Niecy Nash-Betts' new serial killer thriller is so frightening that I'm afraid to watch it any further

Five minutes after Ryan Murphy's grotesqueI already feel a sense of impending doom. After Lois Tryon (Niecy Nash-Betts), an experienced detective, awakens from a nightmare, she heads to a crime scene that makes her other cases seem like child's play. (Think headless corpses and cooked body parts.)

All the bloody and gruesome images make me cringe – so much so that I'm tempted to stop watching. (Fun fact: I'm a wimp when it comes to disturbing, scary content.) But at the same time, Nash-Betts has completely captured my attention and my morbid curiosity is far from satisfied. I need knowing what could possibly drive someone to commit such a heinous crime. And even better: how Detective Lois will handle this case.

For those who haven't seen it, the FX series centers on Lois as she takes on a disturbing new case where the crimes feel personal. Additionally, her husband's comatose state and strained relationship with her daughter take a huge mental and emotional toll. Luckily, an unconventional nun offers to help her get to the bottom of the case.

The overall tone of this series is quite dark and I suspect it will appeal to fans of American horror story– although it's arguably even scarier than the series. Still, as someone who usually stays away from gory horror, I actually made it through the first episode in one piece… and covered my eyes a few times. (Seriously, the crime scenes are a lot.) What made me keep watching? The excitement and of course the outstanding performance from Nash-Betts.

As I predicted, Nash-Betts really is the star of this show. Her complex portrayal of Lois – struggling with inner demons and drowning her sorrows in alcohol – already makes me want to love her, and I absolutely love that this no-nonsense detective is sassy. (Just wait until you see her interaction with the nurse who was caring for her husband.) She does such a great job of speaking volumes through the smallest gestures and reactions, be it a quick sip from her bottle or a violent one Sigh. More importantly, it's fascinating to see how this case slowly draws her in. Like in a scene where she freezes in the middle of a meeting and fixates on the crime scene images that are being printed.

Lois is easily the most compelling character, but I can't forget her new sidekick, Sister Megan (Micaela Diamond), aka the most liberal nun you'll ever see. She and Lois make an unusual yet refreshing team because their lifestyles, beliefs and personalities are so different. While Megan brings her knowledge of religion and journalistic expertise, Lois brings her resources and detective skills, and they begin to develop a unique partnership that just feels organic.

FX Network

I should mention that while watching the first episode, I just couldn't shake the feeling that something much worse was about to happen. Maybe it was the dark imagery, the creepy soundtrack, or the look on Lois's face when she opened up to her comatose husband, but guys, I was so scared and afraid right up until the final moments.

Will I have the courage to finish this series completely? …The verdict on this is still pending. But I will say this: if you're a fan of intense serial killer thrillers that don't hold back on the gore, then this is for you.

The first two episodes of grotesque are now available to watch on Hulu.

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