For nine gloriously gory seasons, American Horror Story has revived the horror genre for television, flawlessly combining camp, sex appeal, and dread. While the show can be truly terrifying and scary, it’s also often hilarious. Ryan Murphy, the show’s creator, envisioned an anthology series that combines sarcasm and shock in a way that is highly addictive for audiences. And boy, did he get the formula right.
While some seasons have been noticeably weaker than others, diehards have remained on board for all of them, watching the same cast of characters reinvent themselves with each new installment. From witches to cults to killer clowns to vampires, American Horror Story has delved deep into the monsters and creatures that keep people up at night, leaving them laughing and screaming at the same time. Here are 10 memes that encapsulate the show’s inherent humor.
Who Would Win?
A classic game of “Who Would Win” with an American Horror Story twist. The Apocalypse season of the show traces the birth and rise of “some teenaged boy” named Michael Langdon who, it turns out, happens to be the Antichrist.
Langdon manages to bring about the end times by instigating a nuclear war, and the witches from the Coven season rise up in order to destroy Langdon, whose powers and abilities know few bounds. The convergence of the Coven season’s storyline with the Apocalypse season’s got a lot of fans excited, and they tuned in en masse to see who would win.
Dandy’s Girls
The Freakshow season takes place in 1952 Florida, focused on a freak show that’s seen better days. The show’s madame of sorts, played by Jessica Lange, recruits the conjoined twins Bette and Dot Tattler, both played by Sara Paulson.
Unfortunately, a wealthy young man named Dandy Mott, who has infinite resources and a sociopathic streak, becomes obsessed with the sisters. This rendering of the famous Drake meme pokes fun at the weird dynamic that develops between Dandy and the sisters.
Jessica And Sara
Two women at the helm of the show, Jessica Lange and Sara Paulson have received massive amounts of critical acclaim for their characters on American Horror Story. While Paulson has stuck around for every season, Lange was on board for the first four seasons, making a come-back for the Apocalyse season by playing Michael Langdon’s mother, which also connected that season’s plot the first season: Murder House.
Jessica Lange was a seasoned, famous actor by the time she signed up for the show, and these adorable press photos of her with Paulson express just how much the younger actor looks up to her iconic elder.
Michael Langdon With Bangs
Cody Fern made his American Horror Story debut as Michael Langdon. Fans were equal parts turned on and terrified by his portrayal of the Antichrist, and he gained a lot of attention thanks to his role in the show.
This meme makes fun of Langdon’s hair in the Apocalypse season, which features a lot of really strange hairstyles. This long-haired and gothically-dressed demonic spawn has his Satan-worshipping chosen mother to thank for his duds and dos: Miriam Mead (Kathy Bates).
Michael Myers
American Horror Story is infamous for ripping off famous horror films and TV shows without apology. Some might call it homage, while those who hate on the series think it’s just derivative garbage. Based on this meme, though, it seems the show gets the seal of approval from the ultimate genre boogeyman: Michael Myers.
Myers, the antagonist in the Halloween movies, has been around since 1978, and he helped to define slasher movies. His influence is felt through American Horror Story, especially in the latest 1984 season.
Weekend Update
This reappropriated screenshot from Bill Hader’s days on Saturday Night Live sums up what makes American Horror Story so alluring. Featuring some seriously good-looking characters, the series brings together sensuality and dismay in a way few other TV shows do.
American Horror Story also stands out for making LGBTQ+ stories central to its plot each season. While the show can sometimes be superficial, muddled, and predictable, it sure is fun to look at.
Wake Up Vs. Go Out
Comedian Billy Eichner is a late addition to American Horror, appearing in the Cult and Apocalyse seasons. In Apocalypse, he plays a man named Brock, who gets ditched by his wealthy girlfriend Coco, left to fend for himself in post-apocalyptic Los Angeles.
The fall-out from the nuclear disaster takes a toll on Brock, and once he finally makes his way to Outpost 3, the underground facility Coco escapes to, the toxic fumes have affected Brock’s looks quite a bit. This waking up versus going out meme highlights Eichner’s transformation.
Spongebob Squarepants
This brilliant meme uses screenshots from Spongebob Squarepants to visualize the first six seasons of American Horror Story. From the pleather bodysuit that haunts the screen in Murder House to the wigged early colonial ghosts in Roanoke, the first part of the series covers a wide swath of territory.
The absurd humor of Spongebob Squarepants is actually quite a good fit for American Horror Story. As Spongebob quips, “What could be better than serving up smiles?”
The Real Supremes
In the Coven season, the most powerful witch in each group is known as the Supreme. This musical meme puts the coven’s girls to shame by reminding everyone who the real top babes are: The Supremes.
The Supremes are one of the best doo-wop groups of all time, headed by Diana Ross, who went on to have a successful solo career. This Detroit trio is a real-life feminist force to be reckoned with. Perhaps this is why the show’s writers chose to name their top witch as such.
Sara The Smoker
This meme features an interesting pattern for Sara Paulson’s characters in American Horror Story: they really like to smoke. At the time it was made, Paulson, considered by many fans to be the highlight of the series, hadn’t received an Emmy for her diverse and compelling portrayals.
Finally, in 2016, she won an Emmy for her role in The People Versus O.J. Simpson. Time to quit, Sara.
