American Horror Story: Coven

My first experience with the American Horror Story television show, now in its third season and titled Coven, was somewhat of a surprise for me. I’ve been  avoiding the series because I’m not a huge fan of the horror genre, especially these days, but with an amazingly well built cast and a storyline that, even after coming in 8 episodes deep without having seen the first seven, the episode has enough depth that it can sum up it’s first seven episodes and still have the steam to entertain you with what’s going on now. 

 

In this episode of Coven Fiona, the Supreme of the coven, is dying and a new Supreme will eventually come into being to replace her. In her weakened state the coven is trying to make a power play by playing mind games with her so that she will either pass on the rank to the new Supreme, kill herself, or the third option is being burnt at the stake for the many crimes she’s committed, which at this point include the murder of two coven sisters. Needless to say, things get weird. 

 

It’s like a sick and twisted version of A Christmas Carol as Fiona is shown her future, the present, and is reminded of her past by those who may or may not have passed on, two of which by been forced out of this world by Fiona herself. 

 

The show kicks off proper with a heart wrenching scene which, for a newcomer like me, proves that the show isn’t going to pull punches when it comes to immersing its audience into the world of witchcraft, voodoo, and plain old human hostility. That being said, after one episode, I am officially hooked and looking to head back to the first episode of the season to see this thing through. 

 

The series includes Jessica Lang as Fiona, the supreme over the coven who doesn’t seem to be well liked by her coven sisters, including her own daughter Cordelia (Sarah Paulson; Serenity). Also included in the cast is Emma Roberts (We’re the Millers), Lily Rabe (The Hunger Games: Mockingjay), Kathy Bates (Misery), Angela Bassett (Black Nativity), and Gabourey Sidibe (Tower Heist).