American Horror Story: Hotel checks in for the franchise’s fifth AHS season tonight with the aptly titled premiere episode, ‘Checking In.’ The series’ central star is gone and replaced with a pop star, a move some argue might sink the series after a polarizing fourth season. The first AHS: Hotel episode 501 premieres tonight exclusively on FX and will be available to watch online free streaming on computers and mobile via the FX Now app as the hotel opens for business.
Scores of American Horror Story fans will tune in tonight and immediately wonder where Jessica Lange, the heart and soul of every previous AHS season, is at. The unfortunate truth is that Lange has moved and left a void that will be nigh impossible to fill.
FX and series creators Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk chose to go big or go home and brought in worldwide star Lady Gaga to headline American Horror Story: Hotel. Lady Gaga is the x-factor and no one knows what to expect as the singer takes on her first major acting role. She could be excellent; but she could also be a bust.
Last fall’s American Horror Story: Carnival veered away from pure horror and played in a sandbox more comprised of the weird and unimaginable. Hotel provides an opportunity for the series to get back to its pure horror roots, and for Kathy Bates to lose the lame beard-wig.
The official synopsis for tonight’s American Horror Story: Hotel episode 501, ‘Checking In,’ reads, “Detective and family man John Lowe investigates a chain of gruesome murders in Los Angeles. A mysterious tip points him to the enigmatic Hotel Cortez.”
American Horror Story: Hotel starts tonight at 10/9c on the FX cable channel. You can also watch FX online free live streaming at the official FX video on demand (VOD) streaming website here or by downloading the FX Now mobile app here to watch AHS via streaming devices. A provider login is required.
You can also watch AHS episodes online after they premiere on FX here at Amazon.com where the most recent and all back episodes are ready to stream.
