By Gabrielle Smith
Arts & Entertainment Editor

On Sept. 12 of this year, the television show “American Horror Story” released its eighth season, “Apocalypse.” True to the name, the series revolves around a post-apocalyptic world in which a selected group of people are rescued just as the world is about to be hit by multiple atomic bombs.

They are taken to one of six underground bunkers (outposts) that are designed for those to live a fancy but over-controlled life. They are greeted by two women, Wilhemina Venable (Sarah Paulson) and Ms. Miriam Mead (Kathy Bates), who inform them that the world outside is no longer the same, that it is contaminated by radioactive material are turning humans into cannibalistic monsters.

They are commanded to stay in the bunker, and if they try to leave they will not be allowed back in. Those who try to come back will then be killed in order to prevent the spread of disease. The group of people is then split into two groups, designated by color: the purples (upper class people) and the grays (the servants to the upper class).

After 18 months of living in the post-apocalyptic world, the corporative representative of a sanctuary, Michael Langdon, comes to the bunker to inform the two women that three of the other bunkers have been destroyed and that their current one will soon be gone. He is on a mission to interview each and every person in the bunker, whether they are a purple or a gray, and determine if they are “good enough” for the sanctuary. But as this is a post-apocalyptic world, and nothing in “American Horror Story” ever goes peacefully, crazy, satanic events start happening around the bunker as Mr. Langdon makes his decisions.

AHS is known for having a different storyline every season with a reoccurring cast. While that still holds true for “Apocalypse,” creator Ryan Murphy has decided to include a new twist this year. Involved in this season is not only a reoccurring cast but some reoccurring characters.  Characters from season one, “Murder House,” and season three, “Coven,” are expected to make appearances.

To recap both seasons, “Murder House” was the story of a family, the Harmons, who moved into a haunted house where numerous gruesome murders had taken place and the souls of the victims occupied the house along with the family. At the end of the season, a baby is born, who is the son of a very sinister character on the show. That baby is Michael Langdon, hinted to be the anti-Christ himself.

In “Coven,” a group of young witches is sent to a school in New Orleans that specializes in teaching the mystical girls how to use their powers and come to know more about themselves. In episode three of “Apocalypse,” three of the previous witches have made their first appearance to the underground bunkers. There is already shown some serious tension between grown-up Langdon and these powerful women and hinted that part of his original mission was to wipe out all of the witches.

So far the current season of AHS seems to be a pretty promising one. The conflicts are placed and new cast member Cody Fern, who plays Michael Langdon, is doing a good job portraying the confident, hellish ruler of a doomed world. It goes without saying that fans of the show are eagerly awaiting the return of previous characters, specifically the return of the toughest woman of the first four seasons, Jessica Lange, who is reappraising her role as Constance Langdon, Michael’s grandmother.

With past seasons of AHS starting off strong then ending up a great disappointment, this new season seems to have the potential to become one of the best seasons in a long time. Only the next two months will reveal what Murphy has in store for the viewers for 2018. It is worth a chance to find out.

“American Horror Story” airs on FX at 10 p.m. E/ST on Wednesday nights.