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The Tropes of Ryan Murphy: 22 Hallmarks of Every Show He Makes

There’s a lot about FX’s American Horror Story, which premiered last night, that’s unlike other shows — its spookiness, its overt kinkiness, its cinematic rather than telegenic premise. But there’s even more about AHS that’s just like other shows, namely creator Ryan Murphy’s previous efforts: the high-school satire Popular; his campy doctor drama Nip/Tuck; and, of course, Glee. Whether making a high school or a horror soap, Murphy always makes room for strange redheads, sudden-onset bisexuality, paternity confusion, and much more. Roll over each trope and look in the center of the chart to see the many times it’s popped up in the Murphy oeuvre!

The Tropes of Ryan Murphy