Fiona (Jessica Lange) is in a bit of a pickle on Wednesday's Halloween episode of American Horror Story: Coven. She's just killed Madison (Emma Roberts) because she was likely the next Supreme, and thus a threat to Fiona's power, and now, she's standing trial before the witches' counsel. Luckily, Cordelia (Sarah Paulson) saves her at the last second by telling the dear counsel, led by Bozo the Bitter Witch, that Madison couldn't have been the Supreme because she had a heart murmur. And we're inclined to believe her because what would this season-long story be without another Supreme?
That leaves us with only one question: Which witchy woman is actually the next Supreme? Let's weigh the odds:
QUEENIE
While Gabourey Sidibe's character certainly possesses the power of bravery and top-notch insults ("If Madison is dead, it's probably because she got wasted and offered the Grim Reaper a hand job or something"), she's yet to experience magic that goes beyond her own specific talent. Her "human voodoo doll" thing is cool, but it's not enough to be the Supreme.
NAN
Nan (Jamie Brewer) is likely in the Queenie boat because she, too, has yet to exhibit any special powers. However, she's also quieter and a bit sneakier. Here's my hare-brained theory of the week: What if Nan was the one who actually set the drapes on fire with her mind at Patti LuPone's house? And what if Madison was just such a sexpot and swagger machine that Patti blamed her, when really, it was Nan pulling the punches? Also, Nan's the one who called for an investigation of Fiona when she stopped being able to hear Madison's thoughts — isn't it just slightly possible that was a power play? The show's sort of setting it up to be someone else, but admit it: That would be a great twist.
ZOE
Miss Zoe (Taissa Farmiga) is kind of the obvious choice here. She's the one Fiona underestimated and called talentless. She's the one who stays out of everyone else's nonsense and gets into secret adventures of her own. Narrative-wise, she's the Supreme.
But then there's the way in which she's discovered new powers by accident — like her ability to kiss Kyle to life. She's young and while she's seemingly sugary sweet, she's willing to feed her frankenboy-toy rat poison to send him back from whence he came.
Then there's the fact that she was all but set up as the main character in episode one, only to be relegated to the side plot where she chases a half-man around New Orleans and occasionally shows up at the witches' home. It appears that we're being asked to forget about her so that she might make a triumphant return as the Supreme. Of course, when she finds out, she'll undoubtedly be doe-eyed and shocked. That's her thing, you know.
MISTY
If it's not Zoe or Nan, that leaves only one: Misty Day (Lily Rabe, above). She's got a chance because her being the Supreme would completely take Fiona by surprise. For some reason, she's decided that the Supreme is under her own roof, but looking at the flashbacks, there used to be a hell of a lot more witches staying at the girls' home, and thus a greater sampling of the witch community to work with.
We've not yet learned all the ins and outs of being a Supreme, but isn't it possible that the young witch who was burned at the stake — Misty — would have come to be the Supreme if she was in Miss Cordelia's school? She's young, she's vibrant, and she would absolutely drive Fiona bonkers. If it's not Nan, Misty might be the absolute best choice.
THE WILDCARD?
And then there are always Ryan Murphy's picks:
And whoever the Supreme eventually turns out to be, let's hope they last more than five seconds beyond the reveal. Poor Cordelia only has so many rugs.
Image: FX
