American Horror Story: Coven

Season 3: Coven

Air Dates: October 9, 2013 - January 29, 2014

Starring: Sarah Paulson, Taissa Farmiga, Frances Conroy, Evan Peters, Lily Rabe, Emma Roberts, Denis O'Hare, Jamie Brewer with Kathy Bates and Jessica Lange

Special Guest Stars: Angela Bassett, Gabourey Sidibe, Patti LuPone, Danny Huston and Stevie Nicks

For some reason, I've always been fascinated with witches. When Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk announced they were doing the next American Horror Story about a coven of witches, I was so excited!!! My expectations were met ten-fold and I now rank it as my favorite season of American Horror Story so far.

You may think my opinion is a little less objective due to my witch-loving nature. You may be correct, but I'm also looking at it from a viewer's point. AHS: Murder House was very slow paced. It was amazing, I loved it, but their were times I wish they had moved along the story a bit more. AHS came back with another season, Asylum. It was fucking bonkers. They threw everything but the kitchen sink at us. The story moved at a violent pace and at times it was hard to keep the many story lines they had unfolding straight. I find Coven is more evenly paced than Murder House and far more restrained than Asylum.

Coven tells the story of Miss Robichaux's Academy, a boarding school in New Orleans. We follow Zoe Benson (Taissa Farmiga) as she realizes that she, in fact, is a witch. Her mother contacts the Witch's Counsel where Myrtle Snow (Frances Conroy) takes Zoe to live at Miss Robichaux's Academy so she can better learn how to control her power. Zoe is welcomed by Cordelia Foxx (Sarah Paulson), the head mistress and teacher at the establishment, along with three other students Nan (Jamie Brewer), Queenie (Gabourey Sidibe) and Madison (Emma Roberts). The Supreme of all witches (and Cordelia's mother) Fiona Goode (Jessica Lange) soon returns when she learns that a witch (Lily Rabe) has been burned at the stake not too far from the Academy.Fearing another Salem incident, she returns to  teach the young girls how to use their power and defend the Coven. But soon, Fiona becomes sidetracked when she "digs up" the ageless and immortal Delphine LaLaurie (Kathy Bates) and reignites a centuries old feud with Voodoo queen Marie Laveau (Angela Bassett). The entire Coven soon faces several unspeakable dangers. Dangers some will not survive. 

I think I've been to slumber parties like this...

Coven also delves into the history of witchcraft in America. One of the hallmarks of any AHS season is twisting history in some way, especially dark history. In the first season we had the Black Dahlia murder season two we had Anne Frank and with Coven we have A HELLUVA LOT of history spanning 300 years. All the witches that exist today, according to Coven, are decedents of Salem, referring of course to the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. We also explore the rich, and sometimes surreal, history of New Orleans with several historical figures coming into the main story line. 

I suck at synopsis' soooo hard! I really should just start copy and pasting the Wikipedia synopsis so anyone who reads this blog can understand what the hell I'm talking about! You get the jist.

Let's break down the characters like we did in the last post. Ready? Okay I'll wait a second..... 
Now are you ready? Okay! Let's do it!

Fiona Goode

Played by: Jessica Lange

Fiona is the reigning Supreme of Witches. She's beautiful, glamorous, clever and dangerous. She's an absolute youth-obsessed sociopath who knows her reign as Supreme is coming to a close. Let's break down what a Supreme actually is. A Supreme is the most powerful of all witches. In order to become a Supreme you must perform the Seven Wonders. The Seven Wonders are specific powers. It's very common for a witch to possess 1 or 2 of these powers, but only the Supreme can perform all of them. A Supreme is born every generation, but ultimately her reign comes to an end when another witch reaches the appropriate age to take control and perform the Seven Wonders themselves. The Supreme is blessed with countless powers and magical abilities, but once a new Supreme emerges, the reigning Supreme's powers and health begin fading. 

This is where Fiona Goode's story picks up. She's doing everything in her power in order to turn back the clock so she can reign as Supreme longer. Unfortunately she learns that the students at Miss Robichaux's Academy are beginning to emerge with several powers. Fiona feels threatened by this and makes it her mission to find the next Supreme and kill her. 

