And so, in an unexpected twist, the most obvious candidate
for the next Supreme assumed the title. Which is a perfectly fine resolution
for that recently promoted sub-plot! Up until three weeks ago it didn’t even
seem like the writers cared very much about who the next leader of the tiny
coven was going to be, instead choosing to focus on the witch-hunters, or the
racial tension, or whatever frustrating non-moving plot thread tickled their
fancy. In previous years, this reluctance to adhere to any particular direction
didn’t seem like something to hold against the show. Among the madness of alien
abductions, nazi scientists, rubber-suited murderers and demon possessed nuns, there
was always a strong central theme that pulled the audience (and the show) through
to the end. This year’s miscellaneous madness wasn’t even that interesting (or
gorily titillating in that peculiar Ryan Murphy way)- Patti Lupone bleach
colonics, Cordelia’s eyeless to-ing and fro-ing; it was all very
inconsequential. The Patti Lupone stuff was especially egregious and barely
related to the show. It calls to mind the piggy stuff from season one- weirdly
out of place and taking time away from more interesting threads.
Who am I to call out what is and isn’t related to what the
show is all about, though? Maybe there was a coherent narrative that I just
missed? I’d like to hope that there was something more to this show. Previous
years (especially Asylum) have transcended the hodge podge, monster of the week
mayhem. Asylum even became genuinely moving in its final episodes, with its compelling
resolution to Kit and Jude’s narratives. The writers worked hard to interweave
the character’s shared damage and loneliness into a beautiful resolution that
became the emotional core of that season. Lange is similarly well-served in her
final moments on Coven. As her character finally learns to accept death we get
the first genuinely moving moment of this season. The show has tried hard to grab
for pathos in previous weeks or else has curiously missed out on moments that
should have been more affecting (like Nan’s death) but this is the first moment
that just works due to the simple, honest chemistry of Sarah Paulson and
Jessica Lange. It’s a great moment that could have been spectacular had the
writers served this relationship better in previous weeks, beyond their one
note screaming at each other.
It reminds me of some of the hints at tenderness that the actresses
got to share in Murder House and Asylum (especially Asylum). What also works is
the final glimpse of Fiona we get in her version of Hell. It’s one of the only effective
pieces of horror in a season that has tried too hard to be gory and vulgar. Too
often this season, the show has shied away from the psychological horror of
previous seasons (a type of horror that the show is vastly better at than
straight up jump-frights or torture porn). This throwback to what worked in
Asylum is mildly encouraging for what’s to come in the upcoming Circus, Cult or
whatever else season 4 is purported to be. The show harks back to the finale of
Asylum in other weird ways too. Cordelia’s television interview exposing the
truth of the Coven is a strange (and presumably intentional) reflection of Lana
Winters’ interview at the end of Asylum. Unfortunately, Cordelia Goode is just
not half as interesting a character as Lana Winters’ so the scenes of her
assuming power in the finale aren’t half as compelling as the grotesque
exposure of Lana Winters’ monstrous side in Asylum. This moment is a pale
reflection of better things. But what do I know! Critics and oodles of fans
adored this season. On the surface I can see why. It looked beautiful this
year. The academy is a stunning set. The aesthetics of New Orleans in the 1800s
and the modern day just work really well too, but weren’t capitalised on
enough- we should have had way more stuff set in the deep dark Bayou. The cast
were pretty great this year too- as shallow as this season was, it was great to
see Frances Conroy, Jessica Lange, Angela Basset and Kathy Bates vamping about
the place. It was a frothy, fun season not made for closer scrutiny, like
Asylum was.
So, what was the lasting impression of Coven? Some things
worked for me this season: the zombie invasion was an individually strong
episode. Emma Roberts is a strong addition to the ensemble. It looked beautiful
frequently. Stevie Nicks and Lily Rabe channelling Stevie Nicks- joyous! Myrtle
and her theremin provided the most solid laughs this season. So much just fell
on its face, though: Evan Peters, one of the most compelling actors in season
2, was criminally underused. Taissa Farmiga (of the incredibly strong Farmiga
horror dynasty) was similarly wasted. Her subtle performance in season 1 was a
delight, but here she was just a dull Mary Sue.
American Horror Story has shown that it has the power to
move its audience close to tears in the past, as well as providing the
occasional scare and more than the odd campy moment. Season 3 has a lot of
these individual components, but they never manage to hang together as a
cohesive narrative unit long enough to compel the audience to feel anything
other than mild amusement.
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