American Gothic poster
Seen it?

American Gothic

TV·1995–1998·1 season, 22 episodes·CBS·Drama, Horror·1h·7.6·Created by Shaun Cassidy

Not streaming in your region — see every region's options

The rural community of Trinity, South Carolina, a postcard-pretty enclave of antebellum houses and manicured lawns, is a town tormented and seduced by the ominous presence of one man, Sheriff Lucas Buck.

Cast

Episodes by season

Season0122Episodes1995–98AiredSeason avg
  1. S01E01American Gothic S01E01PilotSeptember 22, 1995In Trinity, South Caroline, the boy Caleb Temple is celebrating his birthday with his deranged father and his beloved disturbed and traumati
  2. S01E02American Gothic S01E02A Tree Grows in TrinitySeptember 29, 1995Caleb flees and misleads Sheriff Lucas Buck that is chasing him with his men, dogs and Gail. He sees a burial and discovers that his father
  3. S01E03American Gothic S01E03Eye of the BeholderOctober 6, 1995Lucas Buck pulls strings in order to make sure he adopts Caleb. Caleb meets Loris Holt, a lady who seems to have a knowledge of the occult.
  4. S01E04American Gothic S01E04Damned If You Don'tOctober 10, 1995Carter got away with molesting a girl, via Sheriff Buck's influence, but 17 years later, stalls about providing his own 15 year-old daughter
  5. S01E05American Gothic S01E05Dead to the WorldOctober 13, 1995Gail accuses Sheriff Buck of foul play when she learns that her childhood friend Holly Gallagher, who was Sheriff Buck's girlfriend, was wit
  6. S01E06American Gothic S01E06Meet the BeetlesOctober 20, 1995The bones of one of Trinity's residents are found at the remains of the burned-out Temple home, which now belongs to Lucas. The victim's bro
  7. S01E07American Gothic S01E07Strong Arm of the LawNovember 3, 1995Some racketeers are staying at the boarding house where Caleb and Dr. Crower live, and they're shaking down the town's business owners for c
  8. S01E08American Gothic S01E08RebirthJanuary 3, 1996Merlyn Temple badly wants to be alive again and to feel what human beings feel. She steals the soul of the unborn baby of Gail's friend Chri
  9. S01E09American Gothic S01E09ResurrectorJanuary 10, 1996A local talk radio host wants the sheriff's help in getting a TV show for him and his on-air partner, his wife. When Lucas says no, the host
  10. S01E10American Gothic S01E10InhumanitasJanuary 17, 1996Merlyn's back, and she's hell-bent to get Lucas. The sheriff is on his own bent, though, to get a lawyer who screwed him over. He corners th
  11. S01E11American Gothic S01E11The Plague SowerJanuary 24, 1996A plague hits Trinity, and Dr. Crower becomes infected and starts going wild, ranting about repentance. Gail succumbs to her passions with S
  12. S01E12American Gothic S01E12Doctor Death Takes a HolidayJanuary 31, 1996Dr. Crower decides to investigate Merlyn's murder and becomes even more curious after a woman checks herself into the hospital claiming to b
  13. S01E13American Gothic S01E13The Beast WithinJuly 3, 1996Deputy Ben's brother Artie breaks out of the psych ward and terrorizes the people in Trinity, taking Sheriff Buck, Dr. Crower, Gail and Cale
  14. S01E14American Gothic S01E14To Hell and BackJuly 3, 1996Matt Crower is haunted by the memories of his wife Lily and his daughter Claire, who died because of his drunk-driving crash. The sheriff ma
  15. S01E15American Gothic S01E15Learning to CrawlJuly 4, 1996Sheriff Buck takes Caleb on a fishing trip in a neighboring town, but they encounter the kidnappers of a corporate mogul. One, Ted, has shot
  16. S01E16American Gothic S01E16TriangleJuly 10, 1996Gail tells Lucas she's leaving town, with Caleb, but then discovers she's pregnant with Lucas' child! But is the sheriff still wrapped up in
  17. S01E17American Gothic S01E17The Buck Stops HereJuly 10, 1996Sheriff Buck is giving Caleb lessons on "the Buck" and how there's only one for every generation. This causes Caleb to really begin to embra
  18. S01E18American Gothic S01E18RequiemJuly 11, 1996Caleb moves into Sheriff Buck's house to take up his evil mantle, and when he learns from Selena that Gail is pregnant with Lucas' child, he
  19. S01E19American Gothic S01E19Potato BoyFebruary 6, 1998Caleb is intrigued by a strange "potato boy," a deformed child who lives alone in a creepy house in Trinity but whose sweet singing voice ca
  20. S01E20American Gothic S01E20Ring of FireFebruary 6, 1998With thoughts of why she originally came to Trinity still on her mind, Gail researches the 1976 fire that killed her parents, convinced that
  21. S01E21American Gothic S01E21Echo of Your Last GoodbyeFebruary 6, 1998Every time he turns around, Deputy Ben sees Merlyn. She has something to show him: her mother's work with needy children at an old abandoned
  22. S01E22American Gothic S01E22StranglerFebruary 6, 1998After another run-in with Merlyn, Sheriff Buck conjures up the spirit of the Boston Strangler, Albert DeSalvo, to deal with her once and for

Season 1 ranked & reviewed

Shows like American Gothic all similar shows

The closest matches on shared genres, ranked by match strength and popularity.

  1. 01Drama·Horror·ActionThe Walking Dead2010–2022·AMC+Streaming on NetflixThe Walking Dead tells the story of the months and years that follow after a zombie apocalypse.7.9Compare
  2. 02Drama·Horror·Science-FictionStranger Things2016–2025Streaming on NetflixWhen a young boy vanishes, a small town uncovers a mystery involving secret experiments, terrifying supernatural forces and one strange little girl.8.4Compare
  3. 03Drama·Horror·ThrillerThe Terror2018·AMC+Streaming on Amazon Prime VideoThe Terror is an American anthology television series exploring historical speculative fiction based on true events.The series is named after Dan Simmons's 2007 novel, which serves as the basis for the first season and…7.4Compare
  4. 04Drama·Horror·ActionThe Last of Us2023–presentStreaming on HBO MaxAfter a global pandemic destroys civilization, a hardened survivor takes charge of a 14-year-old girl who may be humanity's last hope.7.9Compare
  5. 05Drama·Horror·Science-FictionFROM2022–present·MGM+Streaming on fuboTVFROM unravels the mystery of a nightmarish town that traps all those who enter.7.7Compare
  6. 06Drama·Horror·ActionThe Walking Dead: Dead City2023–present·AMC+Streaming on NetflixThe Walking Dead: Dead City envisions the popular Maggie and Negan characters travelling into a post-apocalyptic Manhattan long ago cut off from the mainland.7.1Compare

Head-to-head pick any opponent

Stack American Gothic's full episode-rating history against a rival, on one chart.

Keep exploring top shows