Skip Nav
Love It. Save Your Favorites Now.
Every Single Season of American Horror Story, Ranked From Worst to Best
View On One Page
Photo 3 of 7  
ADVERTISEMENT ()
3

American Horror Story: Hotel

  • Plot: OK, Hotel is a mess in a lot of ways. The whole "blood disorder" (read: vampire) ordeal becomes way too overwhelming. We have an army of bloodthirsty kids running around, and by the end of season, nearly everyone has been "turned." What I did love about this season was the Ten Commandments killer. I love that his method was embedded in these Biblical beliefs, and I loved that it was a mystery, and I loved the (possibly slightly obvious) twist that it was John Lowe the whole time. The other strength of Hotel was its vibe. From the start, there was a strong sense of aesthetic and mood, and it carries through the whole season. And as a sucker for The Shining, I appreciated the attempt to pay tribute to an iconic horror film. Also, I f*cking love Liz Taylor.
  • Ending: While I loved the vibe of Hotel, the conclusion was admittedly weak. The season ended up leaning hard on the show's inaugural season, Murder House: all the ghosts are trapped in this bewitched building, and they're doomed to haunt new guests for the rest of eternity. No one gets a happy ending. Even Liz Taylor, who almost gets to live her dreams, dies at the hands of the Countess. In the end, it all feels sort of blah.
  • Scariness: For all its fierceness and ferocity, Hotel is actually not that scary. Even the villains of the show — the murderous March, the cold and calculating Countess, the insane John Lowe — are more theatrical caricatures than actual scary villains. Even some of the monsters (we're looking at you and your conical drill-bit dildo, Mr. Addiction Demon) ended up being kind of laughable. I wanted Hotel to be as scary as The Shining. It wasn't.
Previous Next
Off Campus Popsugar Pulse Cover: Shop the Outfits
TV
Shop the Date-Ready Looks From Our "Off Campus" Cover
by Jessica Andrews 5/13
Rob Rausch Answers Our Biggest Traitors Questions
TV
Rob Rausch Knows You Want the "Traitors" Tea
by Chandler Plante 2/02
What Underwear Do Shane and Ilya Wear in Heated Rivalry?
UNIQLO
We Found the "Heated Rivalry" Underwear Worn by Shane and Ilya — and It's $15
by Sarah Wasilak 1/16
The Best Outfits From "Love Island USA" Season 7 Reunion
Fashion Shopping
The Best "Love Island USA" Reunion Looks, From Bandage Dresses to Cutouts
by Naomi Parris 8/26/25
Inside Belly's "The Summer I Turned Pretty" Season 3 Look
Beauty Interview
The Hidden Meaning Behind Belly's Beauty Look in "The Summer I Turned Pretty"
by Olivia Tauber 8/20/25
The Best Outfits From "The Summer I Turned Pretty" Season 3
Summer Fashion
"The Summer I Turned Pretty” Fashion Secrets, From Belly’s Butter-Yellow Dress to Reformation Favorites
by Naomi Parris 9/18/25

From Our Partners

Now You Know

Love Is Blind: Where Do Those Engagement Rings Come From?

Fashion

Everything to Know About the "Love Is Blind" Engagement Rings

by Sarah Wasilak 2/19

shopping

Oprah's Favorite Things List Has Major Gems, Including an Under-$100 Air Fryer

by Balim Tezel 11/06/25

Fitness

Paralympians Earn the Same Pay For Medals as Olympians, but Is It Enough?

by Karenna Meredith 8/29/24

health

How Often Should We Be Getting COVID Vaccines?

by Alexis Jones 8/23/24

Food

Pumpkin Spice Season Is Back Aug. 22

by Lauren Mazzo 8/21/24

Beauty

The Exact Red Lipstick Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Swears By

by Alaina Demopoulos 8/20/24

health

What to Know About the Latest Mpox Outbreak, According to MDs

by Alexis Jones 8/16/24

health

Céline Dion Promised Her Children She’d Live: “They Already Lost a Parent.”

by Sara Youngblood Gregory 6/11/24

Latest Entertainment
We're Hiring! Write For Us Advertise With Us Accessibility Contact Archives
Power Your Happy
Terms Privacy Policy
©2026 Vox Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.