"The Replacements" is the third episode of Coven. It premiered October 23, 2013. Template:GuestStars
Synopsis
Fiona takes on an unlikely protégé. A guilt-ridden Zoe tries to give Kyle his old life back. Madison has a fiery exchange with Joan Ramsey, a new neighbor.
Plot
1971
A young Fiona and her predecessor in Supremacy, Annaleigh Leighton, discuss how the new Supreme is chosen. Fiona persuades Annaleigh to let her perform the Seven Wonders, the test only the next Supreme can accomplish, but Annaleigh refuses. Fiona counters that she is obviously the next Supreme because her powers are starting to flower while Anneleigh is losing her powers and getting sick and requires a lot of medicine, and thinks Annaleigh doesn't want to lose her position yet. Annaleigh calls herr a spoiled brat, and tells her that she has seen the future and that Fiona will ruin the Coven if she should become the next Supreme with that attitude, and makes it her final mission to make sure Fiona will never be Supreme. Fiona slits Annaleigh's throat, and sees Spalding witnessing this.
Present
Fiona visits a plastic surgeon and tearfully watches a procedural video on facelifts.
Zoe visits Kyle's mother. They reminisce about Kyle's work ethic and gentle nature. Alicia over-shares that she was on the verge of hanging herself when Zoe called. Alicia asks if Zoe was Kyle's girlfriend, but Zoe says they were just friends. Zoe assures her that her son will return.
Nan, Queenie and Madison ogle a shirtless Luke Ramsey moving in next door with his mother, Joan. When she spots the girls staring at him, she orders him to go inside and get another shirt. Inside, Delphine watches television and is in tears knowing that Obama is the president. Fiona points out that black people have become important people in the country, which Delphine doesn't believe. Fiona gives her a maid's outfit, telling her that either she become the next maid or be sent back in the box. At the dining table, the girls discuss Luke and their virginities. While Madison and Nan have already lost theirs, Queenie admits that she is waiting for the right person. Queenie recognizes Delphine while she is serving, and Delphine refuses to serve a black girl. Fiona retaliates by making Delphine Queenie's personal slave.
Zoe visits Misty and an almost-healed Kyle, planning to take Kyle back to his mother. Despite Misty wanting Kyle to stay longer, Zoe takes him, promising to come back. Misty says that she knows they won't.
Nan and Madison decide to visit the Ramsey house, Nan bringing a cake and Madison visiting in a revealing dress. With no television or access to internet, Luke does not recognize Madison, much to her annoyance, and pays more attention to Nan and her cake. Joan abruptly tells them that they are going to bible study, which Madison insults. Joan tells them to leave, and Madison uses her telekinesis to throw the knife, barely missing her head. On her way out, Madison, to her own and Nan's surprise, sets the curtains on fire.
Zoe returns Kyle home to his mother. Alicia can tell the anatomical difference with Kyle, and is implied to have forced an incestual relationship with him after Kyle's father left them.
Cordelia consults with her gynecologist while Hank is at a construction bidding outside New Orleans. He reveals that Cordelia is infertile, and she can never have biological children. Elsewhere, the cosmetic surgeon gives Fiona similar news that her bloodwork is irregular, and no reputable doctor will want to do surgery on her. Later that night, Joan visits the academy to report what Madison did to her, but a drunken Fiona simply mocks her. Joan also mentions Madison setting her curtains on fire, which catches Fiona's attention, and asks Madison to light her cigarette pyrokinetically to prove it.
Cordelia visits Cornrow City to consult with Marie Laveau about her fertility problem. Marie Laveau charges $50,000 for a 100% effective fertility spell, but laughs when Cordelia says she will take it, saying she will not help the daughter of her enemy, and tells Cordelia about Fiona's previous visit.
Zoe receives a call from Alicia that Kyle is back but not himself.
Fiona and Madison discuss Madison's fame and family life at a sidewalk cafe. Madison talks about her horrible mother and Fiona admits that she was a horrible mother to Cordelia, but she is trying to change. Madison volunteers to be Fiona's new protege. Fiona starts by teaching her how to Coerce by luring a man into the middle of the street.
Delphine and Queenie argue about Queenie's eating habits and trying to catch a man. Delphine spots the Minotaur outside and panics, telling Queenie the truth about her past. Queenie is first reluctant to help the racist, but when Delphine says that Bastien, the slave, raped her daughter so she tortured him, she decides to help. She lures the Minotaur to the greenhouse with Delphine's blood on a towel, and offers herself to him. The Minotaur takes her from behind and rapes her.
Alicia tries to talk to Kyle about the changes in him and tries to seduce him. He fights back, screaming as he grabs a trophy and bludgeons her to death with it. Later on, Zoe arrives at Alicia's house. She wanders inside and finds Alicia's bashed-in body and a bloody Kyle.
In a pool hall, Madison practices coercion while Fiona watches. Fiona discreetly pours out her own alcohol and watches Madison coerce men into doing her bidding. For a moment, she sees Madison morph into her younger, ambitious self.
Fiona voices her suspicion that Madison will be the next Supreme and, while looking at the old portraits of past Supremes, advises her to have her portrait done while still young. She reveals that she has cancer and is dying, and her power should be pouring into Madison right now. She admits to killing Annaleigh, and wants Madison to kill her so she can take control of the Coven. Madison refuses, and they struggle until Fiona ends up slitting Madison's throat. Spalding appears once more and is ordered by Fiona to bury the body. She surmises that if Madison was really the next Supreme, then the Coven wouldn't need a new Supreme for now.
Featured Characters
Alicia Spencer
Alicia Spencer is the white trash, pot smoking mother of Kyle Spencer. She was nearly pushed to suicide after his death at the hands of Madison. Upon his return, she is keen on rekindling the incestuous relationship that had begun after Kyle's father left her. In response to her attempts at this, he bashes her head in with a trophy.
Gallery
Notes
- Frances Conroy (Myrtle Snow) is credited, but does not appear.
- Commentary: Was SPOILER really killed off on the latest ‘Coven?!’.
- Commentary: Ryan Murphy on the latest ‘Coven,’ minotaur sex and next week’s introduction of…zombies!.