American Horror Story: Coven - Recap: Players Only Love You When They're Playing
American Horror Story: Coven returned tonight after taking a few weeks off from the battle to be the next Supreme. What’s it like to find out you have no soul, you ask? Well, let me tell you the story of this one time…
FX "American Horror Story: Coven"
Episode 10 opened with Fiona making Marie feel right at home under her coven’s roof. Marie, who admitted to having a change of heart as a result of Fiona’s kind hospitality, was equal parts thankful and remorseful following Hank’s brutal massacre at the beauty shop thanks to her own failed harebrained scheme. Enter Papa Legba, a fantastically demon-esque being with the ability to grant a mortal eternal life. Hadn’t you been wondering how Marie Laveaux the Voodoo Queen has managed to stay in perfect condition after quite a few centuries? Flash over to the hospital, as the time had come for Marie to pay her yearly due. Annually, Papa appears to collect his price. Having sold her soul to this fine fellow, Marie is now at his beck and call once each year, and his requests have grown increasingly more heinous. Marie enchanted a hospital employee before heading into the nursery to swipe a newborn child. Outside, the alarms alerted police partners to the kidnapping, but another quick act of violent voodoo magic saw the two firing at each other instead. Marie then walked off into the night with her latest form or payment.
The next morning it was back to the usual brainstorming on betrayal over brunch. The truth finally came out regarding Marie’s foolish decision to trust the witch hunter in her quest to eliminate Fiona’s girls, but while we’d previously assumed this revelation would send Fiona over the edge, her venom was directed at Delia (Sarah Paulson) rather than Marie. Her daughter had been the one to allow the viper to live within their midst, proving herself to be even blinder than she’d already let on. Still, Marie’s face reflected what most of us at home were thinking. Fiona was super harsh, sending Delia spiraling even further down the rabbit hole that is being the scorned wife of a witch hunter/ average plant lady in a house full of freakishly strong young witches.
Fiona and Marie, with no help from that "worthless" daughter Delia (Fiona's words! Not mine!), concocted a spell to hit this hive of witch hunters where it hurt the most. After doing enough research on Hank's father's company, Delphi Trust, a clever spell using a mouse maze, traps, and wads of cash to anchor the circle was used to decimate the heart of Delphi.. their finances. We watched as mice meandered around the enchanted maze, the kind that's frequently found in middle school science fairs, and as government men subsequently swarmed the headquarters from afar. While this crippling spell did the trick, it also tipped Frank's father off to witchcraft at work. This company has been around since the days of Salem, a time when it was merely a unit of carpenters. Will these witches truly put an end to their reign of terror, or are they doomed to succumb to their own personal quests for power?
Later, Auntie Myrtle (Frances Conroy) attempted to comfort her dear Cordelia with some supernaturally inspired tunes thanks to the ethereal and alien-esque theremin aka that instrument they use to make the spooky sci-fi ringtone sound effects. Delia refused to budge, instead choosing to smash every beaker in her greenhouse in one wild hissy fit. Myrtle kept on playing the soundtrack to her meltdown, and I started to shift my bet on who’ll be the next Supreme to Delia. I’ll back you, plant lady. I mean, can American Horror Story: Coven ever really come to an end without an adequate reconciliation between Delia and her mother?
FX "American Horror Story: Coven"
Someone else gunning for the chief role in the coven was none other than Nan, who’d probably make a decent Supreme, all things considered. If she was clever enough to display her honed mind control skills by suggesting that Madison nearly shove her cigarette into her vagina, I think she’d be fine at drumming up ideas for neat-o new spells, thinking of cool celebrities to resurrect, and theme parties. Still, Nan’s focus was more so on her dearly departed Luke during Episode 10. After learning of the news of his recent untimely death, Nan ventured over to the neighbors house in order to dig up some dirt on the whereabouts of her boyfriend’s body. With some help from Zoe, she hoped to weasel the information out of Joan so that Misty could work her particular brand of magic mojo. Things fell apart, however, when the duo discovered that Joan had not only had her son cremated but that she was responsible for snuffing him out via pillow in the first place. Nan, furious with this self-righteous woman to the point of snapping, decided to exact her revenge once and for all. No self-inspired penance for Joan! Instead, Nan magically forced Luke’s mother to “cleanse” herself through her own personal method of choice… bleach! Luke’s bleach colonic was no match for the epic guzzling Nan brought down on Joan. Peace be with you, Joan. By peace, I mean a significantly agonizing afterlife. I hope you’re a ghost forever.
FX "American Horror Story: Coven"
Did Episode 10 of AHS: Coven bring about the best cameo this series has ever had to date? We know American Horror Story likes to revive famous figures from our American history. We’ve met the Black Dahlia, a faux version of Anne Frank, etc. This year, Fiona presented Misty, the probable future Supreme, with the greatest gift of all. Stevie Nicks is the White Witch, everybody. Misty Day twirled her shawl like she’d never twirled before, as Stevie Nicks performed a brilliant acoustic version of her “Rhiannon” for the girls. Welcome to "The Magical Delights of Stevie Nicks"! Madison prefers Eminem, but Marshall isn’t her type. All of this hoopla over Misty’s impending rise to power might have been a battle between give and take for Fiona, but Madison wasn’t about to let that “swamp bitch” take her crown. You see, Madison’s heart murmur disappeared after her resurrection. Granted, Misty did resurrect her in the first place, but this is Madison Montgomery.
