Claim: American Horror Story stars Evan Peters.

American Horror Story : Asylum is the second season of the American FX horror television series American Horror Story , created by Brad Falchuk and Ryan Murphy . It originally aired from October 17 , 2012 to January 23 , 2013 . The premise of the second season marked a departure from that of the series ' first season , featuring all new characters and a new location , thus marking American Horror Story as an anthology series at the time .   The season begins in 1964 at the fictional mental institution , Briarcliff Manor , following the stories of the staff and inmates who occupy it , and intercuts with events in the past and present . Returning cast members from the previous season of the series include : Frances Conroy , Jessica Lange , Dylan McDermott , Sarah Paulson , Evan Peters , Zachary Quinto , and Lily Rabe .   Like its predecessor , Asylum was well received by television critics and fans . The performances of Jessica Lange , James Cromwell , Zachary Quinto , Sarah Paulson , and Lily Rabe were particularly praised . The season garnered seventeen Emmy Award nominations , more than any other show , including Outstanding Miniseries and four acting nominations for Lange , Paulson , Cromwell , and Quinto , with Cromwell winning for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie . In addition , Quinto and Paulson won their respective supporting categories at the 3rd Critics ' Choice Television Awards .   Despite being formerly anthological , some of the cast members reprise their roles in the series ' fourth and sixth cycle , Freak Show & Roanoke , such as : Lily Rabe , Naomi Grossman , Sarah Paulson , and John Cromwell , portraying Sister Mary Eunice McKee , Pepper , Lana Winters , and a young version of Dr. Arthur Arden , also known as Hans Grüper , respectively .