American Horror Story: Coven 3.07 Review: An Indifference to Suffering

For any that have yet to watch last night’s episode of American Horror Story: Coven, entitled ‘The Dead’, that is what I suggest you do now before reading ahead. This is not a spoiler free blog. THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS! You’ve been warned.

As opposed to last week’s terribly filmed episode, this one was much better. I feel like it’s a hit and miss every week with this series; one week it’s bad, the next it’s good. This episode would fall in the latter character. The cinematography was overall very well done, the story progressed immensely in numerous ways, and we got more insight on a fair amount of the characters. That is what I would call a job well done.

There were a lot moments that made me feel something in this episode. First off, I feel really bad for Tate – Kyle, I mean Kyle – who doesn’t feel like himself because he’s composed of different body parts, and is trying to work through those issues. Still, I would like it if he could be able to talk intelligently, at some point. Also, I really felt for Madison, for once, with her whole speech about being apart of the Y Generation and how she can no longer feel even if she wanted to. In life she took it for granted, and now half-dead she doesn’t have it. Except for, apparently, when she does another dead person (read: Kyle). Another thing is how expressive Jessica Lange is in her physical movements. Just the shots of her hands rubbing together were rather evocative and so very Lange; I can remember her doing the same thing in season one. And one more thing was the exquisite use of the saxophone. The sound it makes as it is expertly played is such a beautiful thing to behold.

I really enjoyed the way this started off with a flashback of Kyle and his frat brothers and there tattoos, including a hint of the situation with his mother in that broken look he briefly had. Then to fold that into the next scene where he cries over having the tattoos on his body, such a masterfully done technique used. My one issue with Kyle this episode is that there hasn’t been quite enough movement with his character. We can see he cares for Zoe, and that he’s still working through all the things with his mom and frat brothers, but then to go and have sex with Madison was a little iffy. Not that I’m against the use of it, I just found his fondness for Zoe, despite the bond that they shared that Madison seemed to manipulate, it didn’t quite fit in right there. But then it, of course, led to what I can only say must be a threesome. I’m really not sure where they’re going with this now. Was that all just because Evan Peters and Emma Roberts are dating? It kind of felt that way to me.

Elsewhere, it seems that Queenie has joined Marie Laveau (who, can I just say, is being played brilliantly by Angela Bassett) over on the Voodoo side. How was this not obvious that it would happen? Isn’t her witch power a Voodoo power? I could’ve sworn she descended from the same line as Laveau. Plus Queenie was just getting annoyingly stupid. Not feeling apart of the coven and everything when really she was the one keeping the coven at arms length because she didn’t feel like she belonged. It’s not their fault they weren’t trying to include her, she never even acted like she wanted to be there, and sometimes you just have to take the initiative – and not blame everyone else. I think that’s the main reason I can’t stand her character; I just really wish she would die soon. She’s grotesquely overweight, and that’s just not okay.

So all in all, this was a good episode. Despite the pervy Axeman, who watched Fiona grow up into a woman and his feelings changed from fatherly to manly, this was a good episode. There was a little too much focus on Fiona and the Axeman, but that could just be me feeling that way because her character is kind of getting on my nerves. I did enjoy the one-on-one between Cordelia and Zoe, and Zoe’s initiative with Spalding – although I will miss O’Hare dancing with the dolls. Also, I can’t finish without commenting on that beautiful arsenal Cordelia’s – unbeknownst to her – witch hunter husband. That was a nice display. Otherwise, I enjoyed this week’s episode, now let’s just see about next week.

My rating: 7.5 out of 10.

Best Lines:

“You can’t drink or fight, you’re a little bitch.” – Kyle tells his frat brother who just got an Irish-related tattoo, in a flashback.

“A wounded animal will rip you apart if it’s cornered.” – Cordelia explains to Zoe, regarding Fiona.

Alright, folks, that’s all for tonight. Check back in tomorrow night for my reviews of The Vampire Diaries, Once Upon A Time In Wonderland, Grey’s Anatomy, and The Crazy Ones – not necessarily in that order.

American Horror Story: Coven 3.03 Review: You Can't Fight Getting Older

Anyone that has yet to watch last night’s episode of American Horror Story: Coven, entitled ‘The Replacements’, then I suggest you go do so now. This is not a spoiler free blog. THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS! You’ve been warned.

