Jessica Lange, the grand dame of American Horror Story (AHS), is back.
Eight years after the actress took her “final” bow on the set of AHS: Apocalypse, she returns for the show’s 13th season. On April 6, Ryan Murphy Productions released three set photos, all of which sport Lange’s silhouette (complete with an updo). Is she back as the passive-aggressive, nosy neighbor Constance Langdon? Or the equally bitchy Fiona Goode? Co-creators Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk are still mum on the season’s plotline, although we do know that Lange will be joined by AHS regulars Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Angela Bassett, Kathy Bates, Emma Roberts, and more. Ariana Grande, who starred in another Murphy and Falchuk horror show (Scream Queens), will be making her debut in the AHS universe.
For diehard fans of the series, Lange’s return has brought up memories of the show’s early glory days (we condemn Double Feature and Delicate), as well as her past roles on AHS’ first four seasons (plus her little cameo in Apocalypse). Many have argued time and time again over which of Lange’s characters reigns supreme; the actress herself has even weighed in on the debate, ranking all five of her AHS appearances in an interview with Gold Derby back in 2019.
Regardless of Lange’s own feelings about her AHS oeuvre, we’ve ranked all her performances on the horror show. Here, from least to most memorable, are all the times Lange made the world of AHS even more messed up than it already was.
5. Constance Langdon (Again) in ‘Apocalypse’ (Season 8)
While Lange’s Constance Langdon already had her time in the spotlight in AHS’ first season (Murder House), she returns to steal a couple of scenes in Apocalypse.
Apocalypse is one of the series’ trippiest storylines, especially since it features many crossovers from previous seasons. But long story short, we travel back to the Murder House that kicked off the whole franchise, and it looks like nosy neighbor Constance hasn’t quite escaped her cursed fate.
In Apocalypse, we find her trapped playing grandmother to the son of Satan, and the role pushes her to her limits. Lange makes the most of her limited screentime as the doomed Constance; as soon as she struts down the grand staircase with a cigarette in hand and one of the bitchiest one-liners of the season (“I’m Constance Langdon and this is my fucking house”), it’s clear she deserved the Emmy nod for her cameo on the season.
4. Elsa Mars in ‘Freak Show’ (Season 4)
Freak Show was meant to be Lange’s last romp in the AHS universe, which is probably why it felt like she was giving it her all every time she stepped into the cold, detachable heels of freak show proprietor Elsa Mars.
At first glance, Fräulein Elsa appears to be just like Lange’s other AHS characters (angry, conniving, and ready to kill for some time in the spotlight). She collects her “monsters” with the hopes of raking in a profit for her dying circus, but to no avail. However, she does harbor a secret of her own (hint: it involves a chainsaw and a whole lot of blood), and by the time we reach Freak Show’s strange finale, we can’t help but feel sorry for the failed ringleader.
3. Constance Langdon in ‘Murder House’ (Season 1)
Don’t trust your neighbors! Especially if they’re just as sassy (and just as good at feeding you pig organs) as Constance Langdon, Lange’s first role in the world of AHS.
Constance first presents herself as the charming next-door neighbor of the Harmons, who’ve just become the new residents of the Murder House (bad choice, but oh well). Eventually, though, her propriety gives way to her more sinister reasons for hanging around the Harmons so much.
Constance could have easily been a forgettable character, especially since she isn’t the main focus of the season. But Lange makes the nosy busybody her own, and she turns her into the season’s sharpest and most dangerous character. (Plus, “don’t make me kill you again” might be one of the best lines of the series).
2. Sister Jude in ‘Asylum’ (Season 2)
Sister Jude is not a very sisterly nun at all, and Lange makes sure that her portrayal of Briarcliff Manor’s Mother Superior has just the right amounts of horror, camp, and gravitas.
As the head administrator of the manor’s psych ward, Sister Jude delights in tormenting her sickly patients and hiding a scandalous set of red lingerie under her habit. There is a good reason why she’s so unforgiving, though, and Sister Jude does experience a fall from grace that gives her one of the sadder character arcs of the season. But said fall from grace also gives us a wonderful song-and-dance number as the good sister, after a round of electroshock therapy, hallucinates singing “The Name Game” with her fellow inmates (excuse me, patients).
1. Fiona Goode in ‘Coven’ (Season 3)
Coven is one of the most popular fan favorite seasons of the show, and it’s in part due to Lange’s performance as the bitchy, campy, power-hungry Fiona Goode.
As the Supreme (or leader) of a coven of witches, Fiona is responsible for protecting her girls from evil forces (e.g. witch hunters, a minotaur, a very angry voodoo queen). But she’s also spent most of her tenure as Supreme chasing after fame, fortune, and the impossible goal of eternal youth. But beyond Fiona’s complex backstory (and her even more complicated mommy-daughter issues with her child Cordelia), it’s a delight just watching her be mean to her fellow witches to keep them in check (example: “You’re a sloppy little witch bitch.”).
