Content Warning: This article contains references to suicide and murder
With American Horror Story being an anthology show, it's not unusual for actors to portray multiple characters. Since Sarah Paulson portrayed conjoined twins in season 4, it has actually become common for actors to portray multiple characters in the same season.
However, Roanoke was unique in that the first half of the season was a documentary containing a re-enactment which meant some cast members were playing 'real people' and others were playing the actors portraying them. In the second half of the season, the real people from the documentary and the actors who portrayed them in the reenactment all came together, which highlighted the differences in the two versions of each character. However, only a certain few managed to stand out above the rest.
Lee Harris
Lee Harris was the sole survivor of Return to Roanoke and had the honor of meeting Asylum character, Lana Winters in one of the best character crossovers in American Horror Story. The real Lee was played by Adina Porter and in the re-enactment, she was played by Angela Bassett. The real Lee killed Monet and was responsible for Audrey's death and wasn't the final girl most viewers were expecting.
Porter's performance was quite monotone at times, which made Lee quite unlikeable and a difficult character to root for. However, American Horror Story veteran Bassett played the character with a lot more energy and it was easier to empathize with Lee in the reenactment.
Edward Philippe Mott
Edward Philippe Mott was the original owner of the Roanoke house and is an ancestor of Freak Show character, Dandy Mott. While Edward is nowhere near as villainous as Dandy, he does share some of his erratic and narcissistic characteristics and is shown to mistreat his staff.
Mott does prove pivotal in Matt and Shelby's original escape from the house, suggesting there was a softer side to the character. Most of his screen time in the season is during the re-enactment and this is where viewers learn about his history. The real Mott's ghost is only seen briefly (and barely), so it is Evan Peters' performance in the re-enactment that fans will remember when thinking of this character.
Mama Polk
Mama Polk was the matriarch of the cannibalistic Polk family, who were partly responsible for terrorizing Matt, Shelby, and Lee. The real Mama Polk was responsible for stealing Audrey's tooth, with the English actor then killing her out of revenge.
In the reenactment, she is played brilliantly by long-time cast member Frances Conroy. This was the actor's first and true villainous role on the show and she was truly intimidating. Although she isn't seen in the second half of the season, that doesn't mean some fans wouldn't consider this to be one of Frances Conroy's best characters on American Horror Story. The real version of Mama Polk is still threatening but is quite forgettable in comparison to Conroy's version of the character.
Flora Harris
Flora is a fairly minor part of the season but she is the driving force of Lee’s character. After all, it is Lee's desperation to be a mother to Flora that leads her to kill Mason, which is what later takes her back to The Roanoke house. The re-enactment shows Flora as a polite and thoughtful child who is quite loving towards her mother.
However, in the finale of the season fans are introduced to the real Flora and she is much more sullen and angry. While the change in the character's demeanor may be due to her father's death, the real Flora coerces her mother into taking her own life in order to take care of the already deceased Priscilla. In the re-enactment, the character is sweet and has a loving yet strained relationship with her mother, which is in stark contrast to the alternative version fans see later.
Mason Harris
Mason was the ex-husband of Lee and the father of Flora. Much of the tension between Mason and Lee stems from the fact he is Flora's primary carer and is uncomfortable with his ex-wife spending time with their daughter. At one point in the season, Lee takes Flora without Mason's knowledge and after discovering this, he threatens to cease all contact between the two.
During the re-enactment, Mason is murdered, with Lee later being revealed as the perpetrator (which means his character is mostly confined to this part of the season). The real Mason is briefly seen later on as a charred ghost but his screen time is fleeting, which leaves his story feeling incomplete (especially considering he could have seized the opportunity to avenge his own murder). The majority of Mason's story and most of his development is shown in the re-enactment, which makes this the superior version of the character.
The Butcher
The Butcher was certainly the most terrifying villain in this AHS season but she could have been one of the most effective villains in American Horror Story history (that is if she had been portrayed entirely by Kathy Bates). When remembering the character, it's difficult not to think of Bates - but she only played The Butcher in the reenactment.
While the real version of the character is arguably more terrifying in appearance, she gets much less screen time and very little dialogue. Much of The Butcher's history is shown with Bates in the role and it seems strange that the American Horror Story alum didn't portray the real version of the character. Bates puts in a stellar performance when playing The Butcher, especially in the scenes when she kills her own colony and her portrayal is certainly the most nuanced of the two.
Scáthach
Scáthach was an immortal witch who stalked the land around the Roanoke house and is a key antagonist of the season. She is shown to have an alliance with The Butcher and uses her magic in order to seduce Matt (which later leads to his downfall). In a much smaller role than that of the Countess in the previous season, Lady Gaga portrayed the role of Scáthach in the re-enactment.
In a plot twist that everyone saw coming, the real people and their acting counterparts return to the house in the second half of the season. However, the actress playing Scáthach is never seen and this makes it even more difficult to separate Gaga from the character. When the real version of the character is seen, she is green-faced and grotesque (which is a clever twist as it confirms the producers of My Roanoke Nightmare followed Matt's description of the witch). While the real Scáthach more obviously represents the horror aspects of the show, Gaga's version of the character is certainly the most captivating and memorable.