The series finale of American Horror Story: Coven aired on January 29, so I’m a little late on this one. But I really wanted to talk about it, so I’m going to!
WARNING: POST CONTAINS SPOILERS!
Image obtained from IMDB
I’ve been a fan of the series since the first season — Murder House. The second season, Asylum, was so creepy and messed up and amazing that even my boyfriend, who avoids horror movies at all costs, was hooked on it. I’ve also always loved stories and movies about magic and wizards and such (I may or may not have cried when I didn’t receive my Hogwarts acceptance letter on my eleventh birthday). So, when I heard that the third season, Coven, was going to be about a sisterhood of witches, I was instantly intrigued. I figured it would be the best season ever. The conclusion of the season, however, confirmed what I had been thinking since about midway through — Coven was entertaining, but Asylum remains the best season of American Horror Story.
The season started out with potential. The first episode was very enticing, and I wanted more right away. As time went on, though, I became unsure about what exactly the season was trying to accomplish.
Was it going to be a narrative about a young girl who is outcast from her family because of her black widow-esque tendency to kill her boyfriends with her lady parts? Was it about an evil witch Supreme who would eventually be the bloody demise of her whole coven? Was it about witch hunters? Voodoo priestesses and a zombie army? A crazy ax murderer? An immortal, sadistic, racist serial killer?
This is a classic example of too much of a good thing. While it seemed like a lot was happening in Coven because new frights and delights were introduced in almost every episode, in reality the actual story didn’t progress much at all. At some times, it was almost static. We weren’t sure which side-story was going to be the main obstacle the characters had to overcome, and we weren’t sure what the climax of the season would be until a couple episodes before the finale.
Eventually, we got there. Misty (Lily Rabe), Zoe (Taissa Farminga), Madison (Emma Roberts) and Queenie (Gabourey Sidibe) each had to complete the traditional ritual of the Seven Wonders to prove which of them was the one true supreme, and the leader of the coven.
Image obtained from smallscreenscoop.com
The Seven Wonders are as follows:
- Telekinesis: The ability to move objects with only the mind
- Concilium: Mind control
- Transmutation: The ability to quickly teleport from one spot to another
- Divination: The ability to gain insight into a question/situation, usually through ritual
- Vitalum Vitalus: Balancing the scales of life and death (resurrection)
- Descensum: The ability to descend into the underworld
- Pyrokinesis: The ability to create fire with only the mind
Surprise! Not everyone survives the trial of the Seven Wonders. Poor Misty, one of the sweetest and most likeable characters, becomes stuck in hell while performing the Wonder of Descensum. There, she is forced to dissect a live frog, over and over again… for eternity. This version of hell fit the character of Misty perfectly. Although it was heartbreaking to see Cordelia (Sarah Paulson) attempt to coax Misty back into the realm of the living, only to have Misty turn to dust in her arms, it allowed Rabe to demonstrate her acting chops, and give what was, in my opinion, one of the best performances of the season.
Oh yeah! Also, during an impromptu came of Transmutation Tag, Zoe manages to impale herself on the tall, spiky fence surrounding the Academy. (Good job, Zoe.) Queenie tries to bring Zoe back to life, and can’t, which means Queenie is incapable of performing Vitalum Vitalus, automatically disqualifying her from the competition. Cordelia implores Madison to try to bring Zoe back, or else fail the competition for failing to perform Vitalum Vitalus. In an ultimate act bitchiness, Madison squishes a fly in her hand and brings it back to life instead. (Oh, how I hated the useless character of Madison.)
Cordelia and Myrtle (Frances Conroy) retreat to the house, where Cordelia begins to weep in defeat because, as far as she believes, Madison is the new supreme. But, this is American Horror Story we’re talking about, and nothing is ever what it seems! One of the major twists this season was… drum roll please…
CORDELIA WAS SUPREME ALL ALONG!
Surprising, right? Just kidding. I can’t be the only one who saw that coming. The writers spent so much time stressing the idea that Cordelia couldn’t be supreme (The only magic she was truly adept at was potions until she went blind, and gained a second sight; she stabbed her own eyes out in a weak attempt to get that second sight back after she “lost” it; and Fiona was constantly telling Cordelia that she was a failure) that it seemed a little too impossible.
So, Cordelia completes the Seven Wonders (beating Madison out during divination, which causes the Hollywood brat to storm into her room. There, a vengeful Kyle [Evan Peters] strangles Madison as punishment for letting Zoe die. Good riddance, Madison!) Cordelia brings Zoe back to life, miraculously heals the bloody mess that was her eyes post-self-mutilation, and makes the decision to out the Coven to the general public. She makes an open invitation during a TV interview for any witches in the country to come join the Coven, and everything seems to fall perfectly into place… except for a few things.
Myrtle tells Cordelia that she cannot begin her Supremacy as a hypocrite, and cannot allow Myrtle to live while knowing she has willingly killed not one, but two council members. Cordelia reluctantly agrees, and Myrtle is burned at the stake, wearing a flowing, red silk gown. She screams the name of French fashion house Balenciaga as her last word (because she’s Myrtle and of course she does).
Just when we think all the surprises are done, Fiona (Jessica Lange) shows up. (Kidding again. If you thought we had seen the end of Fiona, you’re crazy. An off-screen death is not worthy of Jessica Lange).
I was relieved to see Fiona, because Lange is consistently the best part of that show, but I was also kind of disappointed. It was great to see Fiona finally look as ugly on the outside how she was on the inside, with sallow skin, shrunken eyes and a few wisps of brittle hair (though still fashionably dressed in all black and stilettos), but the whole scene was kind of lack-lustre and corny, in my opinion. Fiona finally gets the forgiveness she craves from Cordelia, and Cordelia finally gains acceptance from Fiona. Mother and daughter make peace, and Fiona collapses and dies in Cordelia’s arms. Pfffft. Boring.
One saving grace was when we are shown where Fiona ends up after death. She is awoken by bright light streaming through the windows, in a bed and a room she doesn’t recognize. She gets up, confused, and stumbles into the kitchen. We hear the sound of a familiar whistle, and Fiona’s one-time lover, the Axeman, strolls inside with two very large, very disgusting catfish. Fiona’s own personal hell is the exact love nest the Axeman described when he vowed to whisk her away from New Orleans. For the last time in the season, we are treated to Lange’s acting prowess. No one but her could get so convincingly (and hilariously) devastated over the prospect of living in a home with knotty pine walls. (See Exhibit A below.)
So there it is, my recap and opinions of the final episode in American Horror Story: Coven. What did you think of the episode? Did you read this article where series creator, Ryan Murphy, debunks the rumors about American Horror Story: Circus? Let me know in the comments!
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