Scream Queens season preview with Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk

If you watched last week’s premiere of Fox’s Scream Queens, you know it’s a wild ride and it’s gonna get even crazier. For starters, the central mystery is waaaaaay more elaborate than just the identity of the Red Devil. “It’s a big elaborate gothic story that plays out involving the baby in the bathtub and who rescued the baby in the bathtub,” co-creator Ryan Murphy tells EW. “It’s a 20-year conspiracy of revenge that has been plotted and planned and it’s all coming to a head this year at Kappa.” Much like American Horror Story, there are clues along to the way for the faithful viewer. “We’re designing it so that when everything is revealed it will all have been lined up in a way that you won’t need much to explain it,” adds co-creator Brad Falchuk.

Since it’s a college-set show, there will be a big Thanksgiving episode where we’ll get to learn about more of the characters. One major sequence will follow Chad Radwell’s family Thanksgiving which features guest stars Chad Michael Murray and Patrick Schwarzenegger as his siblings, Thad and Brad. “Radwell Thanksgiving is pretty much the biggest Thanksgiving in the country,” teases Falchuk.

Speaking of Chad (Glen Powell), it also turns out that Dean Munch (Jamie Lee Curtis) and Denise Hemphill (Niecy Nash) both have had relations with the frat dude. Says Murphy, “They have a scene where they high-five each other and compare notes.”

Hester (Lea Michele) will also connect with Chad over her love of dead things and will proceed to get even weirder. “We find out she had her first orgasm in a funeral home,” teases Murphy. “So she finds out Chad Radwell also has this syndrome. So they are brought together and united over their fascination with dead things.”

You’ll also at some point meet the mother of Emma Roberts’ Chanel. “You do find out that her mother is a horrible alcoholic who forgets to invite her home to family holidays and actually doesn’t remember her name,” teases Murphy. Hmmm. A terribly mean woman who doesn’t remember people’s names? Sounds like the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

The epic reveal of the killer(s?) will occur in the finale and set the stage for a whole new mystery and new location if a season 2 of Queens happens. “We’re looking for anywhere from 4–5 people to continue on to the second season,” says Murphy.

For more on Scream Queens, pick up the latest issue of Entertainment Weekly on newsstands now, or available for immediate purchase here.

Scream Queens airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET on Fox.