A flashlight won’t help here. American Horror Story‘s sixth season debuted Wednesday, September 14 — and it was well worth the wait. After 24 teasers, viewers finally learned that the new theme is “My Roanoke Nightmare,” which taps into the history of the Lost Colony.
Season 6 explores a creepy, twisted scenario that’s based on real life. Back in 1587, 117 colonists mysteriously disappeared while visiting North Carolina’s Outer Banks on Roanoke Island.
In the debut, married couple Shelby (Lily Rabe) and Matt (Andre Holland) move to an old mansion in the woods to escape after Matt is beaten in a gang attack. (Sarah Paulson and Cuba Gooding Jr. reenact the roles in the documentary-style format.) Their stay quickly becomes, well, horrifying, when Shelby realizes that the estate is haunted.
Shelby, who recently experienced a miscarriage, begins to unravel. She spots two women walking in the hallway, claims that teeth are falling from the sky and gets locked in the basement with her sister-in-law, played by Angela Bassett in the reenactment. Matt thinks that the hillbillies are to blame.
Shelby refuses to stick around. She takes off in their car and accidentally hits a woman (Kathy Bates) — who walks away unscathed. Shelby then stumbles upon a group of people with torches and a bloodied man, played by fellow AHS vet Wes Bentley.
Fans, to be expected, couldn’t stop freaking out during the premiere. “#AHS season 6 is brilliant! The whole show within a show premise is ingenious!” one person tweeted.
A second added: “Only a true horror fan would see what #AHS is doing this season! And it’s aaaahhhhmmmaaazzzing!”
Read more of the best AHS reactions and memes below:
#AHS 6
“Based on true events”
“It was human teeth falling from the sky” pic.twitter.com/LADCD9EJ4F
— Al’KANDERI♬ (@Al3lii__) September 15, 2016
Dang we couldn’t get a little somethin’ somethin’ about next week episode #AHS6 #AHS pic.twitter.com/kKThRra1vO
— shyfacediva (@shyfacediva) September 15, 2016
Running from #AHS spoilers like pic.twitter.com/VJfRKgWXAF
— Calum McSwiggan (@CalumMcSwiggan) September 15, 2016
https://twitter.com/xNikaFlisx/status/776315098382102528
#AHS Hillbillies!
— Naomi Grossman (@naomiwgrossman) September 15, 2016
#AHS acid trip!
— Naomi Grossman (@naomiwgrossman) September 15, 2016
Here we go the reason I’m watching… Queen Angela better have a major role. #AHS6 #AHS pic.twitter.com/QdMlqfB3SX
— Dr. Marcus Shepard (@MarcusShepard) September 15, 2016
What idiot gets in a hot tub at night anyway? #AHS6 #AHS pic.twitter.com/ZC5TNyEcVs
— Jordan Green (@jkgreen15) September 15, 2016
Me after being in the #AHS house for five minutes pic.twitter.com/Bb6PFtypsZ
— cait (@CaitlinFessler) September 15, 2016
“inspired by true events.” I’m out…bye #AmericanHorrorStory #ahs
— JB (@JBrandMuffins) September 15, 2016
#AHS is BACK NO ONE TALK 2 me
— keaton (@keatonxxgrant) September 15, 2016
what a way to start off the season #AHS pic.twitter.com/fKbCPXxRTf
— erin (@desperadozm) September 15, 2016
Kathy Bates is a national treasure. Her performances continue to blow me away. Can’t wait to see what she brings to #AHS this season!
— Alyssa Beth Smith (@ItsAlyssaBeth) September 15, 2016
Where is Evan Peters? #AHS pic.twitter.com/Qbk6XoLrL6
— 小云 (@_mermaidkate) September 15, 2016
The new #AHS season has the potential to be absolutely incredible
— Alexandraaa (@MadinaAdalia) September 15, 2016
best season premiere since asylum. loved it. @AHSFX #ahs #ahs6 #Roanoke
— Andrew (@aratkinson) September 15, 2016
Man. I don’t WTF happened last night.#AHS
— Not Lamont (@TheGaMerOreo) September 15, 2016
This new season ?? #AHS
— Shannon L (@thaatgirlshan) September 15, 2016