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 Season 9 + WANT TO SEE Episode List Asylum American Horror Story Critics Consensus American Horror Story: Asylum crosses boundaries to shock and scare with sexy subplots and some innovative takes on current social issues. 84% TOMATOMETER Critic Ratings: 44 89% Audience Score User Ratings: 2025 NEW More Info × Close ADD YOUR RATING Share on Facebook Post Want to See Add Rating My Rating × Want to See 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 Jun 18, 2019 Asylum takes features and plot devices from the first season, and develops them into something much darker and more harrowing, and whilst there were still supernatural elements, the generally more realistic overtones make this far more haunting, and at times plain disturbing, which is exactly what I expect from a horror story set in a mental asylum in the 1960s. Jessica Lange and Evan Peters are both absolutely sensational, but for me Lily Rabe steals the show with her depiction of multiple personalities within the same body, making a clear distinction between the innocent and submissive Sister Mary Eunice, and the chaotic, devious embodiment of Satan himself. The real villain in all of this though is Dr Arden, portrayed masterfully by James Cromwell, disturbingly sinister with hints of pure insanity, Arden is a simply abhorrent, repulsive and evil man, and Cromwell was well deserving of his Emmy award for the role. James T Mar 12, 2019 Easily the best season of this amazing show Fabian L Mar 09, 2019 Stylish, campy, twisted, and creepy is the second season of AHS. Jessica Lange is once again a queen. Zachary Quinto, Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, and Lily Rabe are excellent. It may have lost a bit of it�Â?Â?s shocking edge as you�Â?Â?re more prepared for it, but still a binge-worthy good time. Cait G Feb 23, 2019 Good show that ranges from thrilling to mystery. Has a lot going that seemed to be really promising at the middle, but tapered off at the end when they had to figure out a way to end the show. All the interesting plotlines ended in a satisfying but unthrilling way. Alex P Jan 31, 2019 Good Maintenance of twists and turns. But there were unnecessary stories that somehow would make sense even if removed. Austin C Jan 24, 2019 Season 2 of the anthology series cranks the story elements to an 11 on all fronts: Great horror, acting, plot and cinematography. Andrew A Jan 07, 2019 One of my personal favourite seasons of all! Asylum was one of the neatest story ever written with complex but not so confusing plot to be enjoyed. The twist was really well-planned, like, it wasn't just a twist to wow you and then bleh. It has complexity, everywhere! Rosemarie R Jan 05, 2019 Season was a story telling masterpiece as they share the story line of bloody face who turns out to be one of the most innocent characters. Lots of disturbs imagery that complements the story. Percy L Jan 05, 2019 American Horror Story Asylums aim is to frighten in an original way and it success in it. Jessica Lange gives an extraordinary performance again as Sarah Paulson. Mario C Dec 31, 2018 This show will take you places that you never knew you wanted to go and show you things that you had no idea would arouse you! What an incredible show and what an amazing cast of personality's! See all Audience reviews News & Features 150 Erotic Movies Ranked worst to best! 2019's Most Anticipated 63 movies coming up this year 200 Essential Movies Chosen by RT staff! 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