Thanks to the super creepy storytelling of Ryan Murphy (yes he is the same guy that does "Glee") and the main actors (who appear as different characters each time around) each season is it's own crazy universe.
"Coven" centers on a secret school for witches in New Orleans. It's official name is 'Miss Robichaux’s Academy for Exceptional Young Ladies". We also meet a woman from the 1830s who tortured her slaves and a voodoo priestess. Characters include::
- Fiona Goode (Jessica Lange)- she is a "Supreme" (but not as in Diana Ross and the Supremes). She is the most powerful kind of witch; her daughter is Cordelia.
- Cordelia Foxx (Sarah Paulson)- she is the daughter of a Supreme and is the headmistress at the school. She has mommy issues.
- Zoe Benson- new arrival at the school; she was sent away by her parents; her magic power is killing boys during sex.
- Madison Montgomery (Emma Roberts)- a movie star; she has the power to turn over buses etc. Don't make her mad.
- Myrtle Snow (Frances Conroy) the red haired crazy lady that, along with several sunglass wearing albinos, escort Zoe to the school.
- Kyle Spencer (Evan Peters)- he was trying to keep the frat boys out of trouble but that didn't work at all
- Misty Day (Lily Rabe)- a witch burned at the stake (well it wasn't really a "stake", I think she was actually burned at some old car parts) for resurrecting a bird.
- Spauling (Denis O'Hare)- the butler at the school; he doesn't speak because he tongue was cut out but we don't know why.
- Delphine LaLaurie (Kathy Bates)- a wealthy woman in the 1830s who tortured her slaves; based on a real life person who was never arrested for her crimes; she disappeared and was never seen again.
- Nan (Jamie Brewer)- another girl at the school; she is a clairvoyant.
- Marie Laveau (Angela Bassett)- based on another real life character; she was a voodoo queen in New Orleands; is listed as a guest star so wont be in the whole season; we think she killed Madame Laveau in episode 1 but she did not.
- Queenie (Gabourey Sidibe)- another student at the school; also listed as a guest star. She can inflict pain on others by hurting herself. Man, do I wish I had that power.
- Fiona sucks the life out of someone (literally). She apparently is trying to stay young forever.
- Zoe arrives at the school and we meet all the main players.
- Fiona shows up unannounced. Cordelia wants her to leave but she's not going anywhere. Apparently they are all in great danger and she's there to help since she's a "Supreme". Fiona and Cordelia do not have a warm and fuzzy relationship.
- Madison and Zoe go to a frat party. Madison is drugged and raped. She seeks revenge by turning over a bus with all the culprits in it. Many are killed or badly injured. Zoe goes to the hospital to see if Kyle is there. Apparently it was love at first sight when they met. She thinks he's dead but he'll be back since he's a main character.
- In a second storyline, Madame LaLaurie is torturing slaves in the attic (and she's bathing in their blood). Marie Laveau makes a potent which she drinks. We think LaLaurie is dead. At the end of the episode Fiona has some men dig up a coffin. Delphine is alive but not so well. She has been in there for ~200 years due to a spell.
Favorite quotes:
- "Come on Mary Todd Lincoln, I'll buy you a drink"- Fiona to a freshly out of the box LaLaurie.
- "I'm a human voodoo doll"- Queenie.
- "We are under siege. Our lives, our very existence is always at risk. Know this or face extinction"- Cordelia
Grade: 4 1/2 Monsters (out of 5). A great first episode. I just hope they plotted out the entire season this time. "Asylum" peaked 4 episodes from the end and then fizzled out. I just hope "Coven" has learned from this mistake and is more consistent.
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