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American Horror Story: Asylum

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Template:Infobox television season

The second season of the American horror anthology television series American Horror Story, subtitled Asylum, takes place in 1964 and follows the stories of the staff and inmates who occupy the fictional mental institution Briarcliff Manor, and intercuts with events in the past and present. The ensemble cast includes Zachary Quinto, Joseph Fiennes, Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Lily Rabe, Lizzie Brocheré, James Cromwell, and Jessica Lange, with all returning from the first season, except newcomers Fiennes, Brocheré, and Cromwell.

Created by Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk for the cable network FX, the series is produced by 20th Century Fox Television. Asylum was broadcast between October 17, 2012, to January 23, 2013, consisting of 13 episodes and attracting high ratings success for the network. Like its predecessor, the second season was well received by television critics, particularly for the performances of Lange, Cromwell, Quinto, Paulson, Peters and Rabe. As a result, the season garnered seventeen Primetime Emmy Award nominations, more than any other show, including Outstanding Miniseries or Movie, and four acting nominations for Lange, Paulson, Cromwell, and Quinto, with Cromwell winning for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie. In addition, Quinto and Paulson won their respective supporting categories at the 3rd Critics' Choice Television Awards.

Cast and characters

Main

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Special guest stars

Recurring

Guest stars

Episodes

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Production

Development

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In October 2011, the FX Network renewed American Horror Story for a second season. In December 2011, series co-creator Ryan Murphy announced his plans to change the characters and location for the second season.[1] He did say, however, that some actors who starred in the first season would be returning. "The people that are coming back will be playing completely different characters, creatures, monsters, etc. [The Harmons'] stories are done. People who are coming back will be playing entirely new characters," he announced.[2]

In May 2012, Murphy revealed that the setting for the second season would be an institution for the criminally insane that Jessica Lange's character operates in the 1960s,[3] called Briarcliff Manor and located on the East Coast.[4] In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Murphy spoke about originally wanting to set the season in prison, "I think at one point as we were spitballing season two before we landed on the asylum idea, we had actually talked about doing the second season in a prison but then Alcatraz came along and stole that idea. It was never very definitive, but I always liked that idea. I think an insane asylum for us was probably much more effective."[5]

Talking about the season, Murphy commented, "It's a completely different world and has nothing to do with season 1; there's not a mention of season 1... The second season is set in a completely different time period."[6] He later said, "Everyone looks so different; people who were enemies last year are allies this year. The sets are amazing. It's 1964, so everything looks very different."[7]

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Murphy had also told TV Guide that there would not be any ghosts in the second season, "I think the story is horrifying," he said. "The story is a period piece in a mental institution based largely on truth, and truth is always scarier than fiction."[8]

In August 2012, Murphy announced the season's new name by stating, "We picked 'Asylum' because it not only describes the setting – an insane asylum run by Jessica Lange's character which was formerly a tuberculosis ward – but also signifies a place of haven for the unloved and the unwanted," he said. "This year's theme is about sanity and tackling real-life horrors."[9]

Previous consulting producer Tim Minear was promoted to executive producer and continued writing for the series, beginning with the season premiere.[10] He also scripted the season finale.

Casting

In March 2012, Murphy revealed that the second season had been conceptualized around Jessica Lange, saying, "This will really be the Jessica Lange show, so I'm very excited about it. We are designing this amazing new opposite of the Constance character for her. She and I have spoken about different things. She has a lot of ideas and has a lot of input into her character. She told me some things she has always wanted to play as an actress."[11] She portrayed Sister Jude, an apparent sadistic nun. Zachary Quinto, who had a recurring role as Chad in the first season, was confirmed as one of the leads in March 2012.[12] He portrayed Dr. Oliver Thredson, a psychiatrist with groundbreaking treatment methods that go against Sister Jude's. Comparing his new character to his previous one, Quinto said, "He's much more grounded and in control."[13] At the PaleyFest 2012, Evan Peters, Sarah Paulson, and Lily Rabe were confirmed to return as main cast members for the second season.[14] Paulson portrayed Lana Winters, a lesbian reporter whose girlfriend is coerced by Sister Jude into having her committed to the asylum, Rabe portrayed Sister Mary Eunice, an innocent and loyal second-in-charge to Sister Jude, and Peters portrayed Kit Walker, a man who's accused of murdering his wife, Alma (Britne Oldford), but he claims aliens abducted her. Murphy had stated that Peters, "who was last season's ultimate badass bad boy," would be the hero of the show this season.[3]

