American Horror Story: Coven episode 12 “Go To Hell” lives up to its title, and you cannot imagine who will not return this season! Read our full recap below!
American Horror Story: Coven‘s second-to-last chapter set a high bar for next week’s finale. Hell welcomes a few new members this evening, while firing the gun for a cut-throat race for the next Supreme.
The Seven Wonders: The witches of the Coven are getting stronger. There is no denying that Madison’s ability to perform transmutation, Queenie’s resurrection skills, and each girl’s power to use telekinesis leaves no clear sign as to who will rise as the next Supreme. The one to take the challenge and perform the Seven Wonders will either prove herself to the Coven, or die trying. The Seven Wonders are as follows: Telekinesis, Concilium, Transmutation, Divination, Vitalum Vitalis, Descensum, and Pyrokinesis.
“Seven acts of magic so advanced, each pushes the boundaries of craft into art.” A quote from the introductory video to the Seven Wonders casts beauty onto a task built up to be nothing more than an attempt to overthrow a vindictive leader.
Decensum: Papa Legba, a deity worthy of respect in Queenie’s eyes, resides in the afterlife. Performing the task of decensum, a descent into the nether world, Queenie catches a glimpse of her personal hell: Chubbie’s Chicken where her future and power were non-existent. Papa Legba, impressed with her abilities to visit so soon, offers to chat about Marie once she makes it out alive. In a less than dramatic 180-degree turn, Queenie returns to her room, chatting with Papa Legba over hot cocoa. Marie’s body, which is scattered about the city thanks to her “buttermilk biscuit” enemy, is no longer able to fulfill her debt. Thus, the immortality bond between Delphine and Marie turns moot and Delphine’s life is up for grabs.
Pearls of Wisdom: The tour of Madame LaLaurie’s torture chamber at the opening of the season earns a rewrite at the close. Clad in a dress suit, pearls, and sporting a fashionable new hairdo, Delphine debunks the myths of the household to tourist groups after hearing the atrocious story. She reduces the attic that once held horrors to a storage room where a misunderstood visionary gained the reputation of a savage. Besides, who would waste time above the house when fabulous parties are occurring downstairs? Delphine admits to killing 62 slaves (she kept a ledger), not 150, but adds a tour guide with a misconception to the list.
Disappointed tourists exit, leaving Queenie a minute alone to offer Delphine one last chance to change, to repent. But Delphine sees that public humiliation, shedding a tear, and apologizing are what make the world weak. “The magic box” shows her the troubles of Anthony Weiner, for example. There is no remorse, only hypocrites looking for acceptance back into society. Her valid commentary on this does little to convince Queenie. She stabs Delphine in the heart with her own weapon, leaving her to die where her fascination began.
The Long Goodbye: Cordelia’s drastic measure to regain the “the sight” appears to be for nothing when she can neither read Madison nor discover Misty’s whereabouts. It is through a conversation with her mother that she discovers her gift never left her. Fiona, fresh off of having her portrait painted, realizes it is time to say goodbye. As Fiona wraps a family heirloom around Cordelia’s neck, a vision of horror flashes before her. Each lady of the Coven, including herself, lies dead throughout the house.
Cordelia takes this knowledge to the person it will hurt the most, the Axeman. The man whose music casts away any ill fortune learns the woman he fell in love with plans to leave him in two days’ time. Fiona confesses that once the deed is complete, she will have 30 good years to live abroad, inviting herself into the homes of kings, until another Supreme begins to rise. A delightful distraction, a fond memory; that is all the Axeman offers to her anymore.
Vitalum Vitalis: Cordelia’s mission to find Misty becomes more urgent with the impending Coven massacre. Queenie breaks open the tomb and revives Misty with just enough grace and ease to place her at the top of the Supreme running. Madison finally gets her ass handed to her at the physical outburst brought on by Misty’s return. When push comes to shove, however, the ladies of the Coven band together, including Zoe, who recognizes the strength of her powers in Orlando (including the ability to wear a pea-coat in ORLANDO). An intruder cloaked in blood wielding an ax makes a move at them, but is tossed back. “You picked the wrong house.” Indeed.
The Axeman enters the house fresh from a kill, ready to take out all the women responsible for his unhappiness. His first victim is Fiona Goode. Cordelia’s vision at the touch of the blood shows Fiona admitting her plan to leave New Orleans and the Axeman’s blade stabbing her back numerous times before feeding her to the alligators in the swamp. There is no bringing someone back from that mess. Stabbing the Axeman to death, the ladies ensure he does not escape the fate that was brought upon him years ago under the same roof.
Personal Hell: LaLaurie’s hell traps her in the cages of her attic at the mercy of the slaves she once tortured. Feet away from her daughter, LaLaurie cannot protect her from the horrors that Marie Laveau has in store. Papa Legba meshes their hells: another eternity together. Marie tortures Delphine’s daughters against her will, forcing them to drink blood and assaulting them with fire pokers. Though Marie lived her life protecting hoards of people, her sins are not atoned for in this lifetime.
Supreme Rising: The portrait of Fiona rises to the wall and nice words pass through the room. Insincere, but nice nonetheless. Fiona was a force to be reckoned with and an awful Supreme to live under. But Fiona is the past, and the question now turns to the ladies: Who is the future?
Watch the season finale of American Horror Story: Coven Wednesday, January 29 at 10 p.m. ET on FX