Ten years after its initial air date, American Horror Story’s third season, Coven, remains Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk’s best season of the show to date. It is a dark comedy centring on the lives of a house of modern witches. The story follows Zoe, played by Taissa Farmiga, as she discovers that she is a witch and is sent to Miss Robichaux’s Academy to be taught control over her powers by Cordelia Foxx (Sarah Paulson). AHS regular Jessica Lange portrays Fiona Goode, Cordelia’s mother, and Supreme Witch, who endeavours to keep herself young as her powers begin to fade.
Angela Bassett and Kathy Bates made their American Horror Story debuts as Marie Laveau, the voodoo queen and enemyturned-frenemy to Lange’s Fiona Goode —for which Basset was nominated for a Primetime Emmy —and Madame Delphine LaLaurie, a wealthy socialite from 1830s New Orleans who tortured and killed 62 of her black slaves and used their blood to keep herself young, respectively. Both characters are based on actual historical figures, and to see such powerhouse actresses as Bates, Bassett, and Lange cross paths was thrilling.
American Horror Story’s third season, Coven, remains Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk’s best season of the show to date.”
Though no AHS story would be complete without its fair share of blood and gore, this season had a lighter tone than its gory predecessors. This is evident in the iconic witch burning scene in which Frances Conroy’s Myrtle Snow cries out ‘Balenciaga’ as she is burnt, or when Goode introduces Stevie Nicks as a white witch, cementing the highcamp status of this season.
However, at times, certain aspects of this season’s levity were overkill, such as the overuse of resurrection and Madame LaLaurie being reduced to a severed head forced to watch episodes of Roots. Though, they did serve a wider purpose. There is a sense of irony in Fiona Goode’s mission to prolong her life being fruitless whilst the witches surrounding her all frequently return from the dead stronger than before, and LaLaurie’s tumultuous relationship with Queenie ultimately does not negate her violent sins and racist beliefs, as she is sentenced to hell upon her death. Although LaLaurie’s character development may be seen as a faux redemption arc, it is difficult to believe that someone who could commit such grotesque acts could be capable of changing her spots. Kathy Bates’ performance as LaLaurie depicts her as a narcissistic psychopath who genuinely believes herself to have done nothing wrong.
American Horror Story: Coven utilises some of Murphy’s most tried-and-true horror methods, only with and extra level of camp to it. Murphy addresses topics such as sexuality, racism, and power, set against a background of slavery and witch trials. Truly though, it is the incredibly strong performances that enforce and represent these topics, that make this season one of the most iconic of the show ten years on.