In its third season, American Horror Story: Coven of the FX horror anthology TV series American Horror Story premiered on October 9, and captivated the imagination of its audience to garner its best ratings ever.

More than 5.5 million viewers were glued to the debut episode, 44 percent more compared to last year’s American Horror Story: Asylum. The numbers in the coveted 18-49 age group were up almost 90 percent from last year. Overall the debut episode was second only to ABC’s Modern Family on broadcast last night.

Series creator Ryan Murphy returned Wednesday night with New Orleans serving as the stage for this season’s action, alternating between contemporary times and 19th Century, with seasoned players including Taissa Farmiga, Evan Peters, Lily Rabe, Sarah Paulson and Jessica Lange.

Among fresh faces, Gabourey Sidibe, Emma Roberts, Patti LuPone, Angela Bassett and Kathy Bates have all set up camp in the terror and torture ridden New Orleans.

The debut episode featured the horrifying Madame Delphine LaLaurie – casting Kathy Bates – in 1834 hosting a dinner party with her beautiful and mysterious daughters. The daughters are expert seductresses chasing the house slaves, who are meted with gruesome treatment by the Madame upon discovering their infractions.

The story then fast forwards to present day where we meet the playful enchantress Taissa Farmiga in her role as Zoe Benson, who in fact is revealed as a witch while enjoying sexual relations with her boyfriend. The boyfriend was in the wrong place, at the wrong time, with the wrong girl, and pays it dearly with his life as his head explodes into an orgy of blood.

Well from there, Zoe begins her journey to an elite school for witches where she is trained to use her powers and survive the modern day. The academy is run by Sarah Paulson, starring as Cordelia Foxx, housing three other young witches, Nan (played by Jamie Brewer), Madison Montgomery (Emma Roberts), and Queenie (Gabourey Sidibe).

However, Jessica Lange is the true star of the show, casting as Fiona Goode. The talented actress plays the “supreme” witch and fights aging by sucking other people’s vitality, while teaching the young witches how to enjoy life without fear.

Overall, the heart pounding mix of seduction, terror and exotic settings makes AHS gripping as ever.

[image via youtube]