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"I like things that aren't tied up in a neat little bow"
American Horror Story returned to Murder House in the crossover to end all crossovers. Wednesday's episode of Apocalypse saw Madison Montgomery (Emma Roberts) and Behold Chablis (Billy Porter) take a trip to the haunted Los Angeles home to find out everything they can about Michael Langdon (Cody Fern). The duo's investigation provided an easy means for the show to bring back most of Murder House's most beloved characters, including Violet (Taissa Farmiga), Tate (Evan Peters), Ben (Dylan McDermott), Vivien (Connie Britton), Moira (Frances Conroy) and of course, Constance (Jessica Lange).
But in the most shocking twist of all, the episode didn't just bring these characters back to put them through the wringer once more. Instead, we saw several of them get their happy endings, including Moira escaping the house to reunite with her mother in the afterlife and Violet and Tate getting back together after four years apart.
Was this all a lot of fan service? Of course! But it was handled extremely well, even if it did leave some viewers who preferred the more bittersweet Murder House ending -- including Farmiga -- a little conflicted over how neatly everyone's storylines wrapped up.
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TV Guide spoke with Taissa Farmiga about Violet and Tate's happy ending, what she thinks of Tate's redemption and why she was initially nervous to reprise the role of Violet.
I was a bit surprised to see that Violet and Tate got their happy ending together. How did you feel when you found out their storylines would bring them back together like that?
Taissa Farmiga: You know, it's funny because I have conflicting feelings because I have me as Taissa and I have me as Violet. Because I realized when we filmed that scene I was kind of nervous to go back and play someone I played seven years ago and someone who's not supposed to have really aged or changed in any ways mentally or emotionally in these last few years. So it was kind of frightening going back having to play someone who's stuck in that time. And then we filmed it and all of the sudden it was like, "Oh, right. I know Violet. She never left me." Part of me was, I guess the part that was Violet was happy that she didn't have to cry anymore and the part that's Taissa was sort of -- you know, I like things that aren't tied up in a neat little bow. I like when things are ambiguous. So you know, I think I was more happy with the Season 1 ending but I think the Violet inside me is more happy with this ending.
Before Violet forgave Tate, Madison blew some witchy dust on her. What was that spell?
Farmiga: I think it was a spell of clarity and ... clearing away the garbage and unnecessary information and just showing her the truth. Because that house is full of darkness and it's somehow so easy to cover the good things and cover the light. Madison was, for once, was leading with her heart and doing the right thing and she gave Violet clarity.
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What was it like getting to work with Sarah as a director?
Farmiga: Oh my god, it was something I was really, really looking forward to because I had found out a few episodes prior that Sarah was directing Episode 6. And I've always loved working with directors who have previous acting experience. I don't know exactly what it is. There's just something different. There's something different in the way they approach the directing, the way they talk to actors, the way they talk to the crew. I don't know, they just have this bit of experience that they know what's going on and Sarah could just look at me and she knew if I needed a second to get emotional, if I was ready or what. There's just this short-hand. And also, again, as I said before, Sarah's been there since the beginning so to get the opportunity to direct this amazing episode that takes us back in time to Murder House, I don't think anyone else could have done it but Sarah.
In addition to this Murder House episode, this season also features the returns of several Coven characters, including you reprising your role as Zoe. How did the experience of being Violet again compare to the experience of being Zoe again?
Farmiga: It doesn't even compare. Violet is just so special, just in the way that she was me before I figured out who I was in my real human life. I got to play Violet and understand her before I understood who I was as a person. So going back to play Violet, it's just, I don't know, nothing compares. And I love Zoe. And the difference is I played her a few years ago, you know. Sure, five years seems like a long time, but I'm closer to who I was when I played Zoe than when I played Violet and so it was more of a mind twist going back to the Season 1 character.
Do you think we'll ever see Violet again or has this episode really closed the chapter on her story?
Farmiga: Um, you know I think Violet's happy. I don't think you need to change that. I don't think you need to go and meddle now, in my opinion. I think you need to let sleeping ghosts be.
How does this Murder House episode change the course of Apocalypse moving forward?
Farmiga: Listen, there's a lot of information that was gained from this past episode, in Episode 6, and Madison and Behold have to go back and take that information and hopefully they do the right things. Behold was loyal to the warlocks, but now this is something that's greater than them and I hope that they all start making the right decisions.
You're also playing Zoe this season, but we haven't seen Zoe in a while. Is there anything you can tease about what Zoe's up to or how she'll fit back into the season?
Farmiga: Zoe's doing her part. She follows her Supreme and her job is sort of to help get the young ones ready and get the young and newer witches ready for this battle that's seemingly ready to come and happen at any moment.
American Horror Story: Apocalypse airs Wednesdays at 10/9c. Murder House is available to stream on Netflix.
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