Home > American Horror Story > Asylum « TV Series Page American Horror Story: Asylum (2012 - 2013) SEASON: Season 2 Season 1 Season 2 Season 3 Season 4 Season 5 Season 6 Season 7 Season 8 Episode List All Critics | Top Critics TOMATOMETER 84% Average Rating: 7.27/10 Season Reviews: 44 Fresh: 34 Rotten: 10 Critics Consensus: American Horror Story: Asylum crosses boundaries to shock and scare with sexy subplots and some innovative takes on current social issues. 77% Average Rating: 5.28/10 Season Reviews: 18 Fresh: 14 Rotten: 4 Critics Consensus: No consensus yet. Critic Consensus: American Horror Story: Asylum crosses boundaries to shock and scare with sexy subplots and some innovative takes on current social issues. AUDIENCE SCORE 88% liked it Average Rating: 4.2/5 User Ratings: 2000 ADD YOUR RATING - NOT INTERESTED + WANT TO SEE Share on Facebook Post Want to See Not Interested Add Rating My Rating × Want to See Not Interested Post Share on Facebook Episodes 1 100% Welcome to Briarcliff Air date: Oct 17, 2012 In 1964, the notorious serial killer Boody Face is committed to the sanitarium Briarcliff Manor. Reporter Lana Walker arrives to interview the asylum's head nun, Sister Jude, but is secretly hoping for a story on Bloody Face. More 2 100% Tricks and Treats Air date: Oct 24, 2012 Lana plans an escape from Briarcliff, and enlists Grace's help. Meanwhile, Bloody Face's court-appointed psychiatrist, Dr Thredson, arrives... and finds himself involved in an exorcism that goes terribly wrong. More 3 91% Nor'easter Air date: Oct 31, 2012 As a Nor'easter storm approaches, a strangely transformed Sister Mary Eunice sows discontent, and worse. As Dr Arden's strange experiments on Kit continue, another escape attempt is hatched, and Dr Thresdon makes a terrible discovery. More 4 91% I Am Anne Frank, Pt. 1 Air date: Nov 7, 2012 A woman is brought to Briarcliff who believes herself to be Holocaust victim Anne Frank. Meanwhile, Dr Thredson offers to help both Lana and Kit, and detectives arrive at Briarcliff... but who are they investigating? More 5 100% I Am Anne Frank, Pt. 2 Air date: Nov 14, 2012 Ryan Murphy's American Horror Story Asylum continues. More 6 91% The Origins of Monstrosity Air date: Nov 21, 2012 A sinister, murderous child is brought to Briarcliff. Meanwhile, Lana struggles to escape from her new predicament, we learn the history of Dr Arden and Monsignor Timothy's collaboration, and we delve in to the childhoods of Dr Thredson and Sister Mary Eunice. More 7 90% Dark Cousin Air date: Nov 28, 2012 A terrifying being is summoned - one that even the possessed Sister Mary Eunice is scared of. As Kit and Lana resort to desperate measures, a despairing Sister Jude finds she can no longer run from her past. More 8 88% Unholy Night Air date: Dec 5, 2012 A killer who dresses as Santa Claus is an inmate at Briarcliff. As Sister Mary Eunice organises a Christmas party, Sister Jude returns to confront her... but Sister Mary Eunice thinks it's time for 'Santa' to come out and play. More 9 100% The Coat Hanger Air date: Dec 12, 2012 Lana finds herself in another desperate situation. Meanwhile, Sister Jude is framed for murder, and Dr Arden approaches Kit with a bizarre proposition. More 10 100% The Name Game Air date: Jan 2, 2013 The Monsignor resolves to help Sister Mary Eunice battle the Devil within, while the now-powerless Jude is punished severely by the possessed nun. As Dr Arden brings his experiments to a shocking end, Lana and Kit find themselves at Thredson's mercy once more. More Show More Episodes American Horror Story: Asylum Photos View All Photos (64) Tv Season Info The horror unfolds within the confines of an eerie insane asylum in the second series of this acclaimed thriller. Set in 1964 (with jumps to present day), the "Asylum" series digs into the dark pasts of the hospital's patients, doctors and administrators. Jessica Lange returns to the series as Sister Jude, a troubled nun who quickly finds herself at odds with the twisted Arthur Arden (James Cromwell), a doctor with a penchant for experimental procedures. Zachary Quinto is also back as Dr. Oliver Thredson, a psychiatrist, while Sarah Paulson plays journalist Lana Winters in her return. Other familiar faces include Evan Peters and Lily Rabe, while newcomers Lizzie Brocheré, Chloe Sevigny and Joseph Fiennes provide welcome additions to the talented cast. Genre: Horror Network: FX Premiere Date: