I haven't been this impressed by a season of AHS since asylum. After a good few years of mediocre and campy seasons (not without their cult followings), we get a gripping season with a distinct atmosphere and a very different formula. You might even find yourself forgetting it's American horror story, and not a new HBO frontrunning thriller with a massive budget.
After watching a very little bit of American Horror Stories (not AHS) , I got nervous for this season. However, the soundtrack, cinematography, and casting are above anything in the show's recent past.
At this point, I can only comment on the first two episodes; but, I am already more intrigued/invested in this season than I was for any other recent season. The direction is incredible, even masterful at times. Given that this season has less overall episodes, and includes another separate story, the shorter runtime of Red Tide (6 episodes) could allow it to build and maintain momentum until the end. If done right, it could find itself as one of the better seasons in AHS history. They have me eagerly waiting for next weeks episode for sure.