POPSUGAR

Here's What — or Who — Could Be Causing Cordelia's Weakness on American Horror Story

Oct 17 2018 - 9:55am

AMERICAN HORROR STORY: COVEN, Sarah Paulson in 'The Axeman Cometh' (Season 3, Episode 6, aired November 13, 2013). ph: Michele K. Short/FX Networks/courtesy Everett Collection

If there's one thing we've learned over several seasons of American Horror Story [1], it's how quickly the power balance can shift. Cordelia Goode emerges from the Coven season as the Supreme witch and as one of the most powerful beings in the AHS universe [2], but as her story has continued to unfold on Apocalypse, we're starting to get worried. As the power of Michael Langdon, the Antichrist [3] and possible Alpha warlock [4], continues to grow, Cordelia's powers are waning. What's going on with her?

Cordelia has alluded to her growing weakness only in passing, but it's pretty significant — she is the Supreme [5], after all. Onscreen, she's only confessed that something is wrong once, telling Myrtle that she knows her power is waning and that she's willing to step aside and let the warlocks take the reins if it means saving humanity. The only physical sign of her illness or weakness happened when Michael shows up with Queenie and Madison in tow [6] and Cordelia faints and goes into a prophetic dream state. So far, though, we haven't been given much of an explanation for what's happening to Cordelia.

There have been a few hints, though, that might give us a clue as to what's wrong. When she attempts to free Queenie from the Hotel Cortez [7], she encounters unexpectedly strong demonic powers that counteract her power and block all her attempts to rescue Queenie. Only Michael, who is demonically affiliated already [8], is able to get through. Her collapse and subsequent weakening all comes after this fiasco.

AMERICAN HORROR STORY: COVEN, Jessica Lange in 'The Replacements' (Season 3, Episode 3, aired October 23, 2013). ph: Michele K. Short/FX/courtesy Everett Collection

Could it be possible that the demonic energies she encountered have continued to drain her powers? Or is it all a side effect of Michael's appearance [9], weakening the Supreme so that he has an easier path [10] to being the male Supreme or Alpha [11]? Remember, Cordelia's mother Fiona dies from similar causes [12] in Coven: when a new Supreme is on the rise but she refuses to step aside, she is stricken with terminal cancer that eventually kills her despite her best efforts.

We might not get answers for a while yet, but in the meantime, Cordelia's sudden weakness has opened up a new thread of theories that could affect the whole American Horror Story [13] universe.


Source URL
https://www.popsugar.com/entertainment/What-Wrong-Cordelia-American-Horror-Story-45387279