Bitchcraft (American Horror Story)

"Bitchcraft"
American Horror Story episode
Four young witches with their mentor
Episode no.	Season 3 Episode 1
Directed by	Alfonso Gomez-Rejon
Written by	Ryan Murphy & Brad Falchuk
Featured music	"Last Train Home" by Raffertie "Sugarland" by Papa Mali "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" by Iron Butterfly "Seize the Night (Francophilippe Remix)" by Foxe Basin "Custom Car Crash" by Calla "Sonic C" by Hades
Production code	3ATS01
Original air date	October 9, 2013 (2013-10-09)
Running time	49 minutes
Guest appearance(s)
Angela Bassett as Marie Laveau Gabourey Sidibe as Queenie Jamie Brewer as Nan Grey Damon as Archie Brener Ian Anthony Dale as Dr. David Zhong
Episode chronology
← Previous "Madness Ends" Next → "Boy Parts"
American Horror Story: Coven List of American Horror Story episodes

"Bitchcraft" is the premiere episode of the third season of the anthology television series American Horror Story, which premiered on October 9, 2013 on the cable network FX. The title is a portmanteau of the words bitch and witchcraft.

This episode was nominated for Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Costumes for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special and Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special.

The episode introduces a group of four young witches who are given instruction in how to use their powers at a boarding school in New Orleans run by Cordelia Foxx (Sarah Paulson). Flashbacks tell the story of the cruel Delphine LaLaurie (Kathy Bates), a 19th-century New Orleans socialite who mutilated slaves as a part of her rituals for everlasting life. In the contemporary storyline, the world's most powerful witch and Foxx's mother Fiona Goode (Jessica Lange) excavates LaLaurie in order to learn her secrets. Angela Bassett and Gabourey Sidibe guest star as Marie Laveau and Queenie, respectively.

"Bitchcraft" held the highest ratings of any episode of American Horror Story, before it was surpassed a year later by the fourth season premiere episode "Monsters Among Us". This episode is rated TV-MA (LSV).

Wealthy socialite Madame Delphine LaLaurie (Kathy Bates) holds an extravagant soiree in her mansion, where she tries to make romantic matches for her three daughters. Hours after the party has ended, Delphine is preparing herself for bed with her nightly ritual: washing her face with human blood harvested from her slaves, she receives word that something terrible has happened and she must come quick.