With the Halloween season now long behind us, it is that time of year again for Ryan Murphy to close the book on another chapter of American Horror Story and put the award-winning anthology to bed for another year.Wrapping up clowns, Charles Manson, and carnage, season 7's Cult ended on something of a whimper rather than a bang. Now outliving shows like Breaking Bad, Lost, and The Sopranos, Horror Story is undoubtedly entering that dangerous period where people begin to ask, "oh, is this still on?" So, as Murphy's bloodthirsty baby enters its more mature years, should we load up the shotgun and take American Horror Story out back or is there life in the old dog yet?

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The Decline Of American Horror Story

American Horror Story Cult

You only have to look at the viewing figures to see that the writing's on the wall for FX's flagship show. Horror Story may have renewed the show for season 8 and 9, but there no escaping the fact that Cult officially has the lowest-performing finale in the show's history. Starting with an already average series opener of 3.93 million viewers, Cult saw a steady drop of those willing to stick with the political commentary.

Although the season finale "Great Again" outperformed a low of 1.48 million for "Episode 9," the season still limped to the grave with a disappointing 1.97 million. Compare this to a franchise high for season 3's Coven, where 4.24 million tuned in to see Cordelia Foxx be crowned the Supreme, and there is a strong case to be made that Murphy is losing his touch.

Fading Star Power

Alison Pill American Horror Story Cult

Then we have the actors themselves. Cult's new additions like Alison Pill, Billy Eichner, and Lena Dunham all carry their own star power, but it wasn't exactly the Hollywood Walk of Fame we have become accustomed to on the show. Rhere were still big names like Sarah Paulson and Evan Peters alongside old favorites like Frances Conroy and Cheyenne Jackson, but ultimately Cult felt it was lacking any new big names.

You can't deny that both Peters and Paulson are carrying the show at the moment, but is that really a good thing? After starring in all seven seasons, the duo have become limited in who they can play. Paulson is a stellar actress, but is anyone else a little tired of her playing a damsel in distress who spends most of her screen time screaming into a camera? Roles like Roanoke's Audrey Tindall and Cult's Ally Mayfair-Richards pale in comparison to her earlier role as feminine powerhouse Lana Winters.

Paulson is (so far) the only cast member officially signed up for season 8, and while others will surely follow, the formula is in need of a little revamp. Sure, it is nice to spot the subtle Easter eggs or characters sharing the same name, but the Ryan Murphyverse seems to be trying a little hard to follow in the footsteps of Quentin Tarantino. It's not that we've necessarily given up on American Horror Story, but it is failing to find that big hook that some of its earlier seasons had (Gaga, anyone?)

These days, it would seem that fans are too busy trying to look for next season's clues to actually enjoy what is going on before their eyes. In fact, if you look back over Hotel, Roanoke, and Cult, the three most recent seasons have constantly divided audiences on whether they have been abysmal or a stroke of genius.

Is It The Same Show?

Evan Peters Murder House Cult

Then there is the whole premise itself. Some people loved Cult and its basis in the real world, while others were left feeling that to call this American Horror Story was a very loose term. Previous seasons have always been linked to the supernatural, whereas Cult was the first in the show's seven-season history to be based wholly on "real-life." Season 1's Murder House may have had subtle references to the Black Dahlia, but Cult was a veritable treasure trove of real people and crimes of modern America.Living up to its namesake, there were cults of sadistic clowns, perverse politicians, and even a Charles Manson homage, but is that what we've really come here for?

For most, American Horror Story is remembered for the ghosts of the Harmon house, a coven of conniving witches, James Patrick March's hotel of horrors, and the cleaver-wielding butcher of the Roanoke tribe. While a history lesson on Mr. Manson is all well and good, it did sometimes feel like Murphy was trying to make his own twisted version of American Crime Story.

Here lies the other problem, is Murphy focussing his efforts too much elsewhere? Looking back at a pre-Horror Story era, one of the writer's earliest ventures was Nip/Tuck. The story of gruesome plastic surgery clearly whet his appetite for the macabre, but when AHS hit screens in 2011, Murphy didn't have anything else on his plate.

Skip ahead to 2017, and the acclaimed man behind the madness is trying to juggle American Horror Story, American Crime Story, and another round of Feud. Not to mention he is also tackling 9-1-1 and Pose, something's gotta give somewhere. Horror Story may have been his baby, but you can't but wonder whether he is giving up in favor of something new and more exciting.

American Horror Story Name Game

Can It Be "Great Again?"

For most long-standing American Horror Story fans, there is thankfully a small glimmer of hope on the horizon. Murphy's plans for the show's future are as mysterious as they have ever been, but audiences know that a Murder House/Coven crossover series is out there somewhere. Given that the first and the third seasons are usually held as American Horror Story at its best, this would be a smart return to the series' roots.

With Murder-Coven guaranteed to bring back some familiar faces, FX might even be able to persuade big names like Connie Britton, Dylan McDermott, Angela Bassett, and Kathy Bates to return. As with anything Horror Story related, there are always huge questions over if/when Jessica Lange could appear. For the first four seasons of the horror anthology, Lange reigned supreme (quite literally) and helped lead the show to greatness. Her roles as Constance Langdon and Fiona Goode leave some wiggle room for a return, and with Constance as pretty much the sole survivor of season 1's bloodbath, she could be primed for a crossover comeback.

Related: What American Horror Story: Cult Edited Out of the Latest Episode

But, is it all enough? Over the years American Horror Story has gone from something that could be genuinely quite scary to a watered-down social commentary. Looking at Murphy's other venture, Scream Queens, the candy-coated tone of sororities and Emma Roberts playing an uber bitch isn't that far from what Horror Story has become. It would take a serious plummet in the ratings for FX to call it a day after season 8, but stranger things have happened to Murhpy's ventures. Scream Queens was memorably saved from cancelation after its premiere season, then limped half-heartedly to the end of its second run.

Should The Nightmare End?

American Horror Story Cult

These days, it looks like Murphy is too busy making meta references or pulling apart the US electoral system to remember what made Horror Story so different. It's a situation that's reminiscent of Shondaland and Grey's Anatomy - even 12 years down the line, there is no denying that the blood and tear-soaked halls of the Grace Sloan Memorial Hospital aren't what they used to be. So, is there any saving the horror of Horror Story?

Sure, American Horror Story could technically continue for as long as there are real-life horror stories to inspire us. Weaving crossover seasons, the return of famous faces, and more elaborate schticks to pull fans back, it is easy to see season 10 and beyond, but the question is, do we really need it? In a changed TV landscape - and one that is already saturated with Murphy's distinctive style - American Horror Story in desperate need of some blood-letting, or for Murphy to swing the axe on his own mutated baby before it gets out of hand. Ultimately, the ratings will decide this one!

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