(Guest post by Brooke Brown, an entrepreneur with a love for sports, music, and pop culture.)
For two seasons, FX’s “American Horror Story” has pushed the boundaries both for TV horror and for a number of social and cultural taboos. It doesn’t just aim to scare the audience — it aims to disturb them; especially with the strategic sharing of the promo videos on their social media platforms. For this reason, it has gained a rabid following and earned a much-anticipated third season. This rabid following has reinvigorated the entertainment sector of the internet with many fan forums, and the Google+ Community. Interesting to see a mini-series turn into a seasonal event, and it could safe to say show creator Ryan Murphy did not expect the popularity. What can viewers expect when “Horror Story” returns Oct. 9?
What We Know
With a season titled “Coven”, you’re already gearing up for witches and all of the twisted magic that comes with them. And sure enough, 300 years after the Salem witch trials came to a gruesome close, many of the few young witches that remain have gathered at a school in New Orleans, newly opened to teach the young witches the magic of protection, and watched over by the long-absent Supreme witch.
This season is set to pit the lingering Salem witches against the ones in New Orleans for a no-doubt bewitching tale. Set in the present-day, but peeking occasionally into the past (much like it did in season one), season three features secrecy and witch hunts, family ties, voodoo and even such touchy topics as slavery and incest. You can bet fans from all walks of life tuning in and giving their predictions as the season develops on Twitter. The key seems to be the subject matter presented, and the horror of each episode.
What We’re Waiting to Learn
Little is known about the story beyond this, shown mostly in the agonizingly short teaser trailers released to date, but co-writer Ryan Murphy has dropped more than a few tantalizing details, such as an emphasis on “wicked glamour” and a general feel to the show that’s “a little lighter, more funny and romantic moments,” as quoted from this ScreenRant article. The plan is to bring back a star-crossed lovers element, much like Tate and Violet from the first season.
Don’t worry, though. Murphy and Brad Falchuk both have cooked up plenty of darkness and horror to carry the scare-fans through this season too.
Plenty of familiar faces return: Taissa Farmiga, who played Violet Harmon in the first season but was tragically absent in “Asylum”, will be back this time around, once again in a leading role. Joining her will be Jessica Lange (Constance Langdon in Season 1, then Sister Jude in season two) as the Supreme witch, plus Evan Peters (Tate Langdon, Kit Walker) and Sarah Paulson (Billie Dean Howard, Lana Winters).
On Location for Season 3
The production team behind “American Horror Story” seems to be feeling a bit more ambitious this time around. All shooting will be taking place on location rather than in a sound stage, and shooting will take place in three different locales, with Murphy stating in an interview that he was interested in filming at a location that had “seen true horror.” Could this be Salem, Massachusetts? It’s looking more likely by the day.
Something for New and Returning Fans
While many threads tie its seasons together — most noticeably overarching themes such as the darkness and evil within characters who seem good — each season of this show stands alone as a unique and self-contained storyline. “American Horror Story” is an anthology — each season has a new plot, different characters and a different setting. So even if you haven’t seen the first two seasons, don’t worry: You can start with season three’s first episode and you won’t feel like you’ve missed a thing. Thus, you will be able to participate in the social chatter throughout the internet.
Be warned, though: As many other new watchers have quickly learned, “American Horror Story” is not afraid to depict the graphic and the taboo. Season one brought up such things as rape and mass violence against children. If your sensibilities are offended, “AHS” considers itself a success. This approach has gotten the social TV community talking as well as thinking such subject matter.
From the various hints and tidbits we’ve gleaned, this season is looking nothing short of fantastic overall. With themes that play heavily into everyday life (such as the eventual rebellion of repressed minorities) and a storyline based in a surprising amount of truth and fact, “American Horror Story: Coven” will do anything but disappoint.
So whether you’re a die-hard fan or tuning in for the first time sit down on Oct. 9, turn on your TV to FX, granted you chose the right TV service, and prepare for a serious thrill.