FX's American Horror Story is best known for its anthology-themed narrative and the shocking stories and characters that come with it. As the 10th season is on the horizon, it's only natural to want to watch a favorite season or two to get ready. With that said, one of the most-watched seasons, so far, is the third season, Coven.
Returning from Murder House and Asylum, fan-favorites like Evan Peters, Sarah Paulson, and Jessica Lange take on new roles in a witchy world. Coven centers on a small group of witches with their own special powers and the evil surrounding them to end their lineage. In case fans need a reminder, these are the first and last lines of each main character.
Cordelia Goode
"At the moment. Cordelia Foxx. Head Mistress." - "But as I look at your faces – all of them beautiful, all of them perfect – I know together...we can do more than survive. It's our time to thrive."
After Zoe Benson (Taissa Farmiga) is sent to Miss Robichaux's Academy for Exceptional Young Ladies in New Orleans, she's shocked when she arrives at the seemingly empty house. After Madison (Emma Roberts), Queenie (Gabourey Sidibe), and Nan (Jamie Brewer) play a prank on her, Cordelia Foxx née Goode (Sarah Paulson) enters the room and begins the introduction to the academy and the history of their kind.
By the end, Cordelia and the rest of the coven have gone through a lot of pain and suffering, but after they rise above outside forces, she, Zoe, and Queenie begin again and open up the doors to potential young witches, just like they once were. This ended the series on a high note for the witches when the entire season was incredibly dark.
Fiona Goode
"I'll have what she's having." - "Oh, no..."
Fiona Goode (Jessica Lange) is The Surpeme, but at this point, she knows her time is ticking when it comes to holding her rank. Obviously, she's worried about her looks because her first scene finds her at the doctor's office. She pays a visit to Dr. David Zhong (Ian Anthony Dale), who walks her through a promising treatment to appear more youthful. After watching a video of a thriving monkey with the treatment, her introduction to the show is her agreeing to the procedure.
By the end of Coven, Fiona has met her demise, and Papa Legba (Lance Reddick) has made sure she pays for her sins. One of her last scenes shows her waking up in an unidentified home, with the Axeman (Danny Huston) as her eternal roommate. If fans have seen Apocalypse, they'll know she's in her very own version of Hell, where she'll be "playing house" with this man forever.
Zoe Benson
"Come on, my Mom gets home at six." - "Should we open the doors now?"
Zoe Benson is the very first young witch to be introduced to the show, and when she appears to arrive home with a boy in tow, it seems like a normal situation for a teenager. But viewers get a heavy dose of reality and Zoe's affliction when they become intimate.
Zoe is one of only two young witches to survive the season and stands by Cordelia when she decides to re-open Miss Robichaux's. After Zoe agrees to be a mentor and a teacher to the incoming young witches, her last line shows viewers she's ready to take on the challenge.
Madison Montgomery
"O' Dark Father, we offer this flesh up to you, blood, life and all." - "I did it for us. I love you. I love you, please!"
When the actress is introduced in Coven, it's hard to know it's actually her. She first appears dressed in a black cape and a red devilish mask when Zoe enters the academy. While playing a prank on Zoe, she utters these ominous lines to make it appear like she's about to sacrifice Zoe.
After Madison is brought back to life, she changes for the good but almost sinks back into the snooty and spoiled woman she once was. After she refuses to bring Zoe back to life after The Seven Wonders, Kyle (Evan Peters) has a fit of rage and chokes Madison. When he asks her why she did what she did, her final words were these. There were a few shining moments that fans had sympathy for Madison, but this one wasn't it.
Kyle Spencer
"Okay, animals, let's go over a few ground rules." - "You're not that good of an actress."
Of all the characters Evan Peters has played, his role as Kyle Spencer, a college student on scholarship, is one of his least evil characters. Although his initial personality was brief, Kyle was one of the good guys caught hanging around with the wrong crowd. As part of a fraternity, he's trying to keep his brothers out of trouble, which obviously doesn't work out by the end of the night.
