American Horror Story: Coven 3.09 Review: Witch Hunters

Anyone that has yet to watch Wednesday night’s episode of American Horror Story: Coven, entitled ‘Head’, then you’re taking longer to watch it than I am to review it, I suggest you do that now. This is not a spoiler free blog. THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS! You’ve been warned.

So, three episodes left until the season finale, in which this series of characters wrap themselves up. With that in mind, I’m not sure the progression of this story is being done quite as well as the first season was. This whole dedicating flashbacks to Hank business this week was a tad boring, and wasn’t really necessary to complete his story. So, basically there’s an entire company dedicated to taking witch-kind down, and yet they supposedly have very few left? It seems a little ludicrous to me. Also, the fact that Hank was merely “placed” in the coven as eyes, when it was made to look like he took the initiative to get into bed with Marie Laveau in order to take these witches down. Sloppy writing right there if you ask me.

Basically, what I found is that this week’s episode was terribly slow. We were back to horribly done camera angles. I’m sorry, it’s not artsy, it’s nauseating; please stop it so I can enjoy this program. They go through all of this struggle with Kyle and stuff, only to have Fiona swoop in and fix him to the best of her abilities. And yet, he’s still not fully there; he’s just around as an attack dog. I have to say, of all the characters this season, I’m most disappointed with Kyle. I’d thought by now he’d at least be mostly back to who he was, but now he’s apparently just their attack dog? What? It made sense that he’d kill his mother, but that other dog? Also, what was this whole business of having the council members cut up? I’d understand Myrtle’s desire for revenge, but that seemed a bit over the top if you ask me.

All in all, while I was happy to have Cordelia get her sight back, as well as watching Marie Laveau go crawling to the witches, I’m not sure this season is shaping up to be anywhere near as good as I’d hoped it would be. The villains of the season seem pretty pathetic when you look at it, and it appears as if there is no overarching story developing at all this season. This really is a mess of a season, and I don’t see how it thinks it could get any better. That’s two disappointing seasons in a row; if next year isn’t better, I’ll probably be done.  The writing is just nowhere near as tight and well-developed as it really should be, and it makes me incredibly disappointed in the showrunner for this season. Sure, that song was beautiful at the end, but about half of each episode could be cut out and it would still be enjoyable. It’s dissatisfying.

My rating: 6.5 out of 10 (and that .5 is merely for the last five minutes).

Best Lines:

“No, bitch, she’s clairvoyant.” – Madison states.

“You’re one stubborn old lady head, you know?” – Queenie remarks.

Okay, my apologies for the lateness of this, but I’ve just had a long couple of days. I have a few more reviews to catch up on, but probably won’t get to those tonight. Maybe The Crazy Ones, but I’m not sure yet. So check back later to see.

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 3.04 Review: United We Stand, Divided We Fall

For all those that have yet to watch Wednesday’s episode of American Horror Story: Coven, titled ‘Fearful Pranks Ensue’, this is the only point where I’ll suggest you go and do that now before reading ahead. This is not a spoiler free blog. THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS! Proceed at your own discretion.

This week’s episode was so beyond better than the last three episodes, it’s exciting to think. No, there hasn’t been much horror to this season, but the writing was a lot tighter this week, the characters more interesting, and the most encouraging thing about this week’s episode was how wonderful the cinematography was compared to previous weeks. There were still a few moments to the episode, most notably near the end, that could’ve been done without, but overall I was much happier with the camera work this week.

At first I was a little worried Spalding’s backstory would turn out to be moronic, but it was astonishingly interestingly done. It was quite obvious that he was in love with Fiona, but that was still an intriguing touch added in there that he was the person to cut his tongue out. Still, I feel like there needs to be a little more development to him, because he’s really not that great of a character for someone such as Denis O’Hare.

There several small things I loved about this episode. It made me laugh to see Spalding cover his paper from the prying eyes of the Council. I also liked how Zoe seemed to take charge with Kyle, and how she seemed to be a stronger character this week then a few episodes ago. Just leads me to believe she really is the next Supreme. It was also sad but well done the way Marie Leveau took care of that one woman who lost her son to black haters.

There are definitely some questions circulating in my head. Are the writers calling Voodoo Black witchcraft? I’d think they’d give more credit to the craft that it is its own thing. What’s with the dolls in Spalding’s room, and that he was going to dress up Madison’s dead body in Fiona’s old dress? Where did Kyle run off to, and why? Why wasn’t Zoe out there looking for him? And why in all hell did Cordelia’s husband kill that woman? Oh, and was it really necessary to just write that actress into one episode like that when she’s so much better than just a one episode character?

All in all, this week was definitely an improvement. There are still kinks to be worked out by the end of the season, and more horror definitely needs to be added, but it’s getting better a lot quicker than last season did. Maybe season one set the bar too high, but I still expect a lot when that is what’s been created. I am excited to see Marie Leveau and Fiona go head to head.

My rating: 7.5 out of 10.

Best Line:

“If she’s dead, it’s probably because she got wasted and offered the Grim Reaper a hand job.” – Queenie says to the Witches Council.

Alright, that’ll have to be all for the night because I’m still exhausted. My brain is starting to nod off, so I’m signing out. I’ll try and post the review of Thursday’s episode of The Crazy Ones before I go to work tomorrow, but no promises.

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.