New York City

Lore & Background

The season depicts 1980s New York as a city under siege by an unknown doom, with characters repeatedly muttering that 'Something dark is coming.' The narrative blends gritty realism with horror, moving away from witches and ghosts to focus on serial killers and incompetent cops. Critics noted the show's dedication to portraying the oppression faced by urban marginalized communities in Reagan's America. While grounded in reality at first, the season keeps an undercurrent of weirdness, and one review asked whether it was an origin story for the Rubber Man ghost of the first season.

Reader's Guide

American Horror Story: NYC aired on FX starting October 19, 2022, with new episodes streaming on Hulu the following day. Internationally, it was available on Disney+. The season received positive critical reviews, holding a 71% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 7 reviews. However, despite its acclaim and status as the most in-demand horror series in the U.S. during September 2022, it became the first season not to receive any Primetime Emmy nominations. Ratings for total viewership ranged from 265,000 to 384,000 between October 19 and November 16.

Did You Know?

• For the first time in the series' history, two episodes aired each week instead of one.
• Despite positive reviews, American Horror Story: NYC became the first season not nominated for any Primetime Emmy Awards.
• Filming began in New York on June 14, 2022, and concluded on October 28, 2022.
• The season marked the final involvement of executive producer Manny Coto before his death on July 9, 2023.