It was reported in March 2012 that Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine was in final negotiations to appear in the second season and that he would play Leo, a "contemporary character and half of a couple called "The Lovers," according to Tim Stack of Entertainment Weekly.[15] Levine revealed to E! in June 2012 that his character is "newly married" and would go with his wife on their honeymoon. "I don't want to tell you too much... but it's gory."[16] Jenna Dewan-Tatum played his wife, Teresa.[17] In April 2012, Lizzie Brocheré was cast to play Grace, a character described originally as "a fierce, ferocious, extremely sexual, and dangerous wild-child sexpot" to rival Jessica Lange's character, but the role was later heavily revamped.[18] In May 2012, James Cromwell signed on to co-star as Dr. Arthur Arden, a man who works in the asylum,[19] and who is revealed to have been a Nazi. Chloë Sevigny played the role of Shelley, a nymphomaniac whose husband has her placed in the asylum.[20]

In June 2012, Joseph Fiennes joined the main cast as Monsignor Timothy Howard, a possible love interest for Jessica Lange's Sister Jude.[21] Later that month, Chris Zylka was cast to play Daniel, who was touted as "the most beautiful boy in the world and a deaf-mute";[22] however, Zylka was later replaced by an unmentioned actor, due to his reluctance to shave his head for the role.[23] Britne Oldford was cast in the recurring role of Alma, Peters' character's supposed dead/missing wife.[24] In July 2012, Mark Consuelos was cast as a patient named Spivey, who was described as a degenerate bully.[25] Also in July, Clea DuVall was cast as Wendy, a school teacher and Lana's girlfriend,[26] and Franka Potente was cast in an unspecified role, which was later revealed to be Anne Frank / Charlotte Brown.[27]

In August 2012, Blake Sheldon was cast in the dual role of Devon and Cooper – both described as "tall, thin and psychopathic." Ultimately Sheldon would portray only Cooper.[28] Murder House actress Frances Conroy guest-starred as Shachath, the Angel of Death. Eric Stonestreet was scheduled to guest star this season as a killer, but his appearance never came to fruition.[29] Mark Margolis recurred as Sam Goodwin, while David Chisum and Amy Farrington guest-starred as a caring husband and a troubled mother, respectively.[30] In mid-October, Ian McShane joined the season in the recurring role of Leigh Emerson, a psychotic man who murders people while wearing a Santa Claus suit; he has a vendetta against Sister Jude.[31] Dylan McDermott appeared during the second half of the season as Johnny Morgan, the modern-day Bloody Face.

Filming

Principal photography for the second season began on July 17, 2012.[11] The exteriors for the second season were filmed in Hidden Valley, Ventura County, California, a rural area outside Los Angeles.[32] The exterior filming of Briarcliff was done at the Old Orange County Courthouse.[33] Series production designer Mark Worthington stated, "It's referred to as Richardsonian and Romanesque. It's named after an architect named Henry Hobson Richardson. He developed the style in the 19th century. It's circular arches, heavy stone. It's creepy, great for horror. It's dark, dark shiny brick. That's how we got away from all the hospital light stuff. There's still an institutional feel to it."[34]

