The 16 best “American Horror Story” characters, from Tate Langdon to Twisty

These heroes and villains stick in our minds as much as that creepy theme song.

Narrowing down a list of the best American Horror Story characters is no easy task now that we've reached double-digit seasons. But it's a testament to this select group of favorites that they remain as unforgettable as they do, on a show that cycles in a whole new selection of characters every installment. Naturally, we love our fair share of colorful villains — especially when they're played by such legends as Jessica Lange and Kathy Bates — but we can also appreciate those fighting for good in the face of unmitigated terror.

Here is our list of the best and most memorable American Horror Story characters through the years.

Tate Langdon (Evan Peters)

Though Evan Peters has gone on to play many unique roles on the show, it's his turn in Murder House that stands out. Not only was it the part that marked the beginning of Peters' massive following among AHS fans, but it's his most nuanced and interesting character. Between his horrible parents and growing up in a house that is the very definition of evil, the mentally disturbed Tate never really had a chance to be good, and yet, at times he manages to be both noble and despicable. Tate's actions (fathering the Antichrist?!) also lay the groundwork for future seasons and establish some of the show's rules regarding ghosts. —Lauren Huff

Constance Langdon (Jessica Lange)

You didn't think we'd make a list like this and not include at least one Jessica Lange character, did you? The first of several delightfully evil characters played by the veteran actress, Murder House's Constance makes a strong case for worst mother of the year, but because Lange is just so good, you love to hate her. And even after a self-imposed break from the show, it was the character of Constance that Lange agreed to play again in the eighth season, Apocalypse. —L.H.

Lana Winters (Sarah Paulson)

Oh, Lana Banana. As a journalist–turned–asylum prisoner–turned–serial killer slayer–turned–best-selling author, Lana is one of the show's most badass and lovable characters. Apparently, the show knows how much the people love this Sarah Paulson creation, as Lana has made appearances in three seasons so far: Asylum, Roanoke, and Cult. —L.H.

Related: Every season of American Horror Story, ranked

Sister Mary Eunice McKee (Lily Rabe)

Lily Rabe is such an underrated star of this show, and Asylum's Sister Mary Eunice is the perfect example of why that is. At first, Sister Mary Eunice is sweet and meek. Then, after becoming possessed by the devil, she's evil incarnate, and the transition is just oh-so-fun to watch. —L.H.

Oliver Thredson (Zachary Quinto)

The face of Asylum's best twist (and perhaps one of the series' best) Dr. Thredson starts off as a hero of sorts. He has compassion for the patients at Briarcliff, while Sister Jude (Jessica Lange) and Dr. Arden (James Cromwell) have none. It's ultimately a facade, however, for his real identity as Bloody Face, a sadistic serial killer and rapist with perhaps the silliest of monikers. Kudos to Zachary Quinto for making all of it believable and completely menacing. —L.H.

Fiona Goode (Jessica Lange)

Who's the baddest witch in town? The minute Fiona is introduced in AHS: Coven, there's no question she's the Supreme, and Lange's diva presence makes her a wicked delight to watch. Obsessed with the promise of immortality, Fiona refuses to go gently into that good night, resisting all attempts to take her Supreme power away from her — and who can blame her when she's having so much fun? —Kevin Jacobsen

Related: Jessica Lange reveals AHS: Freak Show is 'my favorite'

Myrtle Snow (Frances Conroy)

THAT hair. Those truth spells. Declaring, "Balenciaga!" before bursting into flames at the stake. What an icon. Praise the AHS gods that this wasn't the last we saw of Frances Conroy as Myrtle: She also appears in all of her couture-wearing glory in Apocalypse. —L.H.

Twisty (John Carroll Lynch)

By far the best part of the Freak Show season, John Carroll Lynch's Twisty was severely underutilized, but beyond memorable nonetheless. As a disgraced performer who attempted suicide after false rumors were spread about him, you almost want to root for this murderous clown. Luckily, Freak Show was not the last we saw of Twisty, as his character had achieved, well, cult status by the time AHS: Cult rolled around. Yes, Twisty, you are a good clown. —L.H.

Dandy Mott (Finn Wittrock)

Rich, spoiled, disturbed man-child Dandy Mott remains one of the show's most ridiculous characters, which is saying something since he is part of a season titled Freak Show. His tantrums are legendary, and with a body count of about 25, Finn Wittrock's Dandy was easily the show's most prolific killer until James March (Evan Peters) in Hotel. —L.H.

The Countess (Lady Gaga)

Hotel may have been a bit of a mixed bag, but there's nothing mixed about this glamorous, 112-year-old vampire. Lady Gaga is absolutely mesmerizing and steals every scene she's in. Many thanks are due to the AHS gods for clueing us in to Gaga's immense acting talent. —L.H.

Related: Leslie Jordan shares hilarious story about Lady Gaga on American Horror Story set

Liz Taylor (Denis O'Hare)

If she had hair, it would be big on account of all the secrets she knows about the Hotel Cortez and its occupants. Denis O'Hare's Liz Taylor is the show's first transgender character, and is famously glamorized by none other than Lady Gaga's character, the Countess. She's glamorous and wise, and is an avid reader and eavesdropper. Bless you, Liz Taylor. —L.H.

Agnes Mary Winstead, playing the Butcher (Kathy Bates)

Okay, so technically this counts as two characters in the Roanoke season: the Butcher, a fictionalized murderous ghost and leader of the Roanoke colony, and the actress who portrays her, Agnes Mary Winstead, both played by Kathy Bates. One is a terrifying menace with a cleaver, the other is...an actor diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder who gets way too method and starts killing people, only to eventually get killed by the real Butcher ghost, with a cleaver. Didn't catch all that? No worries, it's still insanely fun to watch the Butcher and all her iterations do their thing. —L.H.

Kai Anderson (Evan Peters)

Evan Peters has never been more terrifying. In AHS: Cult, the actor portrays Kai Anderson, a blue-haired alt-right cult leader emboldened by the 2016 U.S. election and Donald Trump's rise. He steadily gains power by stoking fear in his community, preying on vulnerabilities to further his desire for anarchy. Kai is rotten to the core, but his fierce radicalization is an all-too-real horror facing today's world. —K.J.

Mallory (Billie Lourd)

First introduced to us as personal assistant to Coco (Leslie Grossman), Mallory takes on quite the transformation when it's revealed that she's actually a very powerful witch who's been under an identity spell. Watching the Billie Lourd character do her witchy thing and come into her own was one of Apocalypse's most enchanting qualities. —L.H.

Michael Langdon (Cody Fern)

Like Lady Gaga before him, Cody Fern is transfixing as the Antichrist. Who knew the harbinger of the end of days would look so glamorous while bringing about the apocalypse? Michael may be evil incarnate, but he's not without his flashes of humanity, and seeing a character that was introduced all the way back in the first season grow up and come to life onscreen in Apocalypse was a very delightful full-circle moment for longtime fans of the series. —L.H.

Donna Chambers a.k.a. Nurse Rita (Angelica Ross)

We couldn't be more thankful to AHS: 1984 for introducing Angelica Ross to the AHS universe. The Pose star slays as Donna Chambers, a serial killer-obsessed psychologist who goes undercover as Nurse Rita at Camp Redwood to better understand murderer Benjamin Richter (John Carroll Lynch). As Rita, she's sassy and no-nonsense, but by the end of the season, she's the real hero and heart of the story. —L.H.

Related: Angelica Ross recalls tense exchange with Ryan Murphy after alleged racism on American Horror Story set

Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly.