Plan your panic — American Horror Story 13 shares episode titles and first six plot synopses

If you thought American Horror Story was winding down after twelve increasingly bananas seasons, think again. FX have started parading fresh posters and a whole string of spoilers ahead of the show's thirteenth outing, and, not to pile on the superlatives, but this could honestly be the busiest year yet. The hook: creator Ryan Murphy has dubbed this a “greatest hits” season. So, yes, that means all your favourites — unhinged, undead, or just very cross — are shuffling back on set.

American Horror Story: 13 launches on 24 September, kicking off with a three-episode drop and finishing its run just before Halloween on 29 October.

This time, FX aren’t mucking about with mysteries. They’ve revealed every single episode title and dribbled out plot details for the first six. No hiding behind cryptic marketing here; they actually want us to know what’s coming. Perhaps they’re feeling cocky because, honestly, the cast list reads like Murphy raided his own hall of fame.

What’s Going On This Season?

The season opener, simply called '13', lands on 24 September. Here’s the gist: After a near-death run-in, Ben — yes, the same one — finds himself playing hospice nurse to a cryptic patient in an eerily plush penthouse. In proper AHS style, expect things to go sideways fast. To double down, this debut was penned by Murphy himself and co-conspirator Brad Falchuk, so if anything’s properly off-the-rails, blame them directly.

Then there’s episode two, ‘1:13am’. Here, Ben apparently discovers the gig isn’t exactly what it seemed — which feels about right for a job in this show; there’s always some gruesome catch. By episode three ('Rauhnacht'), fan-favourite Constance is back, wrangling holiday party guests in what can only be described as peak AHS awkwardness.

Episode Titles: Fan Service in Every Direction

There are thirteen episodes (well played, Murphy), and the titles are loaded with callbacks:

• 13
• 1:13am
• Rauhnacht
• Is That All There Is?
• Date Night
• The Return of Devil's Night
• The Baddest Witch of Them All
• Hell No
• The Devil Is In the Details
• The Prodigal Son
• Madison's Happy Ending
• Sisters in Arms
• Devil of a Good Time

If you’ve watched this lot since the haunted house days, a few of those titles should have you theorising already. ‘The Return of Devil’s Night’ all but shouts back at Hotel; ‘The Baddest Witch of Them All’ is basically an engraved invitation for the Coven lot; and if ‘Madison’s Happy Ending’ doesn’t bring Emma Roberts’ character back in all her tragic glory, I’ll eat my own hat.

First Six Synopses: Yes, This Is Actually Happening

In case you think I’m joking, here’s what we’re officially in for, episode by episode:

• Episode 1: Ben has a close shave with death, then lands a hospice gig with a notably mysterious patient (Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk on script, Murphy directing).
• Episode 2: Ben discovers there’s more to hospice work than advertised — more complications, more backstory, and presumably more corpses (Ned Martel and Charlie Carver writing, Crystle Roberson Dorsey on direction).
• Episode 3: Constance throws a party. Two surprise guests drop by, threatening to derail her plans (Martel & Carver again; Roberson Dorsey directing).
• Episode 4: Party’s over. Guests spiral off into their own macabre errands (Martel & Carver, with Alfonso Gomez-Rejon directing).
• Episode 5: Ben’s girlfriend’s friend (keep up) wants to “reconnect”, so reckon with past traumas or else (Martel & Carver writing, Jesse Peretz directing).
• Episode 6: The witches at Miss Robichaux’s cook up a plan as some unseen threat gets a bit too close for comfort (Martel & Carver writing, Roberson Dorsey back in the director’s chair).

Murphy’s “Greatest Hits” roster

Ryan Murphy’s gone on record chewing the phrase “greatest hits season”, and he isn’t just recycling storylines. He’s pulling together a ridiculous cast and letting them revisit some of their most iconic turns. Here’s a quick sampling:

• Sarah Paulson as Cordelia Goode
• Jessica Lange as Constance Langdon
• Evan Peters returning as Kai Anderson
• John Carroll Lynch back as Twisty the Clown
• Also: Angela Bassett, Kathy Bates, Emma Roberts, Billie Lourd, Gabourey Sidibe, Leslie Grossman, Joey Pollari, and newcomers or returning faces like Avantika, Jamie Brewer, Frances Conroy, and John Waters (yes, that John Waters).

Count on at least a couple of them pulling double-duty — some actors are set to reprise more than one past persona. AHS is nothing if not relentless with stunt casting. Of course, not every returning storyline is confirmed; FX are holding a few mystery characters close to the vest, but they are openly plugging the likes of Cordelia, Constance, Madison Montgomery, Marie Laveau, Rubber Man, Twisty, and others.

How and When to Watch

This year’s set-up is... uncharacteristically aggressive. All 13 episodes are half-hour jobs, with the first three dropping on the premiere date, 24 September, in the US via FX and Hulu. Another set of three drops within that first premiere week, then it’s two per week every Thursday until Halloween’s eve sees the final episode air. Frankly, it’s binge-editing as much as binge-watching. Expect social feeds to be saturated for a solid month with more AHS than you’ll know what to do with.