back.
The season begins with Ben DeSoto (Joey Pollari), a hospice worker whose superstition surrounding the number 13 quickly becomes integral to the season’s plot. After surviving a plane crash that kills everyone else on Flight 13, Ben begins questioning whether his survival was luck or part of something bigger. His new hospice position introduces him to Mr. Nas (Fedor Steer), whose nefarious history suggests that Ben’s survival may be part of a larger story.
The season has made the central question abundantly obvious: what it means to escape death. This theme becomes more enticing when characters who were supposedly dead suddenly return thanks to Mr. Nas’ dark magic.
The connections to previous seasons are what make this storyline stand out to me. Jessica Lange reprised her roles as Constance Langdon and Elsa Mars, the iconic “Murder House” and “Freak Show” characters, as well as Sarah Paulson’s Cordelia Goode and Emma Roberts’ Madison Montgomery famously from seasons “Coven” and “Apocalypse,” respectively.
The characters are forced to confront how far they are willing to go to avoid death. The moments build up on one another which makes the season feel unpredictable as the characters get closer to uncovering secrets.
The characters bring their histories with them which feels as if the past is slowly catching up to the present. I enjoy that the season expects longtime viewers to remember those stories because it makes the new plot feel deeper.
As the stories progress, the storylines begin to overlap more. Constance’s connection to Mr. Nas, the witches facing a growing threat and James Patrick March (Evan Peters) gathering his resurrected army all seem to point toward a larger conflict. In the latest episodes, March and his army have directly targeted the witches in order to control or destroy them.
In the six episodes that have aired, what interests me most is how these pieces will eventually come together. The season is about escaping death, so the returning characters may be more than just references to the past. They could be proof that in the American Horror Story universe, no one really gets to leave their past behind. Seven more episodes are set to release at 9 p.m. Thursdays, with the finale releasing Oct. 29.
The classic AHS music also plays an important role in creating the season’s atmosphere. The darker and more unsettling moments in the score make scenes that surround death and supernatural elements feel heavier. Conversely, the quieter moments in the score allow for the characters’ emotions to stand out.
I feel like the music works very well with the season’s theme of escaping death because it creates an ominous feeling that something is always following the characters, even when there’s no onscreen action. It adds to the tension without making the meaning too obvious, which in turn makes the season feel more mysterious and unpredictable.
When I recognize the returning characters, locations and connections, it makes this story that much more worthwhile. Every returning member brings depth, history and raises the possibility that more twists and turns are underway.
The costumes and production design also help separate each returning character while reminding viewers where they originate from. Familiar styles, settings and the warm visual choices instantly bring back the initial seasons’ energy without duplicating the signature aesthetic. The balance between nostalgia and something brand new is what makes the season pop.
Even so, my major critique for this season is the necessity of prior knowledge. For those who have not watched the lengthy show, they could miss the significance of certain characters and references that show how the events of past seasons continue to influence the new one. For a show as detailed as American Horror Story, I would definitely advise new fans to familiarize themselves with the lore before diving into Season 13.
With so many characters and storylines coming together, the biggest question is no longer what twist is coming next, but how much of the past is going to come back with it.
The show premiered 15 years ago, leaving a lot of history for Season 13 to pull from. I want the show to be intentional with the bits that they do decide to use and not just include characters and past plots for nostalgia and the sake of them being iconic.
Overall, I think that season 13 is off to a strong start, but it must finish in a satisfying way. My hope for the rest of the season is for all of the characters to come together in a way that feels meaningful. Giving each returning character a clear purpose would make their presence feel more important to the season’s overall story, which will hopefully create more history for future seasons to build off of. I’m excited to see how the past seasons affect the current storyline and whether the season can build toward a twist that ties everything together.