Again, Jessica Lange delivers a stellar performance. While in past seasons the story has relied on other characters to support Lange (Season One, Connie Britton and Season Two Sarah Paulson.), this season Lange carries the heavy load of the story. That's not saying that the other actors didn't do an astounding job (We'll get to that later.), but it was Lange who did most of the heavy lifting this season. 

Guuurl.... that dress is Versace. You win.

Her portrayal as a selfish, chain-smoking, Chanel wearing witch with fading power and youth tugged at my heartstrings. She also plays a neglectful mother who's now realizing how absent she's been from her grown daughter's life. Despite whatever atrocious act she does, I still find myself secretly rooting for her to win. Lange is amazing at doing this! She's done it for the past two seasons, but this season it's different. I knew I was supposed to hate Fiona, but I couldn't. Lange and the writers of AHS have this amazing talent of creating complex characters that you can't help but love no matter what they do. Fiona is by far my favorite AHS character to date. Under all the glamour, sass and Versace, she's a scared woman, terrified of growing old and fading away, terrified that she's squandered what life she's had on herself without giving back to anyone or anything. Can't we all relate to this fear?

Marie Laveau

Played by: Angela Bassett

The Voodoo queen herself as entered the American Horror Story fuckery! YES!!! This season, AHS touches on many historical figures from Lousiana/ New Orleans area. The real Marie Laveau lived from 1801 -1881 and practiced the magical art of Voodoo. She was also a hairdresser for the wealthy women of New Orleans and some people even speculate she dug up dirt on her clients and blackmailed them.

Either way, AHS potrays her as an immortal Voodoo priestess who is not to be fucked with. She does all she can to help and protect her people/followers. Things go a bit haywire when Fiona crosses her path, and Marie goes ape-shit. Most of the season is Marie VS Fiona. Watching these two divas battle it out is fantastic! She's unforgiving, relentless and has the one thing Fiona wants the most: immortality.

Angela Bassett was absolutely solid in this role. Having her aboard this crazy train makes this season all the more sweeter. Bassett's scenes with Jessica Lange were my absolute favorites. You can't help but smile when these two witches are battling it out or just chillin' with each other.

Marie Delphine Lalaurie

Played by Kathy Bates

We have another infamous historical figure from New Orleans past joining this season.  Marie Delphine Lalaurie was a crazy-ass psycho bitch! She lived from 1775 - 1849 and was known as the pentacle of the New Orleans social scene. Though she's greatly fictionalized in AHS, Lalaurie is known for having an attic where she mutilated 9 of her slaves. After this was discovered, she fled to France where she stayed until her death.

In the AHS universe, Delphine Lalaurie or just "Delphie," is played by the extremely talented Kathy Bates. Bates does psycho bitch so well! Delphie is a serial killer/socialite in the 1830's who tortures her victims in her attic before they finally die. She also makes a special concoction out of her victim's blood she uses on her face to maintain a youthful appearance. When Marie Laveau finds out what Dephie has tortured her lover and keeping him in her attic, she tricks her into drinking a special potion which giver her eternal life. She then chains her up in a coffin and buries her under ground. Fiona has her dug up so she can reveal her secret of immortality.

Throughout the series, Delphie is just a rachet-ass ho! She's racist, nasty, narcissistic and whiny. There are times when she shows signs of changing, but it's not enough to undo the fucked up shit we've already seen her do during the flashbacks.

Before Estee Lauder, women used blood from their slaves.

Kathy Bates does a bang-up job! My God she was absolutely fantastic! The level of cruelty, yet sincerity she brings to the part is stunning. I can't possibly praise her performance enough, so let's just move on.

Myrtle Snow

Played by Frances Conroy

Myrtle is head of the Witch's Council and also sworn enemy of Fiona. Myrtle has been a mother figure to Fiona's daughter, Cordelia all her life while Fiona has been gallivanting around being fabulous.Myrtle, herself, is extremely fabulous in a flamboyant way. God I loved this character! She was definitely to comic relief of the season, but at the same time shared a fantastic story line with several of the characters. 

