Witchcraft, human voodoo dolls and bloody good times. ‘Tis the season for haunts and horrors and that is exactly what “American Horror Story: Coven” brought in their new season which aired last Wednesday. 

Known for its incredibly mind-blowing cinematography and nominated for the most awards at this past year’s Emmys, “American Horror Story: Coven” has been one of fall’s most anticipated premieres. The show has brought back many of the fan-favorite actresses from previous seasons such as Jessica Lang, Lily Rabe and Sarah Paulson, while simultaneously welcoming big time stars to the show: Kathy Bates and Emma Roberts. 

The format this season is no different from the previous ones, as it takes on a new story line with a new cast of characters. In the past years the settings have ranged from a haunted murder house to a sadistic mental asylum; as for this year, the horrors will take place in the historic city of New Orleans, in both the present and past. 

The third season begins in an 1830’s New Orleans where we see a wealthy Madame Delphine LaLaurie (Kathy Bates) and her three daughters, one of whom takes great pleasure in seducing young men. Later on in the evening chaos breaks loose when LaLaurie’s daughter gets caught fornicating with one of the black slave boys in their home. As if the daughter’s issues weren’t bad enough, the viewer comes to find out that LaLaurie is a crazed murderess that has a torture chamber in her attic where she keeps her collection of mutilated, dying ex-slaves. Not only does she revel in the act of torturing her slaves, but she rubs their blood on her face in an attempt to stay youthful. That opening scene was definitely an incredible way to start-off season three as one of “American Horror Story’s” classic jaw-dropping moments. 

The show jumps back to present time when we see a young girl named Zoe (Taissa Farmiga), who quickly learns she is a witch; witches being a dying breed in modern times because of all of the witch burnings 300 years ago in Salem. She is sent off to a school for witches in New Orleans that is dedicated to protecting and training the young girls. Here she meets her teacher and mentor, Cordelia (played by the talented Sarah Paulson), and her classmates, one of which includes Emma Robert’s character, Madison, who is more of a “Mean Girls” wannabe than an actual witch. One of the more intriguing aspects of the show was another of Zoe’s fellow classmates, Queenie, who is called the human voodoo doll because anytime she does her own self-harm it transfers to someone else. The viewers find this out when at one point Queenie stabs herself with a fork in order to inflict pain on to the ever annoying brat, Madison. 

Throughout all of this, as the characters and the story line are being developed, more horror takes place as a young woman, played by Lily Rabe, is burned alive at the stake, which sparks concern among the witch community. Viewers are also introduced to a Supreme member of the witch community, Fiona Goode (Jessica Lang) who also happens to be Cordelia’s mother. Following in the footsteps of Lang’s other “American Horror Story” characters, Fiona is a character who is not liked by many and seems to have the familiar “love to hate her” type qualities.

Another fan-favorite actor, Evan Peters, takes on the role of a frat boy named Kyle this season, who befriends Zoe. 

The relationship between the two in this season was very reminiscent of their character relationship back in season one and fans of the show will find it pretty heartwarming to see the two actors together again. 

As the episode went back and forth between time periods it was clear to see that a lot of the show’s scare factors and famous gruesome moments will probably come from the 1830’s era and the LaLaurie story line this season. 

However, it is still too early to tell where the plot will go as viewers were left with some twists and shocking moments at the end of episode one. 

“American Horror Story: Coven” has come in time just for Halloween and with a cast as talented as it has there is no doubt that this season will be amazing all the way up to the finale.