Genre: Horror | Drama

Creators: Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk

Network: FX

Air Date/Time: January 8, 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 attempts to out the new Supreme with a visit from Stevie Nicks. Cordelia learns the truth about Hank and the Witch Hunters. Madison tries to eliminate her competition for the Supremacy.

As you may recall, when we last saw American Horror Story: Coven we had just witnessed a bloodbath at Marie Laveau’s, and she took herself to the doorstep of the Academy for shelter and maybe some regrouping. We have had to wait nearly a month to see what comes next. And oh, wait til you see.

Tonight’s new episode is probably my favorite to date. It moves from strength to strength, and at a pretty good clip. It was written by James Wong and directed by Alfonso Gomez-Rejon, AHS standard-bearers, though ironically the same men who wrote and directed my least favorite (but still excellent) episode of Coven to date, Episode 3, “The Replacements”. Whatever was missing in that episode has been found in abundance here. That once-missing “spark”? It’s a flame here. This episode burns.

We get stellar performances from everyone who remains in the continually dwindling cast, each of whom really dig in to a script clearly written to their individual strengths. I’d list the standouts, but honestly, it’s every single one of them. And as a special treat, special guest star Stevie Nicks is just as awesome in this role as “almost-herself” as Misty could hope for. She is so cool, and yet somehow her interaction with Misty and especially with Fiona makes her even cooler.

There’s one more guest star this week whom I won’t identify, since I didn’t realize who it was until after it was over. In fact, it came to me after I had finalized this review. It’s an outrageous, excellent performance, in a completely different way than we may have seen before. More about that one next week.

It is clear that the director knows and loves the actors and this series; in this episode it is also clear why he is the person chosen by showrunner Ryan Murphy to have set the tone for the cinematic look of the entire season. Wacky angles abound, but are perfectly in sync with the action of the story and act as exceptional enhancements.

I frankly for once didn’t really notice much about the costumes and sets, because the storylines and performances are so rich. The colors and details and use of space this season have always been noteworthy, and are surely just as remarkable as ever this week.

This is a content-full, fresh, twisty, twisted episode. Things move right along, and when you’re done you’ll know that we are careening headlong into the final three episodes at breakneck – maybe literally – speed.

I give American Horror Story: Coven, Episode 10 “The Magical Delights of Stevie Nicks”, Five Out of Five Stars.