The only person to ever pull off yellow gloves without making it look like she's about to do the dishes.

Myrtle also has the best and most random lines of the season. They could be talking about something extremely serious and Myrtle starts talking about Diane Von Furstenburg and how she invented the wrap dress, it's just fucking genius! Though she's essentric and an all out diva, don't be fooled, she has a mean streak the size of Texas. She more than proves to be a formidable rival to Fiona, and has one of the most disturbing scenes of the entire season. 

There's really nothing new here. Frances Conroy proves to be a total badass at her craft again. She completely transformed into a whole other character just like the former seasons. She still proves to be one of the anchors of AHS. 

Cordelia Foxx

Played by Sarah Paulson

Cordelia is the headmistress of the Miss Robichaux's Academy. She's quiet, meek and well-meaning. In stark contrast to her outgoing and devious mother, Fiona Goode. Cordelia was left at Miss. Robichaux's at a very young age while her mother was absent for most of her childhood. Over the past several years, there's been a sharp rise in violence against witches. This of course has caused their population to titter on the edge of extinction. Cordelia teaches the girls to hide their powers from the world in order to survive, Fiona comes back to town when she hears of escalated violence against witches in the area and is immediately at odds with Cordelia on how the girls should be taught. 

BITCH! I'M FABULOUS!

If there is a hero of the season, it's definitely Cordelia. She is 100% self-sacrificing and tries her best to be a mother figure to all the girls of the house. Sarah Paulson is excellent at playing this type of role. She also played the part of the suffering hero on the season before. It was a pleasure to see her do it again, but I kinda wish they had given her more. Either way she did a fantastic job and I love her in this sort of role. 

Zoe Benson

Played by Taissa Farmiga

Zoe is an average teenage girl who finds out, in the worse possible way, that she's a witch. Apparently, whoever she's having sex with dies. Yeah, it's the WORST power ever! She's shy and unassuming, but soon finds she has more power within her than she thought. 

You're never getting that blood out of that French Connection sweater.

Taissa is a much welcome return! Seeing her and Evan Peters together on screen again was fantastic! They have the best chemistry, even with a completely different story line than before. At first Farmiga seems to play the typical teenage girl role, much like she did in the first season, This doesn't last long. Zoe is soon revealed to be a total bad-ass and Taissa does a great job with this change of pace. I will say, I'd like to see the writers challenge Taissa a little more if she's ever on another season. Maybe like a serial killer or cracked-out slut... something. I want to see her challenged a little more. I think she has great potential, especially with the level of emotion she gives her characters. 

Madison Montgomery

Played by Emma Roberts

I've always had a thing for "bad girls" and they don't come any worse than Madison. She's a self-absorbed movie star with telepathic powers who has been forced to go to Miss Robichaux's due to an "accident" on the set. Throughout the season, she's one of the most nonredeemable characters of all, next to Dephie of course. She's all around unpleasant, bitchy and out-of-touch with any sore of reality... I LOVE HER!!! 

That scarf? No. Just no.

This is my first Emma Roberts experience, and it wasn't a bad one. I thoroughly enjoyed her as Madison and I can't wait to see more of her in the next season. Hopefully the writers will give her more of a role she can inject emotion into instead of just all out bitch serum. 

Queenie 

Played by Gabourey Sidibe

I love Ms. Sidibe as an actress, I just didn't enjoy this role. Queenie is a human voodoo doll, meaning whoever she concentrates on she can hurt by hurting herself. This power proves to be extremely useful, even life-saving at times.  

I felt like Queenie was just out for #1 throughout the entire season. She was rude, crass and just plain mean at times. I understand that living in a house with a bully (Madison) who constantly makes fun of you can't be easy, but the character just didn't gel with me. We all have those characters we just don't like, and Queenie was mine. My blog, my opinion. Sorry not sorry. 

