All Rise...

Judge Brett Cullum wants to know if you're a good witch or a bad witch.

Editor's Note

Our reviews of American Horror Story (Blu-ray) (published October 8th, 2012) and American Horror Story: Asylum (Blu-ray) (published October 21st, 2013) are also available.

The Charge

You got to pick up every stitch
Two rabbits runnin' in the ditch
Beatniks out to make it rich
Oh no, must be the season of the witch
—"Season of the Witch," Donovan

Opening Statement

Coven is the third season of American Horror Story, and it well could be the most divisive to date even while being the most financially successful. It wasn't the surprisingly modern take on a haunted house that season one's "Murder House" was, and it definitely did not have the over the top machinations of almost every horror genre that season two's "Asylum" gave us in gory spades. No, Coven was a horrific take on Sex and the City as reimagined with witches in New Orleans. Campy, fashionable, and plenty of comedy this time around contrasted with the ghouls and resurrected demons that seemed to make up the more typical touchstones of horror. Tried and true horror fans didn't know exactly what to make of it, while gay guys and girls tittered and embraced the show. This was something altogether different than the hard and dark themes of previous seasons. It had plenty of bitchy one-liners, memorable costumes, and more female fire power than ever. Jessica Lange (Big Fish) returned, but she was supported this time by Kathy Bates (Misery) and Angela Bassett (Strange Days). The three actresses proved you can never keep a good witch down when they are so well schooled in the art of "bitchcraft."

Facts of the Case

The story opens with a New Orleans finishing school for witches down on its luck and teetering on last legs. The once robust enrollment has dwindled to four aspiring witches with varying powers: Madison (Emma Roberts, We're the Millers) a teen starlet with the power of telekinesis, Queenie (Gabourey Sidibe, Precious) who can inflict pain by acting as a human voodoo doll, Nan (Jaime Brewer) who can read minds, and the new girl Zoe Benson (Taissa Farmiga, The Bling Ring) who kills any boy she has intercourse with. They are taught and mentored by head mistress Cordelia Foxx (Sarah Paulson, Serenity) who is good with herbs, but can't seem to conjure up much else. Suddenly Cordelia's mother Fiona Goode (Lange) arrives who is the current reigning Supreme witch. She reveals her time is dwindling, and that it is time to shape up the sisterhood of Salem or face extinction from threats on the horizon.

What the girls don't know is Fiona actually seeks a way to preserve her own youth, and taking out her rising competition might be the key to her lust for immortal beauty and power. Enemies rise also in the shape of Marie Laveau (Bassett) who is the eternally young voodoo priestess of historic fame. Fiona finds and releases an old nemesis of hers, the racist and beyond cruel Delphine LaLaurie (Bates) who has been imprisoned in a box for over a century while the world eclipsed her. Also lurking in the shadows are a team of male high-tech witch hunters, a serial killer saxophone player of New Orleans legend, and the voodoo devil himself Papa Legba. With enemies within and without will the next Supreme make it through all of the obstacles to reign? Or will meeting Stevie Nicks be the last thing they do before they die?

The Evidence

Coven ran for thirteen episodes after it debuted in October of 2013. This third season was the highest rated set of shows for the American Horror Story franchise to date, and it won Emmy acting awards for both Jessica Lange and Kathy Bates. It brought the viewership of the series to a new all-time high peaking at five million and retaining at least four million throughout its run. What made it so strong? Pure and simple, it was the acting ensemble that elevated every twist and turn. Jessica Lange, Kathy Bates, and Angela Bassett went for broke with anything they were given. The supporting cast was completely up to the challenge with the likes of Broadway legend Patti Lupone (the original Evita), Dennis O'Hare (True Blood), Leslie Jordan (Will and Grace), and Frances Conroy (Six Feet Under) just to mention a few. No matter whenever the plot flailed, everybody kept the pitch right where it should be.

My biggest beef with this story is the same one I had with "Murder House" and "Asylum." Writers Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk set up the season with a brilliant concept and an incredible stable of characters. They get the right people for every single part, and the show fires on five cylinders for the first act. Then things start to get a little wonky. Rules they established in their world start to waiver, and characters do some things they wouldn't logically do just to serve a storyline. By the end of the run the climax feels rushed, and several plot threads never quite pan out the way they should. American Horror Story: Coven really falls victim to this early on, and the resolve to the show was nowhere near as spectacular as it promised to be from the start. It's always a fun entertaining ride, but plot holes and inconsistencies pop up along with an ending that feels shoehorned to get it all in for the allotted time.

Coven is the least dark chapter so far in the American Horror Story franchise, and it had a comic feel throughout. One strange loophole they allowed was giving certain characters the ability to revive others after death. This meant some of the threat hanging over our gang of teenage witches doesn't feel quite so final. That took a lot of the tension out of the narrative. There was also a rather goofy cameo turn with singer Stevie Nicks who opens the finale with a video music montage. Cool to get this legend and infer she is a witch, but shame on the series for using her in the most basic and least interesting way.

On a positive side, production values were exquisite. The use of location shooting in New Orleans adds a great deal and it's a tactile addition one could never find in Los Angeles. Coven weaves in actual legends from New Orleans including voodoo queen Marie Laveau, and the all too real specter of Delphine LaLaurie. Adding these narratives gives the season an amazing sense of place, and the structures and sets reflect the history of the city. Make-up effects and costumes are also on point. Urban legend has it the idea for the series came from when Jessica Lange requested of Ryan Murphy that she wanted to play someone fashionable and gorgeous in Chanel.

On Blu-ray we get a nice transfer that retains the widescreen high definition television presentation with a serviceable rendering of the series in 1080p resolution. The overall picture is a bit soft and lacking in detail, but the shooting style mandated this along with the need for glamor with the aging stars and young starlets. Colors look natural and skin tones are real and true. Sound is concentrated on the front speakers although it is a true five channel treatment. The full soundstage effects are used sparingly.

Extra features consist only of three featurettes which prove mildly illuminating for fans. The first found on disc one "Zombie Halloween" talks about the seasonal episode with producer Brad Falchuk chiming in along with most of the cast about a zombie battle in the series. Next up on disc three is "Enter the Coven" which is a look at the creation of the theme of this year, and some background on what it was like to film. Also on disc three, "Meet Ms. NOLA" takes viewers on location in New Orleans to explain why the production team and cast thought the location added a ton to the story.

Closing Statement

Coven was a shift for American Horror Story with its female-heavy cast and comedic tone. There was plenty of horror to be doled out, but most of it was heaped on the male characters. They were turned to Frankenstein creatures and a minotaur or two, while the women sailed by in vintage black fashion with witch hats set askew. It was the season of the bitch, and Jessica Lange reigned Supreme. This is easily the most accessible year of the franchise, but it is also the least scary. It's a fun ride through the city of New Orleans with the girls who give it an extra kick. Witchcraft has always been about fear of women, but this show seems to celebrate them at every turn.

The Verdict

A guilty pleasure that would make Samantha, Sabrina, and the Wicked one of the West proud.

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