Review: American Horror Story - Coven

In 2011, superstar producers Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk brought their unique brand of dark humour to the genre of horror with the premiere of American Horror Story. The first season was a smorgasbord for fans of the genre, blending the themes from films like The Amityville Horror and Rosemary’s Baby together to create a distinctly unpredictable narrative. The second season, however, was an awful mess. With a new set of characters and storylines, the plot collapsed under the weight of too many concepts and subplots competing for dominance. By the third season, the producers would have to redeem themselves. With American Horror Story: Coven they did that and then some.

Set in modern day New Orleans, Coven follows the lives of a budding sisterhood of witches who must learn to control their unique gifts in order to combat an approaching evil. However, they must first determine who their next Supreme is (i.e. the most powerful witch of them all). As rivalries threaten to tear the coven apart, the plot thickens and grips the viewer. Interwoven in this narrative is the story of the monstrous slave owner Madame Delphine LaLaurie and her defeat at the hands of the Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau. 

The writing for this season is tight and sharply witty. Characters like Madison Montgomery and Queenie dish out laugh out loud one-liners, which is no doubt a testament to the incredible scripts. Themes of racism, motherhood, aging, and sisterhood are at the heart of this season. More than ever before, the producers have something to say and it has meaning. Coven is either gorgeously optimistic or brilliantly cynical, but you’d have to watch it to find out.

The star players of previous seasons return for another go at it in Coven. Sarah Paulson plays the timid headmistress Cordelia Foxx, Lily Rabe nails it as the hippy swamp witch Misty Day, Frances Conroy fabs it up as the fierce Myrtle Snow, and Jessica Lange continues her reign of terror as the self-absorbed bitch witch Fiona Goode. Paulson and Rabe are particularly likeable in this season. From the get-go, Rabe’s Misty is incredibly loveable while Paulson’s Cordelia develops brilliantly over the course of the season. Lange, however, is largely an irritant. Her mannerisms from previous seasons return to irk the viewer and her character is impossible to root for. While Lange may be a fantastic actress, she’s easily eclipsed by the sheer star power that surrounds her. Kathy Bates kills it as the love-to-hate Madame LaLaurie and Angela Bassett steals just about every single scene she’s in as the badass Marie Laveau. The young cast is also shockingly strong. Jamie Brewer’s turn as the compassionate Nan is fantastic while Emma Roberts’ mean girl Madison Montgomery elicits both laughs and frustration (in a good way). However, it is Gabourey Sidibe that rises to the occasion and nearly outshines everyone else. Sidibe’s Queenie is a clever witch who is searching for purpose and kinship. Her heart and sense of humour make her extremely likeable, making the viewer root for her all throughout.

American Horror Story: Coven is a girl power fest that features strong women vying it out for supremacy. They must either learn to outwit each other to get to the top or learn to get along to save their kind. The beauty of this season is that the writers turn clichés on their heads and it doesn’t devolve into as much of a melodrama as previous seasons. One thing is for certain you won’t find any weak-willed women in this season. By its conclusion, it left me realizing just how cohesive and layered Coven was. It wasn’t bogged down by subplots, irritating male costars (‘cause those were littered all over the damn place in the first two seasons), or irrelevant concepts. Instead, Coven was a brilliant examination of womanhood and race wrapped up in the glamorous package of witchcraft.

Rating: A