In 1964, Kit Walker (Evan Peters) is accused of murdering his wife Alma (Britne Olford), though he insists she was actually abducted by extra terrestrials
Kit's supposed crime is linked to other vicious murders carried out by an unknown killer known as 'Bloody-Face'
Following his arrest, Kit is incarcerated at Briarcliff Manor, a Catholic-owned mental institution for the criminally insane, located in Massachussetts
Kit's arrival at Briarcliff piques the interest of ambitious lesbian journalist Lana Winters (Sarah Paulson), who is desperate for a breakthrough into fame and notoriety
After traveling to Briarcliff under the pretense that she is interested in its in-house bakery, Lana meets the institution's patients, many of whom claim to be unjustly institutionalized
These include microcephalic Pepper (Naomi Grossman), who was framed for her nephew's murder, nymphomaniac Shelley (Chloe Sevigny), whose unfaithful husband committed her after finding out about her own infidelity
And the unassuming Grace Bertrand (Lizzie Brocheré), who appears to be harboring a deep secret of her own
As Lana becomes entrenched in life at Briarcliff, Kit catches the eye of pragmatic psychiatrist Dr. Oliver Thredson (Zachary Quinto)
As well as the sadistic Dr. Arthur Arden (James Cromwell), who routinely conducts scientific operations on patients
Briarcliff is run under the watchful eye of the stern Sister Jude (Jessica Lange), the naive Sister Mary Eunice (Lily Rabe)
And the founder of the institution, Monsignor Timothy Howard (Joseph Fiennes), all of whom live within its walls
During the course of the season, the patients at Briarcliff are subject to many traumatic acts, both supernatural and human-caused