Nan

Played by Jamie Brewer

I loved having Jamie Brewer back! I don't know why they couldn't have fit her in Asylum! Oh well, she's back regardless! She was fabulous as Nan, the mind-reading witch with a heart of gold and major hots for the boy next door! She was great and I hope they use her again in further seasons.

Kyle Spencer

Played by Evan Peters

Evan Peters is back for another round of crazy with AHS. He plays a typical college boy who is killed and then brought back to life by Zoe and Madison who sew him together and bewitch him. It's like a Frankenstein/zombie story line and I LOVED it. If Peters hadn't proved he could act before, he sure did with this season. 

Bag O' Boy

He played the role almost entirely without talking, relying instead on facial expressions and body language. He also gets to rekindle his on-screen chemistry with Taissa Farmiga, but in a completely different scenario. It's fucking great! Well done Mr. Peters! 

Misty Day

Played by Lily Rabe

Misty is a Stevie Nicks fanatic and all out swamp princess. She was burned at the stake, but able to bring herself back with her powers. She has the amazing power of bringing anything dead back to life. After she was burned, she retreated to a hut in the swamp where she lived in peace, that is until members of the Coven came knocking on her door. 

Lily Rabe plays a completely different role than the last two seasons and ended up being one of my favorite characters! I LOVED her in this role! Misty Day was definitely one of my favorite witches of the Coven. 

That's it for the main cast. We also have Dennis O'Hare returning to AHS, this time as a mute butler with terrible secrets. Danny Huston plays the infamous Axeman, and Fiona's lover. The chemistry between these two is absolutely off the charts! Leave it to Danny Huston to make an serial, axe-murderer charming. 

Preeeettty....

Ryan Murphy didn't stop there! Oh no! He brought in two musical legends to join in on the fun! Patti LuPone guest starred as a Bible-thumping psychopath who moves next door. Then we have the almighty Stevie Nicks sharing her magical presence with the cast. It was so amazing. I cried so hard during one of her songs. Unfortunately, we don't get to hear Patti LuPone sing, but maybe some other season. 

NEVER underestimate the power of the Shaw Twirl!

This season was a lot more campy and fun than the former seasons, but not as scary. The horror was more of a psychological thing than literal. Coven actually reminded me a lot of the surge of witchcraft films that emerged during the 70's, a time when there was a rise in the feminists movement. Witches were seen as powerful, independent women and Coven has that in spades. Coven is definitely all about the ladies. The two main male characters of the season (Spalding and Kyle) were both mute, leaving room for only the ladies to take center stage.

Zombies need love too.

This season was my all time favorite! Everything seemed to come together! They story, the direction, the camera work, the costumes, the acting, everything. Coven blew me away and I still miss it! Unlike any season before, I grew very attached to the characters and didn't want to let them go. Unfortunately, that's what this season was all about... letting go. And NO I'm not talking about that stupid Disney shit song! I'm talking about letting go of something when you know it's time. We watched the characters struggle with letting go of a lot of things on Coven; Fiona with her power, Cordelia... with a lot of things, Queenie with her anger, Nan with a lover, etc. 

You know, this is how The Exorcist started. Just sayin'

Throughout the entire season, there was a recurring theme: Death. It seemed to keep coming up. Every character on this season is in some way touched by death, or comes close to it. You could say "But Dustin, that's every season of American Horror Story." and you're right, but it's never been brought to the forefront as much as this season. 

Whether it be Fiona being afraid of not making an impact during her time on Earth and her concern over her fading beauty and power, or Zoe and Madison bringing Kyle back from the dead; every story line seemed to have some theme of death, or dying to it. It's a terrifying thought to think about what lies beyond the final breath. I find growing old terrifying and seeing Fiona struggle with accepting her life was drawing to an end and knowing she hasn't lived it to it's full potential is probably one of the reasons I connected with her so much. How much life is enough? And what would you do if you had immortality? Would it be a blessing or a curse? 

 

We're trouble!

American Horror Story: Coven is now available on DVD and Blu-Ray. You can get it here.

American Horror Story: Freak Show starts Wednesday, October 8 on FX

This is Taissa Farmiga's audition for Evil Dead 2/