A Season of Witches! American Horror Story returns for a third go around

I don’t think anyone that watches American Horror Story can say it’s anything but a mixed bag.

Essentially, the first two seasons started out really strong, with great arcs, great casts and great dialogue.

By the end of both seasons, though, the show pretty much fell apart.

American Horror Story creator Ryan Murphy is notorious for starting shows out strong and then throwing everything at a wall to see what sticks. The result is often a hodgepodge of genius and mediocrity.

For example, the second season was going strong with a Nazi doctor, a belligerent nun and the horror of modern times and history melding. So why did they add aliens? Why did they forget about all the monsters running around outside of the hospital? Why did they waste a great actress like Chloe Sevigny?

I don’t think it’s a surprise that new kid on the block American Horror Story cleaned up at the Emmys a year ago (after a really uneven first season) and then practically got shut out this season. People are hip to Murphy’s ways.

All that being said, I’m really looking forward to the third season of the show.

American Horror Story: Coven debuts on FX Wednesday. It brings back American Horror Story favorites Jessica Lange, Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters and Lily Rabe and joins them with first season returnees Taissa Farmiga, Dennis O’Hare, and Francis Conroy. Then, just for fun, newcomers like Angela Bassett, Emma Roberts, Kathy Bates, Danny Huston and Gabourey Sidibe are also being put into the mix.

The main plot of this year’s show follows Lange’s Fiona, a witch that arrives in New Orleans to protect a coven and their secrets. Paulson plays her daughter, Cordelia, a teacher at the New Orleans coven school. Two different timelines – today and 300 years ago – will be utilized.

Witches are apparently the new zombies – and I have to admit I’m keen on the whole witchcraft thing. One of the series of books I write actually revolves around a family of witches – so it’s fair to say I like the genre.

Still, Murphy has proven to be a man that climbs to great highs and careens to great lows in record time. I hope he learned from last season. More isn’t always better on television. If you have something good – there’s no reason to push it.

Murphy has managed to get a fantastic slate of talent for this show – and who doesn’t love a haunted New Orleans setting? I’m just worried Murphy is going to go off the rails – like he always does – and leave me disappointed.

As it stands, though, I’m definitely going to check out the show. The question is, will I stick with it all season?

American Horror Story: Coven debuts at 10 p.m. Wednesday on FX.

What do you think? Are you looking forward to this season of American Horror Story?