The Scene In American Horror Story: Coven That Went Too Far

"American Horror Story" has consistently pushed the boundaries of what the horror genre can do on a mainstream network like FX. Witches, demons, ghosts, vampires, cults, serial killers, and zombies — "American Horror Story" has it all. The anthology series is currently delivering even more new bloody episodes in "American Horror Stories," and Season 10, "Double Feature," starts airing at the end of August 2021.

One of the most popular seasons among fans is Season 3 — "Coven" –  which succeeds thanks to the charismatic witches at Miss Robichaux's Academy in New Orleans. Every witch's magic manifests itself in different ways, like Zoe (Taissa Farmiga), who accidentally causes a violent death to anyone she sleeps with. Madison (Emma Roberts) has telekinesis, and Queenie (Gabourey Sidibe) uses her own body as a voodoo doll. Then there's Nan (Jamie Brewer), a mind-reader, who finds the immortal Madame Delphine LaLaurie (Kathy Bates) buried alive.

There's one scene involving Madame LaLaurie that went too far, but it gave "American Horror Story" fans one of the most memorable monsters in the show's history.

The first episode of "Coven" opens in 1830s Louisiana, as Madame LaLaurie holds parties for other wealthy socialites in her home. Delphine uses her attic as a torture chamber to butcher her slaves in a variety of horrific ways. She even uses blood like some kind of moisturizer. Yikes. But when her daughter seduces one of LaLaurie's slaves, Bastien (Ameer Bakara), the vicious matriarch, punishes him in the upper part of the house.

The depraved socialite punishes Bastien by having him beaten and tied to the rafters. She then takes a bull's head and fixes it to Bastien's head. It's a disgusting way of torturing someone — and eventually Bastien transforms into an actual Minotaur. It's not exactly clear how it happened, but he's still alive in 2013 thanks to Marie Laveau's own immortality elixir.

Even after the Minotaur's horrific origin in the premiere episode, Ryan Murphy keeps using him to shock audiences in new ways in later episodes. Queenie even has sex with the beast in Episode 3, seducing him in a shed while he's hunting for Delphine. That sure stirred up some controversy at the time, but it's still not as visceral or gross like the premiere's opening scenes.