The next day, Madison treated Misty to a street meat lunch as the two trailed the most hoppin’ funeral procession I’ve ever witnessed. The casket was carried down the streets of New Orleans in a parade-style march to music as loved ones of the man celebrated his life. Madison intitially attempted to convince Misty that Fiona and *gasp* White Witch Stevie would come asking for favors after her power as Supreme was recognized and theirs began to dwindle. Misty, calling Madison out on her blatant cynicism, was challenged to a test. In the graveyard following the walk, Misty commanded the gravediggers handling the casket to halt for a moment while Madison performed her stunt. As it turns out, she too has garnered the power of resurgence! The man rose from his casket, thankfully cloaked by several mausoleums, and it seemed Misty did indeed have a formidable opponent on her hands. Madison had gotten into her head, masquerading as nothing more than a welcoming friend with equal power, but the moment that followed proved otherwise. Madison suggested that Misty lay her shawl, a personal gift from Stevie, to rest in the empty casket. Could Misty ever truly be the Supreme if she lived in the shadow of Stevie Nicks? That's something all of us have to ask about ourselves every once in a while, you know? In what was probably the most suspenseful moment of Season 3 thus far, the swamp witch considered the sacrifice, only to clasp her new prized possession close to her heart. Phew, that was a close one! It was no matter, though. Madison’s scheme had worked, and in her mere minuscule bout with insecurity, Misty rendered herself vulnerable to a crack in the head from a brick wielded by Madison. Toppling into the casket unconscious, Misty was sealed inside as Madison put the gravediggers back to work sealing the “body” inside the empty mausoleum.Stupid bitch.FX "American Horror Story: Coven"
Desperate to live forever, Fiona called out to Papa Legba with an offering of some of the finest cocaine she could scrounge up. We’ve always known Fiona to be desperate for eternal youth, but this scene truly showed us just how far she’d go to get it. Papa’s services come at a price, of course, but Fiona is no Marie. Marie had previously recalled the tale of her own misfortune after some poking and prodding from Fiona. Cocky and young, the powerful voodoo priestess made a deal for her own eternal life, assuming the yearly payment would mean some sort of sexual favor. Hey, Papa’s a snappy dresser and charming dude! However, she had gravely misjudged her deal. Papa came for her first-born child, craving the soul of an innocent in exchange for Marie’s youth. Marie lives with this regret forever. Fiona, on the other hand, would cripple Delia in a second for a shot at eternity. An innocent newborn life? Psht! This new agreement seemed imminent, yet when Papa leaned in to seal eternity with a kiss, he withdrew! Fiona has nothing to offer him. Fiona… has no soul. Bye, girl!
Nan couldn’t escape the mental wailing of a baby within the walls of Miss Robichaux’s Academy. From within an enchanted armoire, she pulled Marie’s annual offering into her arms. Unfortunately, her honorable rescue mission was put to a halt when Laveau returned to claim what she’d stolen for Papa. In the end, Nan might be plucky, but Fiona’s demand that she hand over the baby knocked the odds out of her favor. Hmm… Could she have taken Marie on her own? Nan’s been shaping up in the power department! Sadly, that all came to a sorry end by the close of Episode 10. Fiona, realizing that her only shot at eternal youth is to remain the Supreme by eliminating her competition, teamed up with Marie to kill two birds with one stone. The dastardly duo murdered Nan via drowning in the bathtub before calling out to Papa Legba. Legba, who was very clear with what he desired, was coerced to accept this makeshift offering. Well, Nan is kind of pure, at least by AHS: Coven standards. Joan was a jerk.She's innocent, mostly. She killed the neighbor, but the bitch had it coming.Be a sport!
FX "American Horror Story: Coven"
In the end, Nan’s spirit went willingly to the other side with Legba. She’s too good for this coven anyway, and apparently the next realm over is a decent time! Also, how great are Marie and Fiona together? Now that we know that Marie is not at all innocent, we can totally accept them as partners in crime. Even Papa Legba knows they’re going to be trouble! I also like the fact that both have been caught up in their own seriously twisted but incredibly deep love story. Fiona has the Axeman (Danny Huston) in her corner as she’ll continue to mutilate the few witches left in order to remain the Supreme. Marie, if you recall, had once had the Minotaur, her Bastian.
Episode 10 of American Horror Story: Coven closed with Fiona in despair, listening to one more private performance from Stevie. “Has Anyone Ever Written Anything For You.” Perfect.
What did you think of Episode 10 of American Horror Story: Coven, "The Magical Delights of Stevie Nicks"? Do you enjoy Fiona and Marie working as a team? Is there any resurrecting Nan now that her soul has been passed over to Papa Legba? Where's Queenie? In the battle for the position of Supreme, place your bets!