American Horror Story: Asylum is the second season of the American FX horror television series American Horror Story, created by Brad Falchuk and Ryan Murphy (GLEE, NIP/TUCK, FEUD, POSE). It originally aired from October 17, 2012 to January 23, 2013. The premise of the second season marked a departure from that of the series’ first season, featuring all new characters and a new location, thus marking American Horror Story as an anthology series at the time.
The season begins in 1964 at the fictional mental institution, Briarcliff Manor, following the stories of the staff and inmates who occupy it, and intercuts with events in the past and present. Returning cast members from the previous season of the series include: Zachary Quinto (STAR TREK), Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters (X-MEN: APOCALYPSE), Lily Rabe, Jessica Lange (FEUD), Dylan McDermott, and Frances Conroy (SIX FEET UNDER), along with new cast members Joseph Fiennes (THE HANDMAID’S TALE), Lizzie Brocheré, and James Cromwell. Like its predecessor, Asylum was well received by television critics and fans, though they noted numerous plot holes and inconsistencies. The performances of Jessica Lange, James Cromwell, Zachary Quinto, Sarah Paulson, and Lily Rabe were particularly praised.
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. This piece was designed in collaboration with FX Creative. © FX Networks. This project was completed under the name of Iconisus L&Y. It is part of the Iconisus portfolio. Dreamogram is a new separate entity and not a continuation of Iconisus.