Ryan Murphy Declares 'Roanoke' His Favorite 'American Horror Story' Season

Ryan Murphy, co-creator of the FX anthology series "American Horror Story," has named the sixth season, "Roanoke," as his personal favorite, a choice that might surprise many fans of the show.

"My favorite season is the season which everybody hates, which is ‘Roanoke,'" Murphy told Page Six exclusively at the premiere of "American Horror Story: 13." He elaborated, "I loved making it because it was playing with form." Murphy noted that while "Roanoke" initially received considerable criticism, its popularity has grown, with many viewers now identifying it as their favorite.

"‘Roanoke’ started off being everyone’s most hated season, but now it’s kind of getting up there," he explained, referencing online commentary. "And a lot of people are discovering it and it’s become a lot of people’s favorite, so I’m like, ‘Justice for ‘Roanoke!'”

However, not all cast members share Murphy's sentiment. "AHS" regular Sarah Paulson expressed her strong dislike for "Roanoke" in an interview with "Entertainment Tonight," stating, "I don’t care. Bite me! Bite me hard! I don’t give a s–t, sorry!"

"Roanoke," which aired in 2016, presented itself as a mockumentary titled "My Roanoke Nightmare," chronicling a couple's move to a haunted farmhouse in North Carolina. The season employed a unique storytelling format that blended documentary-style interviews with reenactments.

Murphy also reflected on the longevity of "American Horror Story," admitting he never anticipated the series would reach its thirteenth season. He attributed the show's enduring appeal to its exploration of marginalized characters and a "queer sensibility."

"I think it is a very othered show," Murphy stated. "It started off with that, a show about outsiders, as a lot of my work is. They were about people who were overlooked and marginalized and unseen, and I’ve always done that in my work, but I also think there is a very queer sensibility to this show, always."

He suggested that the themes of otherness and the pursuit of revenge and justice resonate strongly with a queer audience, but also acknowledged the show's appeal to women. "I think there’s always a lot of strong women characters," he added. "I never thought it would last this long, in a million years, never ever."

Murphy was joined at the red carpet event by several "AHS" cast members, including Paulson, Jessica Lange, Angela Bassett, Billie Lourd, Paul Anthony Kelly, and Gabourey Sidibe.

New episodes of "American Horror Story" Season 13 are broadcast on Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET on FX and are available for streaming on Hulu the following day.