Rubber Man

We're all (im)patiently waiting the reveal of Rubber Man on tonight's episode, coincidentally sharing the same title as this blog post.

We caught a sneak peek at two (perhaps different!) Rubber Men during the promo FX has been airing and that can also be found here. We learn from this special preview that during tonight's episode Chad goes to an S&M start to spice up his relationship -- the shop-worker shows him around, finally deciding he should buy a large black S&M suit.

First, I'd like to discuss a theory I've seen floating around on AHS Facebook page and the IMDB discussion boards -- the notion that there might be two different suits that we've seen. Let's take a look at a few different versions of Rubber Man that we've seen:

Rubber Man:

(Source)

Tate in Rubberman Suit:

(Source)

Rubber Man suit seen in promo while Chad is shopping in S&M Store:

(Source: Screenshot from promo video linked above)

Seems to me like there is a strong possibility that there are two different suits -- the S&M suit that Chad bought to spice up their relationship, as seen in the promo for tonight's episode and the actual black latex suit that Rubber Man wears. I had a bit of trouble finding a bunch of good pictures to relate this -- I'm thinking back to the first episode, when Viv and Ben go exploring in the attic (total side note: how come we didn't see any signs of Beau during this? or did we?) and find the S&M suit -- I seem to remember it having some chains and buckles on it. Was this just because it was hanging, similar to the picture above from the S&M shop? