Coven is the season that changed everything. Honestly, when people talk about American Horror Story season 3, they aren't just talking about a TV show; they’re talking about a massive cultural shift in how we look at witches, fashion, and Ryan Murphy’s entire vibe. It was the moment the series moved away from the claustrophobic, grit-filled hallways of Asylum and stepped out into the humid, jazz-soaked streets of New Orleans.
It was loud. It was campy. It was absolutely ruthless.
If you weren't there when it premiered in 2013, it’s hard to describe the sheer hype of seeing Jessica Lange and Kathy Bates share a screen for the first time. The ratings were massive. We’re talking over 5 million viewers for the premiere alone, which was huge for FX at the time. But the legacy of American Horror Story season 3 isn't just in the numbers. It’s in the way it fundamentally redefined what the show could be. It wasn't just "scary" anymore. It was a lifestyle.
The Power of the Supreme and Why We’re Still Obsessed
The core of American Horror Story season 3 is the struggle for succession. Fiona Goode, played with a terrifying, whiskey-soaked elegance by Jessica Lange, is a Supreme who refuses to die. She’s fading. She’s desperate. And she’s willing to murder her own students to keep her youth.
That’s the hook.
But beneath the surface, Coven explored something much deeper: the generational trauma passed down between women. You have Cordelia Foxx, played by Sarah Paulson, living in her mother’s shadow while trying to protect a dying breed of witches at Miss Robichaux's Academy for Exceptional Young Ladies. The stakes felt real because, for the first time, the "monsters" weren't just ghosts in the attic. They were the people supposed to be teaching you how to survive.
The Real Magic: New Orleans and Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau
One thing Ryan Murphy got incredibly right was the setting. New Orleans is a character in itself. By grounding the supernatural elements in the real-world history of the French Quarter, the show gained a texture that the first two seasons lacked.
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Then there’s Angela Bassett.
Her portrayal of Marie Laveau, the Voodoo Queen, wasn't just a side plot. It brought a much-needed discussion about race and the history of magic in America to the forefront. The rivalry between Laveau and the white witches of the Coven highlighted a historical friction that actually exists in Louisiana's history. It wasn't always subtle—this is AHS, after all—but it gave the season a weight that felt more significant than just jump scares.
Why Coven Split the Fanbase (And Why That’s Good)
Not everyone loved it. Seriously.
If you go back to the forums from 2013 and 2014, you’ll find a lot of "purists" who thought American Horror Story season 3 was too "YA." They felt it was leaning too hard into the "teen girl" aesthetic with Emma Roberts as Madison Montgomery. People complained that the stakes were lower because characters kept coming back from the dead. Misty Day, played by Lily Rabe, could basically bring anyone back with a little swamp mud and some Stevie Nicks on the record player.
Death felt temporary.
However, that’s exactly what made it work for a different demographic. It became a meme-able, quote-heavy powerhouse. "On Wednesdays, we wear black" (wait, that’s Mean Girls, but you get the vibe) basically became the unofficial motto of the season. The fashion—big hats, black lace, and Louboutins—spawned a thousand Pinterest boards.
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The Seven Wonders: A Masterclass in Tension
The finale focused on the Seven Wonders, a set of trials that determine who the next Supreme is. These weren't just magic tricks. They were:
- Telekinesis: Moving things with the mind.
- Concilium: Controlling someone else's actions.
- Transmutation: Teleporting.
- Divination: Finding hidden things.
- Pyrokinesis: Starting fires.
- Vitalum Vitalis: Bringing back the dead.
- Descensum: Traveling to hell and back.
Watching the girls navigate these trials was basically the Harry Potter ending we never got, but with more blood and Fleetwood Mac. It solidified the lore of the series in a way that allowed the creators to revisit these characters later in Apocalypse. Without the world-building of American Horror Story season 3, the later crossover seasons would have had zero impact.
Real History vs. Ryan Murphy’s Fiction
We have to talk about Delphine LaLaurie. Kathy Bates was horrifying as the real-life New Orleans socialite who tortured enslaved people in her "Attic of Horrors."
This is where the show gets tricky.
The real Marie Delphine Macarty (Madame LaLaurie) did exist. Her house on Royal Street is still a major tourist stop in New Orleans. The show stays fairly true to the grizzly discoveries made after the 1834 fire at her mansion, but obviously, the "immortality" and her being buried alive for 180 years is pure fiction.
Blending this horrific true crime with the supernatural gave the season a jagged edge. It reminded the audience that as much as we love the "girl power" aspect of the witches, the history of the house and the city is built on actual, non-supernatural evil.
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The Enduring Influence of Stevie Nicks
Can we just acknowledge that American Horror Story season 3 is basically a long-form music video for Stevie Nicks?
The "White Witch" herself appearing on the show was a massive moment for TV. It bridged the gap between 70s rock mysticism and modern horror. Her performance of "Seven Wonders" and "Has Anyone Ever Written Anything for You?" gave the show a soul. It softened the edges of a season that was otherwise about backstabbing and gore.
Misty Day’s obsession with Stevie wasn't just a character quirk; it was a tribute to the "witchy" archetype that Stevie Nicks practically invented for the mainstream.
Practical Insights for Revisiting the Coven
If you’re planning a rewatch or diving in for the first time, keep a few things in mind to get the most out of the experience:
- Watch for the Cinematography: Notice the "fish-eye" lens used in the hallways of the Academy. It’s designed to make you feel uneasy, even when the scene looks beautiful.
- Research the Voodoo History: Look up the real Tomb of Marie Laveau in St. Louis Cemetery No. 1. The show takes liberties, but the respect for the actual historical figure is evident in the set design.
- The "Apocalypse" Connection: If you haven't seen Season 8, stop after Season 3 and go straight there. It’s a direct sequel that pays off almost every character arc from the Coven.
- Listen to the Soundtrack: The use of "The House of the Rising Sun" and Fleetwood Mac isn't accidental. The lyrics often foreshadow the fate of the characters in the very episodes they appear.
American Horror Story season 3 proved that horror doesn't always have to be dark and depressing. It can be bright, fashionable, and incredibly sassy. It remains the peak of the series for many because it found the perfect balance between the camp and the macabre. Whether you’re there for the history of New Orleans or just to see Jessica Lange deliver a devastating monologue, it’s a season that demands to be taken seriously, even when it’s at its most ridiculous.
The Supreme might change, but the impact of this season is permanent.