In American Horror Story: Coven every character’s story line zigs while another’s zags. Read our full recap below!
At the outset of any show, characterizing characters into desirable and undesirables is a natural instinct. Allowing the good guys to win each battle makes for boring television. But what do you do when each character is more despicable than the last? American Horror Story: Coven contains a plethora of seemingly ruthless characters on paper. But the heart of the show, the part that makes it beat stronger each week, is the desire to root for the deviants.
In this week’s American Horror Story: Coven episode 7 “The Dead,” relationships both crumble and flourish, but which alliances are worthy of our praise?
Truth Be Told:Cordelia receives a disturbing, for more than one reason, call in the middle of the night from her ex. As he asks her to let allow him back, the camera pans out to reveal a room filled with semi-automatic weapons. “See you soon,” are his last words. Cordelia makes her way out into the hall searching for Delphine when Madison saves her from a tumble down the stairs. Instantly, Cordelia’s new gift of sight flashes the images of Fiona slicing Madison’s throat as clear as day.
Cordelia calls Zoe into the dining room for a chat about her future in the Coven. Though not fully convinced that Zoe is the next Supreme, Cordelia cautions her. If Fiona catches wind of her extraordinary abilities, she will kill her the same way that she did Madison. Cordelia tells Zoe the only way to protect the Coven, and themselves, is to kill Fiona.
During Zoe’s trip to the back of her closet, she discovers a well preserved tongue in a box with the initials ‘M.S.’ Myrtle Snow left a way for the truth to come out and serve Fiona the punishment she deserves. Zoe uses her already well practiced powers of Latin and dark magic to place the severed tongue back in Spalding’s mouth. The cursed tongue betrays him and utters the one name he prevented himself from saying all those years ago: Fiona.
Though Spalding tries to make his claim to Coven equal to the witches there, Zoe cuts him off by stabbing him in the chest. RIP, for now, Spalding.
“Do We Dare?” Perhaps the greatest night of girl bonding occurs when Delphine and Queenie arrive in the kitchen, a bit “peckish” for late night snacks. Queenie takes Delphine in the car to a drive-thru, where Delphine marvels at the voice in the box and questions, “Do we dare?” when offered the option to supersize.
Enjoying their burgers, Delphine informs Queenie that the reason the other sisters of the Coven will never respect her is because she is black. She means no offense, but of course she always seems to offer it. Queenie takes the food food for thought right over to Corn Row City.
Marie has waited for Queenie to pay her a visit for a long time. Queenie is not there to seek asylum. Instead she merely wishes to know the reason why Marie and Delphine have a hatchet that does not seem to remain buried. Marie tells Queenie to ask the woman herself, but does not leave it at that. If Queenie brings her Delphine, she will always have a place among them. After all, how long can one stand being second best to a white girl?
Once More With Feeling: Madison is in a bit of a rut. No matter how many pills or alcohol or food she consumes, all feeling washes over her. Kyle is in a similar place. Frustrated that he cannot communicate, he also realizes the tattoos on his body belonged to his former fraternity brothers. Identity issues aside, the two seem to find a bond over one thing; sex.
Both Madison and Kyle want to reclaim a wasted youth. One way they discover they can feel anything again is through sex. Maybe adding Zoe in the mix will add an extra something…
Play Me a Song, Axeman: Fiona and the Axeman spend an evening of love making together, while the owner of the flat rots in the bathtub. Come morning, Fiona’s youth and hair slips through her fingers. The smooth man does everything he can to make her stay. Including telling her all about how wonderful her life has been. A life that he witnessed first hand. Watching her since she was eight, the man grew to love her and find a peace in her existence.
Fiona leaves him in her dust, but the feelings still linger. As she pulls yet another clump of hair from her head, she hears the echoes of a saxophone; a reminder of the youth she is losing. The call of her rekindled flame draws her back to the Axeman’s club of choice.
The Key to Youth: In another kitchen encounter, Delphine carves a ham as Queenie asks her to spill her deepest secret. After all, only true friends accept each other’s dirty laundry. Queenie presses to find out that Delphine has a young slave’s newborn son murdered after discovering that the offspring was the result of her husband’s infidelity. The maid went on to throw herself off the roof.
The confession leaves Queenie with the decision to turn Delphine over to Marie. The pair arrive at Corn Row City under the impression that Delphine is about to have her hair redone. Marie reveals herself and Delphine’s cries do nothing to change her fate. She is locked up and the final shot of Marie painting her face with fresh blood and saying, “Beautiful,” is one to send chills up your spine.
Highlights:
•Queenie to Delphine: “I was sent here to be with my sisters. Instead I’m sitting in a fast food parking lot with an immortal racist.”
•Kyle’s heartbreaking flashback where he explains how much more he wanted from life.
Tune into American Horror Story: Coven episode 8, “The Sacred Taking” Wednesday, December 4 at 10 p.m. ET on FX