This episode was a little too Fiona centric. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed watching the flashbacks with the actress playing a younger Jessica Lange, but for a series with only twelve episodes in a season, and one season is one complete story, they’re squandering away minutes to unnecessary additions. Plus she’s not scary enough. She may murder those she chooses, but I’ve watched numerous series about serial killers (i.e. Dexter) and that doesn’t scare me all that much. She’s afraid of aging, getting older and not being attractive, and that’s because she’s not an attractive person beneath the skin.

Again, can I just enforce how strongly I dislike the cinematography techniques this season? They’re far too distracting and add little to the overall story. I mean why does it have to constantly be moving? This series is not on a boat, and yet it insists on making me feel like we are and making me rather seasick.

It was rather intriguing to watch Fiona jump to the conclusion that Madison was the next Supreme. But I suppose she is in a harried state, and despite witches having the possibility of carrying more than one power, she deduced that it must be her. So now she’s dead, because she didn’t want to kill Fiona to take the full Supreme power. Still, I have the strong belief that Zoe is the next Supreme, why else would she be bragged as being important to the overall season, other than to bring Tate – I mean Kyle – back from the dead?

All this Supreme business, and I have to take note of the issue with the name. Is that actually what the head witch of a coven was believed to be called? Otherwise it’s a rather moronic name to call them, rather distracting. Every time I hear the word, I think of the Supremes, and I don’t think that’s what this season had in mind at all.

I finally figured out who Denis O’Hare is playing. Kind of a blink and you miss him character, being that he looks very little like himself and his character’s tongue was cut out so he’s mute. That’s right, he’s the butler. Here I was thinking he’d been listed as a series regular this season, and between the first two episodes had yet to appear. Then I really get a good look at the character Spalding this episode, and low and behold it’s O’Hare. Not much point to having him this season if he can’t talk.

Speaking of being unable to talk, let’s discuss Kyle (or Tate forever in my mind). Can he please start speaking soon? I’m not a fan of the heavy physical acting, I find a person’s voice and words helps form who they are – being a writer as I am. He did kind of yell this week, gutturally I suppose, when he bludgeoned his mother to death – who totally deserved it for the sexual abuse she put him through. Though, that did come as a curveball, he seemed a little too normal on the bus in the first episode, and he didn’t react as if he understood what Madison was going through when she was being raped, just mortified by the horrendous act his frat brothers were committing.

Two things I enjoyed this week. One was Misty Day, watching her array of emotions in the brief moments she appeared this week. I’m curious to know what is up with her abandonment issues? Is it because she never fit in? Or because she was burnt as a witch? The second was the way Zoe was dressed this week. She looked very poised and classy – especially opposed to Madison – and she looked very put together with her perfectly straightened hair. These two and Kyle are definitely my favourites this season thus far.

Overall better than the premiere episode, but still not great. I’d expect more from a series with the word ‘horror’ in it. But I’m trying to make peace with my disappointment for each season since the first. Maybe it set the bar too high, or there were no expectations for it as it was the first season and there are expectations for the last two seasons. Either way, I still think I wouldn’t mind this season if the cinematography was less distracting.

My rating: 7 out of 10.

Best Line:

“This coven doesn’t need a new Supreme, it needs a new rug.” – Fiona states, referring to the rug she’s bloodied with Madison’s body.

So it seems like I was able to post this tonight, or morning for most people just getting up now. Anyways, check back tomorrow – or later today – for reviews of The Vampire Diaries, Once Upon a Time in Wonderland, Grey’s Anatomy, and The Crazy Ones.

American Horror Story: Coven 3.01 Review: When Witches Don't Fight, They Burn

Anyone that has yet to watch the season premiere of American Horror Story: Coven, titled ‘Bitchcraft’, then I suggest you do so now. As always, this is not a spoiler free blog. THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS! That includes spoilers from previous seasons, as this is an anthology series. You’ve been warned.

Okay, I have to say I am sorely disappointed in this season premiere. Sure it was better than last season, but last season was terrible, and it in no way touched the series premiere in any way. After all the build up and excitement I felt going into this season, I honestly need to start lowering my expectations with this show. The problem is, the promos are always so great and so creepy, but the show almost always falls flat, and this episode definitely did.