Kyle was never the same after the bus accident, and when Zoe and Madison decide to bring him back, his moods are erratic. He becomes enraged when Madison refuses to bring Zoe back from the dead, and as a result, he chokes Madison to death. Even though she tried to tell him it was because she loved him, he knew better than to believe her.
Myrtle Snow
"I'll handle it from here. She's our daughter now; you've done all you can." - "Balenciaga!"
Myrtle Snow (Frances Conroy) is one of the best-dressed characters in the show, and she also is a sort of Mother Hen to Cordelia and the coven. When Zoe has her incident with her boyfriend, Myrtle sweeps in with her crew and whisps her off to New Orleans. Although Zoe's mother wants to do more for Zoe, Myrtle assures her she's in good hands.
One of the best one-worded lines in the entire season is Myrtle's last in the season. Before she's burned on the stake, Cordelia asks her if she has any last words. Myrtle is known for her eloquence, but her one true love is apparent when she screams the name of her favorite high-end designer.
Misty Day
"Let me go! Let me go!" - "No, you can't make me kill a living thing, please, no, you can't make me!"
Misty Day (Lily Rabe) is introduced into the show as Cordelia explains the lineage of witches to Zoe and the rest of the girls. Her first scene is a flashback and shows her mere moments away from death. This is a foreshadow of how powerful Misty is and proof she survived the personal attack.
When Misty and the rest of the women take The Seven Wonders tests, Misty can't seem to get herself out of the most difficult one; Descensum. Her worst fear is to kill a living animal, so the scene finds her in a science class. Her teacher is demanding she dissect a frog, but her powers continue to bring the animal back.
Madame Delphine LaLaurie
"Gentlemen, I want you to meet my daughters: Marie Louise Pauline, Marie Louise Jeanne, and from my first marriage, Marie Delphine Lopez." - "My home."
One of the first scenes in the season appears in Madame Delphine LaLaurie's (Kathy Bates) home. She's seen introducing her three daughters to the gentleman at her party, and it appears as if she's a normal Madame trying to persuade her daughters to meet their suitors. In reality, she's one of the vilest characters in the season.
Delphine's final moments in the show find her in a cage and back at her "home" in the attic. It's there where she used to keep slaves and torture them to no end. In reality, she's in the underworld, where Papa Legba is making sure she suffers immensely. While she thinks she's back in her own home, she's actually far from it.
Marie Laveau
"I heard you're in need of my services." - "I protected so many."
Marie Laveau is first seen on Delphine's front steps, promising to help her with her unique needs. After Delphine shoos her off and looks down on her, Marie tells her she has a potion to prevent Delphone's husband from infidelity. In reality, she has a potion that will end Delphine and her torture towards others.
By the end of the season, Marie breaks the deal she had with Papa Legba and finds herself in eternal damnation, along with Delphine and her attic of horrors. While Marie feels like she did good in the world, Papa Legba assures her that nothing in life ends on good terms.
Queenie
"Movie star? S**t. When's the last time you made a movie, girl?" - "You're looking at her."
After spooking Zoe, Queenie's introduction to the season shows her making fun of Madison. It's obvious her dislike for the "D-rated movie star" is strong, and when Zoe recognized Madison as a "star," Queenie quickly corrects her and shuts the adoration down.
Queenie is a strong witch and proves so when she ends up being one of the "final girls" to survive the carnage on the coven. As she, Cordelia, and Zoe introduce the new arrivals to the home, one of the young contenders asks who The Surpeme is. Queenie quickly answers and makes it apparent that Cordelia is the main witch.
Nan
"I'm Nan. Hi." - "Anywhere is better than here."
From the get-go, it's obvious Nan (Jamie Brewer) is a kind and thoughtful witch that believes in the good of others. After she agrees to scare Zoe upon her arrival, she introduces herself to Zoe and makes it apparent that she's a "good witch."
Marie and Fiona drown Nan in the bathtub upon finding out Marie has a baby in her cupboard. Papa Legba takes in her spirit as an offering from the vile women. Nan has had enough of the coven and everything bad that's been stowed upon her, so she happily goes with Papa because she knows anywhere is better than where she is.