American Horror Story’s fifth season, Hotel, premiered on October 7 on FX. The new season has been said to be extremely horrific with new faces and faces the audience has grown to love, or fear.

“The upcoming season that we are doing has been much more horror based. It’s much darker. It’s about a theme that’s very close to my heart. It will be straight horror for the upcoming year,” creator Ryan Murphy said.

Multiple trailers have been released and many of them showcase the new lead actress, Lady Gaga. In one of them, the newest version of the theme song is played, which was remade for more enchanting and disturbing entrance. Some of the new hotel characters, like Lady Gaga’s character, Countess Elizabeth, are featured. Countess Elizabeth has been described as ‘an ancient blood virus’. She runs Hotel Cortez and has 10 vampire- like children.

“It’s not exactly vampires. There’s no capes or fangs. She’s sort of a wealthy social doyenne who’s consumed with art, fashion, and people. She has a nefarious plan revealed in the first episode,” Ryan Murphy.

Lady Gaga, one of the newest actresses, has told reporters she has always embraced the shows graphic, gruesome content of the show, even from the start.

“It’s been so so fun. Everyone on this cast has been really open and available to me no matter what. I am able to be myself so much more than I feel like I have for the past several years. I love being a part of someone else’s vision. It’s really so exhilarating,” Lady Gaga said.

Several familiar faces are coming back to the show as well, such as Kathy Bates. Bates will come back to play as Iris, a bitter hotel concierge with a lifetime grudge against Hypodermic Sally, Sarah Paulson. Evan Peters has received the role of Mr. March, whose contribution to the show has yet to be discovered.

“I think this is Evan’s best role we’ve ever done. Usually Evan’s the tortured good guy or the tortured ingénue. But this year we decided to go a very different route and just make him perhaps the worst human being to have ever lived,” Murphy said.

Lily Rabe will be playing Aileen Wuornos, a serial killer whose story was brought to the big screen in the acclaimed 2003 drama Monster. One of the most mysterious characters revealed yet has been “The Addiction”, who has yet to have a character analysis or explanation.

One of the most difficult changes was the departure of Jessica Lange, who has had lead roles in Murder House, Asylum, Coven, and Freakshow.

“Yes, I’m done. We’ve had a great run here. I have absolutely loved doing these four characters that I’ve had the opportunity to play. In all the madness, I’ve loved the writers, my actors, Ryan and the whole, I mean, insanity of it, shooting here, shooting in New Orleans, the stories, everything,” Lange said.

“I feel like maybe then it’s time to start something brand new in life. I just don’t want to keep doing what I’ve been doing. Not that I don’t love it because I do. It’s been one of the great passions in my life, but I also feel like I want to try something I’ve never done before,” she continued.

Ryan Murphy has regarded Lange’s leave with optimism, showing his faith for a speedy return.

“She’ll be back- She’s not gone forever. She really does want to come back, but we have to come up with something first,” Murphy said.