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Season guide

American Horror Story: Murder House

12 episodes Premiered Oct 5, 2011 Updated Jul 19, 2026

American Horror Story is an American horror anthology television series created by Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk for the cable network FX. The series premiered in 2011 and is the first installment in the American Story media franchise. Each season of the show is conceived as a self-contained miniseries, featuring a different set of characters and a new location. The first season centers on the Harmon family, consisti

Season overview

American Horror Story is an American horror anthology television series created by Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk for the cable network FX. The series premiered in 2011 and is the first installment in the American Story media franchise. Each season of the show is conceived as a self-contained miniseries, featuring a different set of characters and a new location.

The first season centers on the Harmon family, consisting of psychiatrist Ben, Vivien, and their teenage daughter Violet. The family relocates to a stately mansion in Los Angeles, but they soon find their lives enveloped by disturbing secrets. As the family learns about the mysterious and deadly history of their new home, they find themselves surrounded by various menacing spirits, both living and dead. This inaugural season establishes the anthology format of the series, which explores different themes and settings in subsequent installments, including an asylum, a witch coven, a freak show, a hotel, a farmhouse in Roanoke, a cult, the apocalypse, and a summer camp. The show is categorized under the drama, mystery, and science fiction and fantasy genres.

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Season 1 Episodes

Episode Guide

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Season 1: Filler vs. Essential Canon

Filter episodes by narrative weight. Focus on essential mytharc and skip standalone side quests.

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Mytharc (3): Crucial lore & season climaxes
Core (9): Character development & subplots
Side Quest (0): Standalone / filler
S1·E1 Mytharc

Pilot

Oct 5, 2011 · 52 min

A therapist and his family move across the country to escape their troubled past but quickly discover that their new home comes with its own horrific baggage.

S1·E2 Core

Home Invasion

Oct 12, 2011 · 43 min

Vivien and Violet get themselves caught in a dangerous situation. Meanwhile, Ben goes back to Boston to fix a mistake that he made.

S1·E3 Core

Murder House

Oct 19, 2011 · 43 min

Vivien learns the horrific truth about the house's first residents and Ben's visitor causes him to further unravel about what really happened in the haunted house. Constance and Mo

S1·E4 Core

Halloween (1)

Oct 26, 2011 · 40 min

The line between the living and the dead blurs on Halloween. Two of the house's previous residents give the Harmons decorating advice.

S1·E5 Core

Halloween (2)

Nov 2, 2011 · 42 min

Tate comes face to face with his past, and Ben and Vivien are haunted by a new houseguest before Halloween night comes to an end.

S1·E6 Core

Piggy, Piggy

Nov 9, 2011 · 45 min

Constance enlists Violet's assistance with Tate. Ben helps a new patient confront his fears.

S1·E7 Core

Open House

Nov 16, 2011 · 41 min

Moira persuades a buyer to make an offer while Constance and Larry work against her efforts.

S1·E8 Core

Rubber Man

Nov 23, 2011 · 44 min

The man in the rubber suit is revealed.

S1·E9 Core

Spooky Little Girl

Nov 30, 2011 · 41 min

One of history's most famous murder victims pays the house a visit. Constance discovers more of Tate's bad behavior.

S1·E10 Core

Smoldering Children

Dec 7, 2011 · 43 min

Violet learns about the rules of the house. The truth about Larry's condition is explained. Constance is interrogated by the police.

S1·E11 Mytharc

Birth

Dec 14, 2011 · 42 min

Vivien gives birth. Tate and Violet attempt to rid the house of some of its ghosts for good.

S1·E12 Mytharc

Afterbirth

Dec 21, 2011 · 53 min

In the aftermath of family tragedy, Ben tries to take his child out of the Murder House. Meanwhile, Violet and Vivien accustom themselves to their new living arrangements, Constanc