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Definitive Ranking Of Jessica Lange's Best Characters In 'American Horror Story'

Chelsea Hernandez |
October 26, 2014 | 12:40 p.m. PDT

Staff Reporter

 Freak Show" (FX).
Freak Show" (FX).
We all know how incredible Jessica Lange is as an actress, but what she has really been standing out for in for the past few years is her ability to take on various roles in the "American Horror Story" series.

READ MORE: 'American Horror Story: Freak Show' Premiere Recap

Starting off as Constance Langdon in the first season, to Sister Jude Martin in "AHS: Asylum," Fiona Goode in "AHS: Coven," and now Elsa Mars in the current season of "AHS: Freak Show," Jessica Lange has blown our mind with her performances. Which were her best characters? Here is a definitive ranking of Jessica Lange’s "AHS" characters to date:

1. Sister Jude from "AHS: Asylum"

What was so incredible about her character in this season of "AHS" was the amazing character arc she took with her character development. In just a handful of episodes, she managed to start as a very cold and controlling nun, to slowly losing control as a fellow nun in the asylum became possessed and took over. After hearing that one of the psychiatrists was really a serial killer and taking much convincing to realize that she was losing control of her own asylum, Sister Jude began to feel sympathy for those in her care for the first time in the entire season. These people were no longer just patients, but people. We also learn that she has many dark secrets, including an accidental murder. Finally, by the end of the season, the asylum eventually closes down and she grows old in the care of Kit and his family before dying. 

2. Constance Langdon from "AHS"

In this season, Constance’s slow plunge into insanity was the most memorable part of the first season. Starting off as the seemingly nice neighbor to the main characters living in the Murder House, her dark intentions are slowly revealed. Beyond attempting to poison Violet, the daughter living in the Murder House, to hiding that her son, Tate, is a ghost living in the Murder House after he killed people at his high school, it is even revealed that she murdered her maid after she found her sleeping with her husband years before. She also shows that she has little sympathy for her daughter, who has Down Syndrome, until after she has died. By the end of the season, Constance steals the newborn baby from Vivien because she knows the ghost of Tate is the father after he raped Vivien and raises him as her grandchild. However, the closing scene of the season is Constance comes home to find that Tate’s child has murdered his nanny, and she doesn’t seem to be bothered by his actions. Her final fall into insanity was a haunting image for all of us fans of "AHS."

3. Elsa Mars from "AHS: Freak Show"

In the current season of "AHS," we have seen the diverse range of the kindest and darkest parts of Elsa’s personality. We start the season off by thinking that she is a sweet and welcoming woman after she offers an escape for the twins Bette and Dot, who share the same body, by giving them a job at her freak show. However, we learn that she is a jealous and fame hungry woman with little patience and forgiveness when Dot begins to gain attention for her singing abilities. Elsa even tries to convince Bette to murder her own sister after Bette feels left behind with Dot’s fame and in the last episode, performs on Halloween even though the threat of bringing back Edward Mordrake hangs in the air. Elsa’s selfishness and ability to destroy the spirit of the freaks in the camp, seen when she essentially calls Dot and Bette “freaks” who can do nothing but sing a “silly song,” reveals her unsympathetic side. We are all excited to see where Elsa’s character goes in this season, especially since she seems to have such a diverse character.

READ MORE: 'American Horror Story: Freak Show' Season 4, Episode 3: Edward Moredrake, Part 1 

4. Fiona Goode from "AHS: Coven"

While Fiona Goode’s consistent character throughout the show is great acting on Lange’s part, there is not much character development. There are flashes of her caring for her daughter, especially after she goes blind, but overall, there is very little progression on her character’s part. Even when we thought she was falling in love with the Axeman, it turns out she was just playing him the whole time. Because of Fiona’s consistently evil character, even while she is dying of cancer the entire time, we, as an audience, don’t feel much sympathy for her. This helps with our acceptance of her entrance to either Hell or Purgatory, we are never quite sure, where she is forced to stay in a never ending day of living in a lake house with the Axeman, which was something she never wanted. 

READ MORE: 7 Gossip-Worthy Shows

Jessica Lange has made a lasting impression on all of us "American Horror Story" fans, and all we can do is keep praying that Ryan Murphy manages to convince Lange to sign on with the next season of "AHS." We need this because, let’s be honest, she is definitely the best part of the "American Horror Story" series!

Reach Staff Reporter Chelsea Hernandez here.



 

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