Ranking the 27 Best Characters in American Horror Story

Since its debut in 2011, "American Horror Story" has given audiences a lot to chew on over the years, including wildly inventive themes, sadistic imagery, over-the-top performances, and gleefully macabre mythology. But arguably its greatest contribution to television is its characters, an ever-expanding company of ill-fated spooks and kooks who rarely find a happy ending. Yet, viewers relish watching their descent into whatever brand of hell the series is conjuring that season.

The citizens of this connected universe of horror storytelling, crafted by creators Ryan Murphy and Brad Fulchuk, are ultimately what stitch it all together. They have proven to be the enduring draw for audiences left wanting more from their favorites. For its 13th season, the show has banked on the bedrock of those characters by dipping back into its stable of actors and their alter egos for a mashup season.

The satanic-centric story has been a chaotic exercise in fan service, with varying degrees of success. When it works, there are undeniable pleasures in seeing characters thought to be done and dusted come back for one more shot at a good line reading or an uncanny interaction with someone who shares their face. Many of those figures are celebrated in comprehensive rankings, some elevated by extra screen time and others demoted for disrupting a previously perfect storyline.

As the franchise plays the hits for its thirteenth outing, evaluating the best characters becomes an exercise in examining overall arcs, cultural impact, and sheer entertainment value. It is worth noting that the latest season focuses almost exclusively on characters from the first eight seasons, with good reason. Even with their flaws, those early creations represent the series' best work.

More recent seasons were considered for overarching evaluations, but the consensus remains that parts of the show have not aged particularly well, even though some of the standout characters certainly have. Actors like Leslie Grossman have consistently made a meal out of Murphy-scripted roles, elevating so-so figures into memorable icons through sheer dedication and comedic timing.

Take characters like Coco St. Pierre Vanderbilt, a Beverly Hills-bred socialite from "Apocalypse" who discovers she is a mind-wiped witch. Her unique power to detect gluten sounds absurd on paper, yet she evolves into a supportive sister who contributes significantly to her coven's morale. In later appearances, her idiosyncratic abilities even take down notorious historical figures in wildly inventive ways.

Ultimately, the enduring appeal of "American Horror Story" lies in its willingness to embrace the ridiculous alongside the genuinely terrifying. The characters act as emotional anchors in a sea of chaotic violence and supernatural spectacle, giving audiences someone to root for, or love to hate, season after season.