Season 3 of American Horror Story blends the theme of witchcraft with a unique twist by placing its storyline inside a mysterious boarding school. The plot begins with Zoe Benson (Taissa Farmiga) gaining admission into a New Orleans boarding school that is far from ordinary.
She gets accepted not just for academic reasons but because she’s a witch. This school serves as a sanctuary for young girls like her, where they’re expected to grow into their powers. Even though the show is known for having terrifying villains, the witches introduced this time around are interesting, strong-willed, and quite relatable.
The scariest season yet plays out behind closed doors (Photo: American Horror Story Season 3/20th Century Fox Television)Jessica Lange and Sarah Paulson return familiarly to play Fiona Goode and Cordelia Foxx—two powerful witches who are also mother and daughter. Their responsibility is to manage the boarding school, and from the first scenes, their personalities spark curiosity.
Things become tense quickly when Fiona rushes to support her daughter after Misty Day (Lily Rabe) is burned alive in an old-fashioned witch hunt. Misty’s death hits hard for viewers because she’s portrayed as gentle and harmless.
Cordelia, who has been managing things on her own, does not welcome her mother’s sudden involvement and prefers to retain her leadership.
The Struggle for Supreme Power
Throughout season 3, most of the witches showcase a variety of magical skills, but many of them lean towards telekinesis. However, the most respected ones are known as the Supremes, and Fiona and Cordelia fall into that category. They treat this title with the seriousness it deserves.
This season often receives praise from fans of the series, partly because watching the younger witches discover and harness their powers adds a certain liveliness to the story that keeps viewers invested. Several major plots are running side-by-side in season 3.
One of them involves Fiona spending time with Madame Delphine LaLaurie (Kathy Bates), a woman who had been buried alive but remained immortal due to an elixir she drank. Fiona becomes obsessed with this immortality and is desperate to achieve the same result.
The scenes between Fiona and Delphine stand out, as both characters come with intense personalities and stubbornness. At the same time, another subplot sees Madison Montgomery (Emma Roberts) becoming more confident in her abilities, which starts to affect the balance of power and causes trouble for both Fiona and Cordelia.
A Dark Conclusion with Shocking Twists
The last episode of American Horror Story season 3, titled “The Seven Wonders,” focuses on a powerful test that will determine the next Supreme. The ritual involves a series of magical tasks, and any witch who passes all of them earns that title.
Queenie (Gabourey Sidibe), Madison, and Zoe manage to perform well, but Misty doesn’t survive the process and ends up trapped in her version of hell. This part of the episode keeps viewers fully engaged, especially because it shows that competition runs deep among the witches.
Instead of supporting one another, they each fight to claim the top position, which adds pressure and unpredictability to the ritual. This season’s closing scenes offer moments of surprise that mirror the emotional energy of season 1’s conclusion.
Kit Walker’s terrifying journey into madness starts here (Photo: American Horror Story Season 3/20th Century Fox Television)Kyle Spencer (Evan Peters) loses his temper as events spiral. Zoe dies tragically after falling onto the sharp iron fence surrounding the school, and Madison refuses to bring her back to life. Cordelia steps in to help Zoe and becomes the next Supreme in the process.
In a rage, Kyle kills Madison. Around this time, Fiona’s health worsens, and she doesn’t have long to live. The way the story ends avoids turning its characters into heroes. Madison never changes her selfish behaviour, and the writers stick to this portrayal till her last scene, which adds to the consistency of her role.
Cordelia, now in complete control, appoints Zoe and Queenie to the Council and begins her leadership as Supreme. Her new position gives her the authority she had long prepared for. Season 3 delivers some of the strongest character arcs in the entire series.
The impact of this storyline is so lasting that the witches of Coven return once again in season 8, American Horror Story: Apocalypse. That season stands out due to its creativity and for bringing together elements from Hotel, Murder House, and Coven, making it a reunion of past stories that unexpectedly blends their events.
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