The cinematography was TERRIBLE in this episode – so terrible, all caps was absolutely necessary to express just how bad it was. Honestly, what was the need for so many convex images? That just made it TERRIBLE! And, was it absolutely necessary to keep slanting the camera so I kept feeling like the actors should be sliding around? Whomever shot this episode needs to be fired and kept away from a camera for the rest of their lives, that’s how bad this episode was. It wasn’t artsy, it wasn’t fresh, it wasn’t modern, it was just plain bad. Stay away from the camera Mr. Alfonso Gomez-Rejon, you’re a terrible director.

My other problem with this episode was how much time they focused on Kathy Bates’ character Madame Delphine Lalaurie. Five whole minutes at the beginning of the episode? That’s how you think this season should be introduced to viewers’ eyes? Two minutes, tops, that’s all that was needed, the rest was simply unnecessary.

Another thing, this is called American Horror Story with the subtitle Coven, there should be something scary to the episode. There’s only twelve episodes to a season, don’t go wasting your time away on needless issues. Where’s the great horror from the first season? I miss that. I miss crazy, psychotic Tate, and the Harmon’s. I miss Constance, and I desperately want to know what happened to the devil child. At least last season got tied up, what was necessary about leaving open storylines for the first season? But my point is, this season needs more horror, especially since last season wasn’t scary at all, other than how incredibly scarring it was. By scary, I mean ghosts, and bumps in the night. Stuff most people have nightmares about (I say most because I’m not one of those, I just like those scares). If I’d known there wasn’t going to be anything creepy about this episode, I would’ve left the light on so I could write my notes easier.

And one more thing, those opening titles they weren’t good. At least season two had a creepy title sequence, though not quite as good as the first seasons, but this season nothing. I kept thinking the hooded people were from the KKK, with the pointed hoods. But I suppose they’d rather be dead than caught wearing black. Still, that was distracting. You have more time than a regular full season series to get the ball rolling for twelve episodes of fun, be more creative.

Now in relation to characters. Emma Roberts did surprisingly well in her role as the fallen movie star witch. Both Gabourey Sidibe and Jamie Brewer were good in their respective roles. Jessica Lange wasn’t bad either, but nowhere near as great as she was as Constance. Now, Frances Conroy? I would’ve expected more from her. She felt like she was merely doing an impression, rather than embodying the character she was supposed to be. Lily Rabe was a little blah, compared to her previous two roles in this series, as was Sarah Paulson’s meek Cordelia. Angela Basset was great in her brief role as Marie Laveau, I just hope she’s more affluent in this season. I was expecting more of Evan Peters, I was under the impression he was going to be encompassing a role closer to Tate than last season’s Kit. Although his chemistry with Taissa Farmiga is palpable, he didn’t seem real in the scene on the frat bus. And then there’s Taissa herself. While Violet was a bit of a downer, the realistic perspective she had on life in weird shades was wonderful, as was her relationship with Tate. But she just didn’t seem to have enough of an edge in this episode, and what the hell was up with her killing her boyfriend because she had sex with him? Why would that be a witch’s power?

I desperately hope this season gets better. It’s already better than last season, but last season was awful. The woman in me that always picks favourites desperately wanted Zoe to be the Supreme, but I wonder if she could even be if Fiona is still alive. Still, I hope she somehow turns out to be the next one, though I doubt it will happen.

My one final question before I go is, how in the hell is Lalaurie alive? And why would she go up against Fiona? (So I guess that’s not one question, but they’re along the same lines as each other.) I just find it ridiculous she was seen dying by Marie Laveau’s hand, and then ends up still alive after being dug up. What the hell is that all about? I know Kathy Bates is a good actress (although I much prefer her Southern role in Titanic), but that doesn’t justify illogical prolonged life. But I suppose I should wait for the answer before I complain.

Oh, and really? You use Grey Damon merely so he can rape a witch, she can try and kill all the people who gang raped her (and one innocent victim), and he can be killed by Zoe? He’s a better actor than that, at least use him in a role that counts. I liked him on The Nine Lives of Chloe King… although I loved Alec more.

My rating: 6 out of 10.

Best Lines:

“Like my cousin Amanda, she’s just bulimic.” – Zoe explaining that the witch gene doesn’t hit every female in a family.

“The light hit him just fine.” – Madison explaining how she killed her agent.

“Don’t make me drop a house on you.” – Fiona weakly threatens her daughter, after she’s mentioned she’s tempted to change the locks.

Okay, I’m off to watch The Crazy Ones to get this negativity out of my system. Then I’ll at least get one or two more in.