Genre: Horror | Drama
Creators: Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk
Network: FX
Air Date/Time: October 23, 2013, 10/9c
Written by: James Wong
Directed by: Alfonso Gomez-Rejon
Synopsis:
American Horror Story: Coven tells the secret history of witches and witchcraft in America. Over 300 years have passed since the turbulent days of the Salem witch trials and those who managed to escape are now facing extinction. Mysterious attacks have been escalating against their kind and young girls are being sent away to a special school in New Orleans to learn how to protect themselves. Wrapped up in the turmoil is new arrival, Zoe (Taissa Farmiga), who is harboring a terrifying secret of her own. Alarmed by the recent aggression, Fiona (Jessica Lange), the long-absent Supreme, sweeps back into town, determined to protect the Coven and hell-bent on decimating anyone who gets in her way. American Coven features an extraordinary cast including Jessica Lange, Kathy Bates, Angela Bassett, Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Taissa Farmiga, Emma Roberts, Gabourey Sidibe, Frances Conroy, Lily Rabe, Denis O’Hare, Patti LuPone, and Danny Huston. Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, Dante Di Loreto, Tim Minear, James Wong, Jennifer Salt, and Brad Buecker are Executive Producers of American Horror Story: Coven. It is produced by Twentieth Century Fox Television.
Episode Synopsis: Fiona takes on an unlikely protégé. A guilt-ridden Zoe tries to give Kyle his old life back. Madison has a fiery exchange with Joan Ramsey, a new neighbor.
Welcome back to the mixed bag that is American Horror Story. I almost didn’t review this episode, because I adore the series and this wasn’t exactly a favorite. But I decided that I’ll do all of you a favor by warning you that it isn’t their best. That way your expectations can be adjusted appropriately, and you will watch and enjoy with those lowered expectations and wonder what in the world I was on about. You’re welcome.
As a watched-from-the-beginning fan of American Horror Story, I understand that part of the fabric of the show is that every episode has a different feel. But I’ve got to believe that this basically humorless episode is the result of some supernatural evildoing. Maybe there’s some witchcraft or voodoo in play that made everyone think that there are lots of things that need to happen in this episode, dammit, so let’s get ’em done, no fuss, no muss. Also no fun, no sass, no empathy, no joy, no horror, no surprises. Nothing to love.
Everything feels just a bit off, like everyone brought their “B” game. Writer James Wong has written some of my favorite episodes of AHS in the previous seasons, so it’s not that. There are two new characters in this episode (played by Patti Lupone and Mare Winningham), and they’re great, but still… Even the so-cool Dutching (angled camera) style of director Alfonso Gomez-Rejon feels a little forced. If last week’s episode had everything but the special spark that would make it an American Horror Story best episode, this one is missing that spark and then some. It was even – this is so hard to say about this show – a little predictable.
But it has always been this way in American Horror Story. During the first season, I watched the third episode with the wrong kind of horror; it was the horror of my first disappointing AHS episode. I was so fearful that it marked a sea change. Happily, it was an anomaly. Just as it was when the same thing happened in the second season. I’m guessing this episode is the same as those.
Because when it comes down to it, this is American Horror Story. Even a somewhat disappointing episode is worlds better than almost everything ever in the TV galaxy. It just is. Maybe everyone brought their “B” game, but they’re all in an entirely different league than most other shows. An American Horror Story “B” is everyone else’s shining star with fireworks and chocolate and angels singing. Know that if I ever rate an American Horror Story episode with anything lower than Four Stars, I will be doing so between wracking sobs.
So relax, lower your standards just a teeny bit, get ready for lots to happen, and enjoy the episode. It’s terrific. It just isn’t nearly as terrific as I had hoped.
I give American Horror Story: Coven, Episode 3 “The Replacements“, Four Out of Five Stars.
