Friday the 13th: The Series (TV Series) Coven of Darkness (1989) User Reviews

Maria Ricossa stars in this episode

[artisticengineer · 7/10 · 10 April 2010]

This was the last episode of the 2nd season of this unexpected hit TV series. And, in this show, the guest star, Maria Ricossa, shows her great talent as the head witch of a powerful coven. During the beginning of a black mass at the very beginning of this episode she both chills and also enchants the viewer when she deliberately cuts the tip of her finger on a ceremonial witches dagger and then uses the blood to draw an upside down cross on her forehead. She performs the ceremony with such wicked mirth and an evil smile that it causes one to believe that if such head witches do exist; they perform much the same way as she acted. Her "daytime job" appearances in this episode are also quite convincing as well as beguiling. She "hit the mark" perfectly in this role and worries men like me who begin to think that there is more to your average housewife than meets the eye!!!! Maria Ricossa certainly shows her enormous talents in this episode as the coven leader.

The coven of "black witches" are the colorful group in this episode. There is a coven of "white witches" as the counter group in this episode; they are headed by a older gentlemen who is nowhere near as lively as Ricossa. Very dull and staid; they are about as active and fun filled as a senior citizens bingo game. Louise Robey (who portrays "Mickey Foster") tries to act as a white witch priestess in this episode and whoever thought of that idea should not have directed any future episodes of the series. She is eye candy but she is a RED HEAD. She is NOT a blond-which is the first criteria for any "white witch" role! She simply does not fit in as a white witch. She does not handle her role as a white witch with anywhere near the same aplomb or color as Ricossa handles the black witch/coven leader role. Ricossa was the actual star in this episode; one of the most colorful of the "bad girl" witches, and though you know the character is evil you actually start cheering for her! You can see why she became the star she is today! Great episode to watch and remember!

Micki is The One

[Gislef · 5/10 · 4 December 2020]

Like season 1, season 2 ends with a change in format that didn't stick. And sets up something that as we'll see, never comes to pass. In "Coven of Darkness", the production staff gives the impression that the trio will continue battling Lewis's coven, and that Micki will become a white magician of great power.

All of that goes down the crapper in season 3, but the viewer doesn't know that here. Instead we get some foreshadowing of season 3, with Ryan under the control of black witch Lysa Redding as he'll fall under the control of Asteroth in the season 3 premiere. And Micki burns out her power by the end of the episode, although Jack suggests that it might come back. Narrator voice: it doesn't.

"Coven" is otherwise pretty forgettable. Maria Rocossa gives a decent performance as the head witch Lysa, who manipulates the whole thing to get hold of the "witch's ladder", which Lewis apparently cursed. It's not an antique, but it isn't clarified to the end that the ladder isn't a cursed antique. Catherine Disher, who previously appeared as Ryan's girl of the week in season 1's "Double Exposure", is pretty wasted here as Lysa's only minion with dialogue. Lysa seems really upset when she dies, suggesting that Disher's character was... Lysa's daughter? Who knows?

John D. LeMay gets to practice his wide-eyed possession stare, which he'll do more of in "The Prophecies". Ryan and Micki hold their mouths real close to one another, but don't quite kiss. So much for that romantic chemistry which will ever remain unresolved. Speaking of which, Johnny isn't here, which is kind of a relief. Maurice E. Evans has the thankless role of Gareth, the head of the white coven which for some reason has the ladder. Although it's never explained how they got it: apparently the black coven needed to invest in better locks after Lysa went to jail.

And you'd think Lewis getting screwed by the Devil would convince any Satanist to reconsider their faith. But Lysa seems just as committed to the Devil as before she went to jail. When the Big Guy kills off your coven leader, it might be time to reconsider your life choices, lady.

The main plot point is that Micki has enough power to "fight" one of Lewis' artifacts, the ladder. We've never seen Micki with that power before, and will never see her again. Yes, she supposedly burns up her magic making the supreme effort. But seeing Louise Robey get all big-eyed and starey gets old after the fifth time. As do the interminable scenes of Gareth having her chant whatever effing passage she has to recite to free Ryan from Lysa's spell. Which doesn't succeed anyway while Jack is beating up on Micki, and Jack, and Gareth. And stealing the ladder from the vault.

At the end, we get a shot of Micki looking contemplatively at Gareth's book of power. Suggesting she isn't as powerless as Jack says. But like I said, nothing ever comes of it. So the whole episode comes to nothing. Which suggests that originally the production crew though it all meant something. But... it doesn't.

But that's just my opinion, I could be wrong. What do you think?