Television creator Ryan Murphy, who popularized the modern horror anthology format with FX's "American Horror Story," has faced critical scrutiny for similar series developed under his Netflix deal. A review by The New York Times of his 2022 Netflix series "The Watcher" highlighted a common critique: the show became "overcrowded and unfocused" as it introduced numerous plotlines and characters, diluting its narrative impact.
This critique points to a broader existential challenge for anthology series, which are not defined by a stable set of characters or locations across seasons. Murphy's "American Horror Story" itself has received mixed reviews in later seasons, with critics noting convoluted plots. The challenge is maintaining a cohesive and compelling story within a single season's arc.
Murphy's overall output remains prolific under his Netflix partnership, which began in 2018. While some projects like "Dahmer - Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story" were major successes, others have struggled to achieve the same focused narrative strength that defined early "American Horror Story" seasons, illustrating the difficulty of sustaining quality in the anthology format.
