American Gothic on Channel 4

Originally intended episode order:

  1. American Gothic (pilot)
  2. A Tree Grows in Trinity
  3. Eye of the Beholder
  4. Damned If You Don't
  5. Dead to the World
  6. Potato Boy
  7. Meet the Beetles
  8. Strong Arm of the Law
  9. To Hell and Back
  10. The Beast Within
  11. Rebirth
  12. Ring of Fire
  13. Resurrector
  14. Inhumanitas
  15. The Plague Sower
  16. Doctor Death Takes a Holiday
  17. Learning to Crawl
  18. Echo of Your Last Gooodbye
  19. Triangle
  20. Strangler
  21. The Buck Stops Here
  22. Requiem

Viewing Dates and Episode Listings

(All listings are as written by Channel 4.)

Episode numbers before the name refer to the Channel 4 running order. Episode numbers written after each name refer to the originally intended episode order.

Detailed summaries have been written for all episodes by The Trinity Guardian

Other American Gothic links can be found on Yahoo!

  1. Wednesday 5 June - Episode One

    2. American Gothic (Pilot) Episode Summary

    With its chilling, unnerving atmosphere and a cast of talented actors, this new American drama will be sure to become of much of a cult here as it was in the States. American Gothic tells a terrifying tale of the supernatural as good and evil fight for control in the small South Carolina town of Trinity. Trinity seems normal to the casual observer, and yet behind the curtained windows and neat lawns lurks a menacing presence in the shape of local sheriff, Lucas Buck (GARY COLE). To those townsfolk in his favour Buck is a benevolent force with the power to pull strings. To others, he is a demon in human form with an inexhaustible hunger for control. Into this maelstrom is drawn youngster Caleb Temple (LUCAS BLACK), who finds himself alone after the horrific death of his 16-year-old sister, Merlyn (SARAH PAULSON) and arrest of his father. Curiously, Sheriff Buck wants to become the boy's guardian...

  2. Wednesday 12 June - Episode Two

    3. A Tree Grows in Trinity Episode Summary

    The supernatural forces of good and evil are fighting for control of the small town of Trinity.

  3. Wednesday 19 June - Episode Three

    4. Eye Of The Beholder Episode Summary

    Sheriff Buck calls in a few favours to try and influence Caleb's custody hearing but he also has other irons in the fire - a mirror given as a wedding gift to Dan Trulane seems to be having a strange effect on his new wife, Sheryl.

  4. Wednesday 26 June - Episode Four

    5. Damned If You Don't Episode Summary

    Sheriff Lucas Buck takes revenge for a slight by Carter Bowen and Caleb finds his science project has become a battleground between Buck and Dr Crower.

  5. Wednesday 3 July - Episode Five

    6. Dead To The World Episode Summary

    When Gail discovers Sherriff Buck was involved with her childhood friend just before her death, she comes close to reliving the tragedy herself.

  6. Wednesday 10 July - Episode Seven

    7. Meet The Beetles Episode Summary

    Sheriff Buck is implicated when the skeletons of two Trinity citizens are discovered in a house he owns. Caleb, however, is having nightmares about digging up his own grave to uncover a horrifying secret.

  7. Wednesday 17 July - Episode Eight

    8. Strong Arm Of The Law Episode Summary

    Four strangers from the north move into town and make a very, very stupid mistake - they decide to set up their own protection racket. In Trinity, protection is, of course, the jurisdiction of Sheriff Lucas Buck and he has his own forms of justice.

  8. Wednesday 24 July - Episode Eleven

    9. Rebirth Episode Summary

    Caleb finds that his dead sister, Merlyn, has found a way to live again,appearing to the citizens of Trinity as Halle. Nobody recognises her, although Sheriff Buck has his suspicions, but when Caleb finds out how she has gained corporeal form he has to tell her to go back to being a wraith.

  9. Wednesday 31 July - Episode Thirteen

    10. Resurrector Episode Summary

    Radio talk show host Mel Kirby approaches Lucas for help in bringing his show to television. When Lucas refuses to help, Mel vows to ruin him. Meanwhile, a depressed Caleb decides he wants to give Merlyn a second funeral by throwing a party for the dead.

  10. Wednesday 7 August - Episode Fourteen

    11. Inhumanitas Episode Summary

    Sheriff Lucas Buck may have corrupted the local priest, Father Tilden, but he still has to deal with the miraculous activities of the dead Merlyn in her attempts to grab the soul of Caleb.

  11. Wednesday 14 August - Episode Six

    12. Potato Boy Episode Summary

    Lucas gets worried and upset when Selena starts offering help to Caleb. And when Sherriff Lucas gets worried and upset, someone suffers...

  12. Wednesday 21 August - Episode Nine

    13. To Hell And Back Episode Summary

    Lucas Buck tries to send Dr Matt over the edge when he brings up memories of the doctor's dead wife and daughter.

  13. Wednesday 28 August - Episode Ten

    14. The Beast Within Episode Summary

    Caleb's dreams become a living nightmare... when the strange man in his dreams turns out to be Ben's brother Artie.

  14. Wednesday 4 September - Episode Twelve

    15. Ring Of Fire Episode Summary

    Gail is determined to learn more about her past and reluctantly enlists the help of Lucas.

  15. Wednesday 11 September - Episode Fifteen

    16. Plague Sower Episode Summary

    A plague of blood descends on Trinity, a sudden, bleeding, deadly illness. As the townspeople start dying, Dr Matt Crower suffers a nervous breakdown and Lucas turns in desperation to a new doctor in town, Billy Peele.

  16. Wednesday 18 September - Episode Sixteen

    17. Doctor Death Takes A Holiday Episode Summary

    A mysterious 'Mrs Smith' is admitted to the hospital where she reveals she is really the mother of Lucas Buck and she wants Dr Matt to kill him.

  17. Wednesday 25 September - Episode Seventeen

    18. Learning To Crawl Episode Summary

    Lucas and Caleb form a bond when Caleb is electrocuted and dies only to be brought back to life by his arch enemy, a lesson that comes in handy when they meet murderous kidnappers.

  18. Wednesday 2 October - Episode Eighteen

    19. Echoes Of Your Last Goodbye Episode Summary

    Ben (NICK SEARCY) is on a date with a woman he assumes is Cindy. However, she turns out to be a reincarnation of Merlyn (SARAH PAULSON), who has decided to haunt him to make him aware of the truth about his mother's death.

  19. Wednesday 9 October - Episode Twenty

    20. Strangler Episode Summary

    Sherriff Lucas Buck decides to fight the ghost of Merlyn with a ghost of his own raising- that of the murderous Boston Strangler. But a raised wraith cannot always be controlled...

  20. Wednesday 16 October - Episode Nineteen

    21. Triangle Episode Summary

    Gail (PAIGE TURCO) announces that she is leaving Trinity and taking Caleb (LUCAS BLACK) with her. However, then she discovers she is pregnant with the child of Sherrif Buck (GARY COLE) and her life is in extreme danger.

  21. Wednesday 23 October - Episode Twenty-One

    22. The Buck Stops Here Episode Summary

    Just as Caleb is getting more enthralled with the notion of being Lucas Buck's son, the Sheriff is murdered and Billy Peele is arrested for the crime.

  22. Wednesday 30 October - Episode Twenty-Two

    23. Requiem Episode Summary

    Lucas Buck is buried... but when Billy discovers he is not actually dead, he and Ben race to exhume the coffin before the sheriff suffocates.