Reception

Critical response

American Horror Story: Asylum has received positive reviews from critics. It scored 65 out of 100 on Metacritic based on 23 reviews.[35] The review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes reported an 84% approval rating with an average rating of 7.27/10 based on 220 reviews. The website's consensus reads, "American Horror Story: Asylum crosses boundaries to shock and scare with sexy subplots and some innovative takes on current social issues."[36] James Poniewozik, from Time, said of the early episodes of the second season, "AHS: Asylum feels like a more focused, if equally frenetic, screamfest. It's also gorgeously realized, with a vision of its '60s institution setting so detailed you can smell the stale air and incense."[37]

Maureen Ryan of The Huffington Post said, "It's to the credit of AsylumTemplate:'s writers, directors and cast that the emotional pain of the characters often feels as real as their uncertainty and terror."[38] However, Verne Gay of Newsday gave the season a C grade, writing that it "has some good special effects, just not much of a story to hang them on."[39] Linda Stasi of the New York Post thought this season was "over the top", stating, "I need to enter [an asylum] myself after two hours of this craziness."[40]

In a round-up of outstanding entertainers and programs of 2012, Jess Cagle of Entertainment Weekly praised "its ballsy, go-for-broke, don't-tax-the-attention-span-of-any-gnats-who-might-be-watching approach", writing, "You know a show has a lot going on when the occasional appearance of extraterrestrials is no more surprising than spotting a Prius on Modern Family. FX's grand experiment American Horror Story came howling back for its second terrifying season with less of a story...than a macabre, unforgettable, discordant symphony of images and characters... American Horror Story: Asylum, set mostly in the 1960s, took the current zeitgeist – with all its free-floating fear, nefarious undercurrents, and outrageous anxiety – skinned it alive, and turned it into a lamp to illuminate our collectively twisted psyche and voracious appetite for distraction."[41] Template:Television Rotten Tomatoes scores

Accolades

In its second season, American Horror Story: Asylum was nominated for 89 awards and won 28.

