American Horror Story Apocalypse: Who REALLY Is The Rubber Man
One of the bigger mysteries left behind during American Horror Story season 8, Apocalypse, was the identity of the iconic Rubber Man, who was first introduced in season 1. While it remains one of season 8's biggest unanswered questions, actor Cody Fern cleared up who the Rubber Man in Outpost 3 actually was.
Ryan Murphy's long-running horror anthology series has been a staple of FX's fall programming since the debut of season 1 in 2011. Murder House, the first season, revolved around the Harmon family after their purchase of a stately Victorian home in Southern California. The house, which was dubbed "Murder House" in the show due to the number of deaths, disappearances, and macabre incidents that took place on the property, ended up being a hub for numerous restless spirits. If someone died on the property, their soul stays trapped there forever, in purgatory.
Tate Langdon (Evan Peters) was one character who wore the rubber suit in season 1. Langdon was killed by police in his bedroom at home after murdering several of his high school classmates in a mass shooting; he wore the suit to sexually assault Vivien Harmon (Connie Britton), the mother of his love interest, Violet (Taissa Farmiga), which resulted in Vivien becoming pregnant. Others wore the suit, including Vivien's husband, Ben (Dylan McDermott), and was initially purchased by Chad Warwick (Zachary Quinto) as an attempt to spice up his marriage with his husband, Patrick (Teddy Sears), who he suspected was being unfaithful. In season 8, which served as a crossover between Murder House and season 3, Coven, the Rubber Man appeared again - many suspected it was worn by the adult son of Vivien and Tate, Michael Langdon (Cody Fern), but this was debunked.
While the Rubber Man certainly could have been Michael, as his father's identity was very much wrapped up into the disguise - in many ways, it seemed to serve as the darker part of Tate Langdon - this wasn't the case. During Michael's younger days, he even was shown to have an affinity for wearing rubber; in many ways, it's part of his legacy, as it was how he was brought into the world. Still, the inclusion of the Rubber Man in Outpost 3, where survivors of nuclear winter had gathered, seemed like a cut and dry case. Season 8 was meant to be a continuation of Michael's story, as he was last seen as a toddler in the finale of season 1, gleefully rejoicing in the fact that he'd murdered his babysitter, much to his grandmother Constance's (Jessica Lange) dismay.
Obviously, Michael would adopt the rubber suit and wreak havoc in Outpost 3, where people were discouraged from physical relations with each other. One particular scene where the Rubber Man has sex with Mr. Gallant (Evan Peters) made it out to seem like the suit was donned by Gallant's own grandmother, Evie (Joan Collins). However, according to actor Cody Fern, this was not the case, and Michael was not wearing the rubber suit at the time. In an interview with Out magazine, Fern addressed one of the biggest unsolved questions in season 8 by stating that the rubber man was just another element controlled by Michael, who was the Antichrist.
According to Fern, the Rubber Man was imbued with demonic powers from Murder House and became a demonic entity; therefore, it was able to be controlled by Langdon in Outpost 3. As an agent of the Antichrist, the Rubber Man stalked and tormented the residents of Outpost 3, including Gallant after he murdered his grandmother, Evie. Fern stated that the Rubber Man, as it appeared in American Horror Story season 8, was intended to bring out everyone's deepest, darkest desires, which made for an interesting plot device, kept fans guessing, and added potential to the iconic character which could be used in later seasons of the show. Ryan Murphy has already teased that the Rubber Man will return.