Part 1 was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Costumes for a Miniseries, Movie or Special.
In this two-part episode, the Harmons are visited by the former owners of the house and are given advice on Halloween decorating while Tate (Evan Peters) is harassed by bloody teens while on a date with Violet (Taissa Farmiga).
Kate Mara and Zachary Quinto are credited as special guest stars for their roles as Hayden McClaine, the student Ben was having an affair with; and Chad Warwick, one of the former owners of the house.
The Rubber Man appears after Patrick leaves the room, and attacks Chad.
On Halloween night, when the ghosts can leave the house, Moira visits her mother in the hospital.
When Vivien and Ben return, they find the house broken into and Violet missing.
Ben is forced to admit that he impregnated Hayden months after Vivien discovered the affair.
They proceed to bother and taunt Violet, but Tate stops them by making the quintet chase him.
I think he created this world of beauty and comfort and hopefully children in the future and so I like the rage of it.
[4] IGN's Matt Fowler gave the first part an overall score of 8, describing the episode as a "fairly unsettling romp", adding that the death of Adelaide was unexpected and that Constance's reaction to her daughter's death was "wrenching".
[7] In its original American broadcast, "Halloween (Part 1)" was seen by an estimated 2.96 million household viewers and gained a 1.7 ratings share among adults aged 18–49; a then series high.