Oct 17, 2012 Creators: Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk Exec. Producers: Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, Dante di Loreto Cast Jessica Lange as Sister Jude Sarah Paulson as Lana Winters Evan Peters as Kit Walker Lily Rabe as Sister Mary Eunice Zachary Quinto as Dr. Oliver Thredson James Cromwell as Dr. Arthur Arden Joseph Fiennes as Monsignor Timothy Howard Clea DuVall as Wendy Chloë Sevigny as Shelley Adam Levine as Leo Jenna Dewan as Teresa Lizzie Brocheré as Grace Fredric Lehne as Frank McGuire Britne Oldford as Alma Mark Margolis as Sam Goodman Barbara Tarbuck as Mother Superior Claudia Frances Conroy as Moira Mark Consuelos as Spivey Ian McShane as Leigh Emerson Matthew John Armstrong as Detective Byers Dylan McDermott Joel McKinnon Miller as Detective Miller Franka Potente as Kassie Morgan Jennifer Holland as Nurse Blackwell Joe Egender as Billy Amy Farrington as Mrs. Reynolds David Chisum as Jim Brown Nikki Hahn as Jenny Reynolds William Mapother as Toby Bob Bancroft as Administrator Kirkland Sean Patrick Thomas as Terry Chris McGarry as Martin Lancaster Mary-Pat Green as Nurse Hicks Cyd Strittmatter as Nurse Braxton Tongayi Chirisa as Miles Lara Harris as Rhonda Lancaster Eugene Byrd as Detective Perko Debra Christofferson as Patricia Stone Rebecca Metz as Lorene David Gianopoulos as Detective Grayson Tehya Scarth as Susie Lancaster Lily Knight as Sister Felicity John Pleshette as Magistrate Kirk Bovill as Phil Kasey Mahaffy as Father James Don Stark as Joe Engle Erin Allin O'Reilly as Nurse Fuller Connie Britton Denis O'Hare Taissa Farmiga Alexandra Breckenridge Jamie Brewer Kaitlyn Reed Kai Schulz Bodi Schulz Show More Cast News & Interviews for American Horror Story: Asylum Which Movie Star Fared Best on TV? Julia Roberts in Homecoming and More Small-Screen Debuts 15 TV Shows You Should Binge-Watch This September 50 Fresh Scary Movies and TV Shows to Watch on Netflix View All American Horror Story: Asylum News Episodes 1 100% Welcome to Briarcliff Air date: Oct 17, 2012 In 1964, the notorious serial killer Boody Face is committed to the sanitarium Briarcliff Manor. Reporter Lana Walker arrives to interview the asylum's head nun, Sister Jude, but is secretly hoping for a story on Bloody Face. More 2 100% Tricks and Treats Air date: Oct 24, 2012 Lana plans an escape from Briarcliff, and enlists Grace's help. Meanwhile, Bloody Face's court-appointed psychiatrist, Dr Thredson, arrives... and finds himself involved in an exorcism that goes terribly wrong. More 3 91% Nor'easter Air date: Oct 31, 2012 As a Nor'easter storm approaches, a strangely transformed Sister Mary Eunice sows discontent, and worse. As Dr Arden's strange experiments on Kit continue, another escape attempt is hatched, and Dr Thresdon makes a terrible discovery. More 4 91% I Am Anne Frank, Pt. 1 Air date: Nov 7, 2012 A woman is brought to Briarcliff who believes herself to be Holocaust victim Anne Frank. Meanwhile, Dr Thredson offers to help both Lana and Kit, and detectives arrive at Briarcliff... but who are they investigating? More 5 100% I Am Anne Frank, Pt. 2 Air date: Nov 14, 2012 Ryan Murphy's American Horror Story Asylum continues. More 6 91% The Origins of Monstrosity Air date: Nov 21, 2012 A sinister, murderous child is brought to Briarcliff. Meanwhile, Lana struggles to escape from her new predicament, we learn the history of Dr Arden and Monsignor Timothy's collaboration, and we delve in to the childhoods of Dr Thredson and Sister Mary Eunice. More 7 90% Dark Cousin Air date: Nov 28, 2012 A terrifying being is summoned - one that even the possessed Sister Mary Eunice is scared of. As Kit and Lana resort to desperate measures, a despairing Sister Jude finds she can no longer run from her past. More 8 88% Unholy Night Air date: Dec 5, 2012 A killer who dresses as Santa Claus is an inmate at Briarcliff. As Sister Mary Eunice organises a Christmas party, Sister Jude returns to confront her... but Sister Mary Eunice thinks it's time for 'Santa' to come out and play. More 9 100% The Coat Hanger Air date: Dec 12, 2012 Lana finds herself in another desperate situation. Meanwhile, Sister Jude is framed for murder, and Dr Arden approaches Kit with a bizarre proposition. More 10 100% The Name Game Air date: Jan 2, 2013 The Monsignor resolves to help Sister Mary Eunice battle the Devil within, while the now-powerless Jude is punished severely