With the new season of American Horror Story coming out, I couldn’t help but rewatch! If you don’t know, American Horror Story, or AHS, is a television horror series created by Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk where each season tells a different story. Now with 13 seasons, this show has topics of witchcraft, cults, and even serial killers, which keeps fans coming back for more.
Throughout the series is one familiar face in particular: Evan Peters. He has starred in this series since 2011 and captivated many fans’ hearts in the process, me included. He takes his roles very seriously, which led to a break after his role as Kai Anderson, a psychopathic serial killer. I admire his dedication to his craft, and as my favorite actor from AHS, it is only fitting that I talk about my top five characters Evan Peters has played!
5. James Patrick March
From season five of AHS, “Hotel,” James Patrick March is the owner of Hotel Cortez, which he built in 1925. The hotel is based on the real-life Cecil Hotel, known for its hauntings, serial killer guests, and mysterious disappearances. Although he built the hotel, James was a serial killer himself, using it to carry out his own gruesome crimes.
Evan Peters did an amazing job portraying James because of how complex his character is. His dark mannerisms contrast with his politeness and gentlemanly qualities, which makes him both charming and unsettling to watch. However, as memorable as James is, there are a few other Evan Peters characters that left an even greater impression on me!
4. Jimmy Darling
Next we have Jimmy Darling, who starred in season four of AHS, “Freak Show.” Jimmy, also known as “Lobster Boy,” is a performer in Fräulein Elsa’s Cabinet of Curiosities who was born with ectrodactyly, or cleft hands. Unfortunately, performing in Elsa’s show meant that Jimmy was exploited for his physical differences rather than valued for who he was as a person.
I admire Jimmy so much because he puts up such an act of being tough, but on the inside he’s extremely vulnerable and loyal to those he cares about. He is the kind of person to put others first, and I find that even more endearing. Jimmy is definitely one of the kindest of the characters on this list.
3. Kai Anderson
Doing a complete 180 here with Kai Anderson from season seven of AHS, “Cult.” He is a political extremist who becomes the leader of a cult after the 2016 election, supporting his serial killer ideations. To complete his murders, he and his fellow cult members wore clown masks and terrorized citizens.
Evan Peters really committed to this role, which is one of the reasons why Kai stands out to me so much. Taking the role of someone so sadistic and unpredictable can’t be easy, so I have major respect for Evan. Speaking of unpredictability, you never know what Kai will do next, which keeps me on my toes and even more intrigued. He is so disturbing and can switch up so quickly, making him such a memorable character in the series overall!
2. Kyle Spencer
At number two, we have Kyle Spencer from season three of AHS, “Coven.” As he is a 19-year-old college student, I deeply connected with this character. He was a victim of murder due to witchcraft but was resurrected using the body parts of his fellow fraternity brothers who had fallen victim to murder alongside him.
Kyle has a special place in my heart because he has such a loving and innocent soul. Unfortunately, he grew up in a sexually abusive setting, but he was strong enough to continue on with his education. After his resurrection, he grew attached and in love with a character named Zoe Benson. Their budding romance and loyalty towards one another made me love Kyle’s character even more! He is too sweet, and it is unfortunate what he has been through.
1. Tate Langdon
Saving the best for last, at number one, we have Tate Langdon, who was in the first season of AHS, “Murder House.” In complete contrast to the sweet Kyle, Tate is not a good person. He is a murderer, school shooter, and a sexual assailant, whose soul is trapped in the murder house as a result of being killed by the SWAT team on his case.
Debuting as Tate Langdon in the AHS series was absolutely amazing to watch. Evan Peters conveyed the psychopathic tendencies of this character so intensely that it genuinely creeped me out. Though this character is a horrible person, he has a side to him that is endearing. Since his soul is trapped in the murder house, when Violet Harmon moved in, he could not help but to fall in love. Their story is complex in itself, but the way he loves her and takes care of her is so cute, even after her passing.
That’s A Wrap
Each character is so unique that it is hard to pick, but these five definitely stand out to me the most. From Kyle’s loving personality to Kai’s disturbing impulsivity, Evan Peters has shown just how versatile he is as an actor. Each role makes me go back and forth, wanting to root for them one moment and being completely disgusted by their actions the next. That’s what makes him so entertaining, and I cannot wait to dive into season 13 as a whole!