by Hannah Zeitner, staff reporter

American Horror Story: Hotel premiered on FX this past Wednesday, giving the month of October a properly creepy start. The fifth season of American Horror Story takes place in the Santa Monica hotel “Hotel Cortez.”

This season, the show has brought in a slew of new cast members including singer Lady Gaga, “White Collar” star Matt Bomer, Wes Bentley known mostly for his role as the boyfriend in the movie “American Beauty”, and former model Chloë Sevigny.

The first episode, entitled “Checking In,” introduces us to the hotel where the show takes place. It’s described as a “no-tell-motel” by character Liz Taylor, which brings in shady characters such as drug users, criminals, and prostitutes.

We get introduced to Bentley’s character early in the episode. He plays Detective Lowe, who is investigating a series of murders. He finds his way to Hotel Cortez from a lead in the case he’s investigating.

Bomer and Gaga are introduced as a pair, Donovan and the Countess, who are two sharp dressers who have an evil motive. Later on in the episode, we see further into Donovan’s character. We find out that he knew Sarah Paulson’s character, Hypodermic Sally, before meeting the Countess.

“I’m just getting to meet the characters in the first episode and there’s already so much going on. I can’t wait to see what happens later on in the season,” junior Ruthie Solazzo said.

Sally, played by Paulson, has an overall disheveled and dirty look. We don’t know her exact reason for being in the hotel yet, but we get insight on her character along with Donovan’s in a flashback scene of the hotel in 1994.

“The show is so interesting and exhilarating. I’m super excited for the new episodes,” junior Elizabeth Browne said,

So far, the fifth season shows potential which is relieving since the former season, Freak Show, is widely regarded as one of the worst seasons of the show. Viewers can catch this season’s new episodes every Wednesday at 10pm EST, on FX.