The "American Horror Story: Coven" premiere featured dark themes that revolve around death, torture and rape, notes the NY Times - and this is just how fans love it. Adding big Hollywood names to the cast of characters didn't hurt either, as the legendary Jessica Lange, multi-awarded actress Kathy Bates, Sarah Paulson, Taissa Farmiga, Gabourey Sidibe, and Emma Roberts bewitched audiences Wednesday night on FX.

LA Times reports that the premiere, entitled "Bitchcraft,"  opened with a scene set in 1834 New Orleans, at the twisted home of socialite Madame Delphine LaLaurie (Kathy Bates). While introducing her debutante daughters to the society, the audience is introduced to her African slaves languishing in the attic. Thus, the macabre tone is set for the witch-themed Season 3 of the "American Horror Story." (Delphine LaLaurie by the way, is a historical figure; she was a socialite and serial killer in 1830s New Orleans, having tortured and killed African slaves in gruesome ways).

The episode then segues to modern times, and the audience meets teenage witch Zoe (Taissa Farmiga), who finds out there's something seriously wrong with her as she unintentionally murders her boyfriend in their attempt to have sex.

After being told she has witch gene, Zoe is consequently sent to a New Orleans boarding school for her witch education. At the school, the aptly named Miss Robichaux's Academy for Exceptional Young Ladies she meets Queenie (Gabourey Sidibe), Nan (Jamie Brewer) and Madison (Emma Roberts), who have different and distinct witchy abilities. The headmistress, Ms. Cordelia Foxx (Sarah Paulson) is mild-mannered and generally likeable while her peers have teenage angst brewing inside each of them.

Cordelia clashes with her mother Fiona (Jessica Lange), a supreme witch, who disapproves of the school curriculum because it trains witches like Zoe to blend into society undetected. Fiona is an advocate of witch empowerment, for witches to come out of hiding in the shadows because she says, "When witches don't fight, we burn," reports Time. Concerned about staying and looking young, Fiona meets Delphine LaLaurie, and the duo instantly clicked that they are sure to wreak supernatural havoc.

American Horror Story: Coven" also stars AHS favorites Evan Peters as Kyle Spencer and Lily Rabe  as Misty Day, who both appeared in Seasons 1 and 2.