by the possessed nun. As Dr Arden brings his experiments to a shocking end, Lana and Kit find themselves at Thredson's mercy once more. More Show More Episodes Critic Reviews for American Horror Story Asylum All Critics (44) | Top Critics (18) | Fresh (34) | Rotten (10) It's a solid setup. And given the writers were tasked with coming up with a completely new storyline for an established hit, the foundation seems well laid and primed with numerous avenues to explore. Oct 18, 2012 | Full Review… Eric L. Hinton New York Daily News Top Critic Like a good scare? How about a bad scare? Or a thousand scares, good and bad and crazy? Season 2 of American Horror Story, subtitled Asylum, is for you. Oct 17, 2012 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review… Gail Pennington St. Louis Post-Dispatch Top Critic Less scary than freaky, it's deliberately unhinged-light horror about low camp, a showcase for scenery chewing and giddy blasphemy, an exploitation chamber piece. Oct 17, 2012 | Full Review… Troy Patterson Slate Top Critic Camp, not horror, is the soul and motivating force of AHS, and if you don't delight in the fate that befalls Maroon 5 lead singer Adam Levine in the season premiere, you are not resonating at AHS's frequency. Oct 17, 2012 | Full Review… J. Bryan Lowder Slate Top Critic The first AHS rose above some of its twisted storytelling. Asylum simply keeps sinking -- from one depth to another. Oct 17, 2012 | Rating: D | Full Review… Ed Bark Uncle Barky Top Critic One final warning before you plunge in: AHS: Asylum crosses a line for television (which is getting harder and harder to do). It goes beyond dark all the way to clerical black, the scourge of all light. Oct 17, 2012 | Full Review… David Hiltbrand Philadelphia Inquirer Top Critic The season as a whole was so smooth and so terrifying that it's probably the only one I will continue to go back to and watch. Jun 26, 2018 | Full Review… Cameron Ferguson Black Girl Nerds American Horror Story: Asylum is filled with plenty of dark secrets, sinister twists, and unexpected turns - but unfortunately the one thing this psychologically invading season lacks is thoughtful explanation. Nov 4, 2013 | Rating: 6/10 | Full Review… Matt Donato We Got This Covered The show grabs you, shocks you and keeps you guessing. The only question left unanswered at season's end is "Will Season 3 be half as good?" Oct 10, 2013 | Rating: B+ | Full Review… Paul Chambers Movie Chambers Right out of the gate, the show's second season, Asylum, established itself as something darker, weirder and more ambitious. Oct 9, 2013 | Full Review… Ethan Alter Television Without Pity View All Critic Reviews (44) Audience Reviews for American Horror Story: Asylum ½ Definitely the darkest and most political entry to the series, probably the scariest too, Asylum is extremely and obviously influenced by many horror films such as Carrie, The Cabinet of Dr Caligari and the Exorcist, it borrows but never steals. Rightfully stylish and set-minded, it is probably the best entry of AHS. It gave Sarah Paulson the limelight of a main character that she deserves and continued to play to the strengths of Jessica Lange and Evan Peters. Wonderfully casted and consistent, Asylum sure is good. HarryW Super Reviewer Even better than the first season with strong acting, a compelling mystery plot, and plenty of suspenseful moments. The only thing that drags this down a little is the addition of the alien subplot, which they never explain. This is genuinely creepier than the first season and more traditional horror than the psychological thrills of the first season. It's a nice change of pace. This is one of my favorite current television shows. JoshL Super Reviewer ½ Though the stories contained within the "Asylum" season may be the most fascinating, they do not work well to create a television program as a whole. GimlyM Super Reviewer ½ Second season was much improved from the first season. We are introduced to many interesting characters right from the start. Season 2 is less "monster of the week" in that everything tied in together (except the alien subplot), characters take twists and turns here and there, the ensemble was simply superb. However, I have to criticize the flash forward of what happens in the present day, it really didn't connect well with the story, but nonetheless it was good fun. 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