American Horror Story Season 13 sparks debate over crossover format

The thirteenth season of American Horror Story has sparked significant debate among critics and fans due to its departure from the series' traditional anthology format. Created by Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk, the new season shifts toward a crossover event, reuniting major characters and performers from previous installments, such as Jessica Lange, Evan Peters, and Sarah Paulson.

Ryan Murphy has likened this narrative approach to the ‘Avengers’ for the series, bringing together figures from different storylines to face a common threat. While this move aims to reward longtime viewers by weaving together fifteen years of mythology, it has drawn criticism for relying heavily on nostalgia. Some reviewers argue the season feels like a ‘greatest-hits compilation’ designed primarily for superfans, potentially alienating casual viewers.

Additional criticisms include issues with writing and pacing. Some reviews have described the storytelling as ‘borderline incoherent’ and noted that shorter episode runtimes, sometimes as brief as 22 minutes, may prevent the plot from developing fully. This follows a trend of mixed reception for recent seasons, including Season 12, Delicate.