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Episode 1: Bitchcraft

By Christine Petralia

Images courtesy of FX Networks

October 10, 2013

 

Episode 1: Bitchcraft (Aired Oct, 9, 2013)

 

Here we go again. Another round of awesome episodes that will eventually round out season three of American Horror Story. This season is named Coven, as it focuses on witches and witchcraft in America. From the previews of the upcoming season it looks as if it will be a ‘battle’ of witches vs. witches, or rather witches of voodoo and black magic. I’m really excited to see how this season goes, as there are a lot of familiar faces from the past two seasons, as well as some really good actresses to fill out an amazing cast.

 

We begin in the 1800s, where Madame LaLaurie (Kathy Bates) basically captures and tortures slaves. She punishes the slave who her daughter slept with by ‘turning him into’ a minotaur. Meanwhile, she forces her other daughter to remove the slaves’ pancreases in order to make a concoction to keep her young.

 

And then, it’s current day and in true AHS fashion there is a sex scene turned violent. Turns out, young Zoe (Taissa Farmiga) has a special gift, or rather killer vagina. Her parents, who had hoped the genetic affiliation with the dark magic from Salem would skip a generation, ship her off to a special school in New Orleans for witches. After being scooped up by Myrtle Snow (Frances Conroy), she boards a train and heads to Miss Robichaux’s Academy for Exceptional Young Ladies, run by Cordelia Foxx (Sarah Paulsen).

 

The school is meant to not only protect the young women, but also allow them to hone their ‘gifts.’ Foxx explains to Zoe and the other three students that turmoil is about among witches. Recently, a young witch, Misty Day (Lily Rabe), who could bring life to the dead, was burned at the stake. She warns the girls that they must be careful about keep their powers safe.

 

During a dinner at the school, we learn what each of the girls’ gifts are. Zoe has her killer vagina, Nan (Jamie Brower) is clairvoyant, Madison Montgomery (Emma Roberts) , an actress, is a telekinetic and Queenie (Gabourey Sidibe) is a human voodoo doll. Madison then drags Zoe to a frat party nearby. While at the party, Zoe meets nice guy Kyle (Evan Peters) and is having a good time, only to have it ruined when she finds out that a bunch of guys date-raped Madison. While Kyle tries to get the videos the guys taped, Madison seeks revenge and makes their party bus crash, killing most on board, including Kyle.

 

Meanwhile, off in Los Angeles, Fiona Goode (Jessica Lange), who we later learn is the Supreme, meaning she has all the powers of witches, is trying to find a way to stay young forever. After stealing the youth of a younger man, she decides to head to New Orleans to help out her daughter, Foxx, with the school, as she is aware of the troubles recently. However, it becomes clear that she has a secret agenda once she arrives.

 

Fiona decides to take the girls on a field trip to the old home of LaLaurie, where they learn not only the history of the woman’s life, but also her death as  she was poisoned by Marie Laveau (Angela Bassett), a witch who practiced voodoo and black magic. Turns out she was the scorned lover of one of the tortured slaves seeking revenge. While in the courtyard, Nan claims she can hear ‘the lady of the house’ beneath the concrete.

 

Later on that night, as Fiona has movers move her into the school, much to the dismay of Cordelia, she heads back to the home and has LaLaurie dug up alive!

 

Zoe also heads to the hospital to find out that Kyle was one of the ones killed on the bus, but the asshole who initiated the gang-rape survived. She seeks revenge for Madison by having her killer sex with him.

 

It was definitely a great way to start off the season. And it was really great to see Lange, Farmiga, Paulsen and Peters back. It was also really nice to see Brewer in a different role this season. She is very talented and I’m really excited to see where her character goes. The addition of other big names, like Bates and Basset, should also be really interesting, though the show doesn’t really need the star power, as the fantastic storylines and acting drive the show by themselves.

 

As usual, I can’t wait for next week’s episode!

Missed an episode? Catch up on the entire season!

Here is your guide to season two, which is about an asylum in Massachusetts and what lurks behind the walls

All works created by Christine McGrath; Centereach, New York  All Rights Reserved 2024

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