Year Association Category Nominee(s) Result
2012 17th Satellite Awards Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or TV Film Evan Peters Template:Nom
Best TV Series – Genre American Horror Story: Asylum Template:Nom
IGN's Best of 2012: TV[42] Best Sci-Fi/Horror Series Template:Nom
Best TV Actress Jessica Lange Template:Nom
4th Dorian Awards[43] TV Performance of the Year Template:Won
TV Drama of the Year American Horror Story: Asylum Template:Won
LGBT-Themed TV Show of the Year Template:Nom
Campy TV Show of the Year Template:Nom
2013 3rd Critics' Choice TV Awards Best Movie or Miniseries Template:Nom
Best Actress in a Movie or Miniseries Jessica Lange Template:Nom
Best Supporting Actor in a Movie or Miniseries Zachary Quinto Template:Won
James Cromwell Template:Nom
Best Supporting Actress in a Movie or Miniseries Sarah Paulson Template:Won
Lily Rabe Template:Nom
19th Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series Jessica Lange Template:Nom
24th GLAAD Media Awards Outstanding TV Movie or Mini-Series American Horror Story: Asylum Template:Won
29th TCA Awards Outstanding Achievement in Movies, Mini-Series, and Specials Template:Nom
39th Saturn Awards Best Syndicated/Cable TV Series Template:Nom
Best Actress on TV Sarah Paulson Template:Nom
Best Supporting Actress on TV Jessica Lange Template:Nom
70th Golden Globe Awards Best Actress – Miniseries or TV Film Template:Nom
65th DGA Awards Outstanding Directing – Miniseries or TV Film Michael Rymer Template:Small Template:Nom
American Film Institute Awards 2012 TV Programs of the Year American Horror Story: Asylum Template:Won
17th ADG Excellence in Production Design Awards TV movie or Miniseries Mark Worthington Template:Small Template:Won
60th MPSE Golden Reel Awards[44] Best Sound Editing: Short Form Sound Effects and Foley in TV Episode: "Welcome to Briarcliff" Template:Won
17th Online Film & TV Association Awards[45] Best Actress in a Motion Picture or Miniseries Jessica Lange Template:Won
Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture or Miniseries Zachary Quinto Template:Won
James Cromwell Template:Nom
Evan Peters Template:Nom
Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture or Miniseries Sarah Paulson Template:Won
Lily Rabe Template:Nom
Best Motion Picture or Miniseries American Horror Story: Asylum Template:Won
Best Ensemble in a Motion Picture or Miniseries Template:Won
Best Direction of a Motion Picture or Miniseries Template:Nom
Best Writing of a Motion Picture or Miniseries Template:Nom
Best Music in a Non-Series Template:Won
Best Editing in a Non-Series Template:Won
Best Cinematography in a Non-Series Template:Won
Best Production Design in a Non-Series Template:Won
Best Costume Design in a Non-Series Template:Nom
Best Makeup/Hairstyling in a Non-Series Template:Nom
Best Sound in a Non-Series Template:Won
Best Visual Effects in a Non-Series Template:Won
Best New Theme Song in a Non-Series Template:Won
Best New Titles Sequence in a Non-Series Template:Won
65th Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Limited/Anthology or Movie Template:Nom
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited/Anthology Series or Movie Jessica Lange Template:Nom
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited/ Anthology Series or Movie James Cromwell Template:Won
Zachary Quinto Template:Nom
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited/Anthology Series or Movie Sarah Paulson Template:Nom
65th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards Outstanding Art Direction for a Miniseries or Movie Mark Worthington, Andrew Murdock, Ellen Brill Template:Small Template:Nom
Mark Worthington, Edward L. Rubin, Ellen Brill Template:Small Template:Nom
Outstanding Casting for a Limited/Anthology Series or Movie Robert J. Ulrich, Eric Dawson Template:Nom
Outstanding Costumes for a Miniseries, Movie, or Special Chrisi Karvonides, Conan Castro Template:Small Template:Nom
Outstanding Cinematography for a Miniseries or Movie Michael Goi Template:Small Template:Nom
Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Miniseries or Movie Fabienne Bouville Template:Small Template:Nom
Outstanding Hairstyling for a Miniseries or Movie Monte C. Haught, Janis Clark, Stacey K. Black, Natalie Driscoll, Michelle Ceglia Template:Nom
Outstanding Main Title Design Ryan Murphy, Kyle Cooper, Juan Ruiz Anchia, Kate Berry Template:Nom
Outstanding Make-up for a Miniseries or Movie Eryn Krueger Mekash, Kim Ayers, Silvina Knight, John Elliot Template:Nom
Outstanding Prosthetic Make-up for a Series, Miniseries, Movie, or Special Eryn Krueger Mekash, Mike Mekash, Hiroshi Yada, Christopher Nelson, Kim Ayers, Silvina Knight, Christien Tinsley, Jason Hamer Template:Nom
Outstanding Sound Editing for a Miniseries, Movie, or Special Gary Megregian, Steve M. Stuhr, Jason Krane, Christian Buenaventura, Timothy A. Cleveland, David Klotz, Andrew Dawson, Noel Vought Template:Small Template:Won
Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Miniseries or Movie Sean Rush, Joe Earle, Doug Andham Template:Small Template:Nom
2nd PAAFTJ TV Awards*[46] Best Miniseries or TV Movie American Horror Story: Asylum Template:Nom
Best Lead Actress in Miniseries or TV Movie Jessica Lange Template:Nom
Best Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or TV Movie James Cromwell Template:Nom
Zachary Quinto Template:Nom
Best Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or TV Movie Sarah Paulson Template:Nom
Best Cast in a Miniseries or TV Movie Zachary Quinto, Joseph Fiennes, Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Lily Rabe, Lizzie Brocheré, James Cromwell, Jessica Lange Template:Nom
Best Directing for a Miniseries or TV Movie Michael Rymer Template:Small Template:Nom
Best Writing for a Miniseries or TV Movie Brad Falchuk Template:Small Template:Nom
Best Artistic/Visual Achievement in a Miniseries or TV Movie Michael Goi Template:Small, Mark Worthington Template:Small, Andrew Murdock Template:Small, Elen Brill Template:Small, Monte C. Haught Template:Small, Lou Eyrich Template:Small Template:Small Template:Nom
Best Technical Achievement in a Miniseries or TV Movie Stewart Schill Template:Small, Jason Piccioni Template:Small, John Bauman Template:Small Template:Small Template:Nom
Bram Stoker Award 2012[47][48] Superior Achievement in a Screenplay Tim Minear Template:Small Template:Nom
27th ASC Awards[49] Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography: Motion Picture/Miniseries Michael Goi, ASC Template:Small Template:Nom
BMI Film & TV Awards 2013[50] BMI Cable Award Charlie Clouser Template:Won
Cesar Davila-Irizarry Template:Won
29th Artios Awards[51] TV movie or Miniseries Robert J. Ulrich, Eric Dawson, Carol Kritzer, Eric Souliere Template:Small Template:Nom
49th CAS Awards[52][53] Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing – TV Movie or Miniseries Sean Rush Template:Small
Joe Earle, CAS Template:Small
Doug Andham, CAS Template:Small
James S. Levine Template:Small
Judah Getz Template:Small
Kyle Billingsley Template:Small
Template:Small 		Template:Nom
15th CDG Awards[54] Outstanding Made for Television Movie or Miniseries Lou Eyrich Template:Won
5th Dorian Awards[43] TV Musical Performance of the Year Jessica Lange and cast Template:Small Template:Nom
8th HPA Awards[55][56] Outstanding Editing – TV Joe Leonard and Bradley Buecker, A.C.E. Template:Small Template:Nom
Key Art Awards 2013[57] Best Engagement American Horror Story: Asylum Template:Small Template:Won
17th PRISM Awards[58] Drama Series Multi-Episode Storyline – Substance Use Episodes: "Nor'easter", "I Am Anne Frank: Part 2", "Dark Cousin" Template:Won
TV Guide Awards 2013[59] Favorite Villain Zachary Quinto Template:Small Template:Nom
Women's Image Network Awards 2013[60] Outstanding Actress Made for TV Movie/Miniseries Jessica Lange Template:Nom
2014 Society of Camera Operators Awards 2014[61][62] Camera Operator of the Year – TV James Reid, SOC Template:Nom
25th PGA Awards Outstanding Producer of Long-Form TV Brad Buecker, Dante Di Loreto, Brad Falchuk, Alexis Martin Woodall, Tim Minear, Ryan Murphy, Jennifer Salt, Chip Vucelich, James Wong Template:Nom
Bram Stoker Award 2013[63][64] Superior Achievement in a Screenplay Brad Falchuk Template:Small Template:Nom
64th ACE Eddie Awards Best Edited Miniseries or Motion Picture for TV Stewart Schill, A.C.E. Template:Small Template:Nom

* The Pan-American Association of Film & Television Journalists never announced the winners.

Ratings

The first episode of the season gained a 2.2 ratings share among adults aged 18–49 and garnered 3.85 million viewers,[65] marking the highest numbers for the series and the highest numbers for the night's cable competition.[66]

Home media

American Horror Story: Asylum – The Complete Second Season
Set Details Special Features
  • 13 Episodes
  • 4 Disc Set (DVD)
  • 3 Disc Set (BD)
  • English 5.1 Dolby Digital
  • Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish, French
  • Runtime: 554 Minutes
  • The Orderly
  • What is American Horror Story: Asylum?
  • Welcome to Briarcliff Manor
  • The Creatures
  • Deleted Scenes
Release Dates
Region 1 Region 2 Region 4
Template:Start date[67] Template:Start date[68] Template:Start date[69]

Soundtrack

Digital singles

Year Song Performer Episode Notes
2013 "The Name Game" Jessica Lange "The Name Game"
Note: Released by 20th Century Fox TV Records.

References

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External links

Template:American Story Template:American Horror Story episodes Template:GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding TV Movie or Limited Series

This article incorporates text from the Wikipedia article "American Horror Story: Asylum", available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License.Retrieved 2026-02-25.

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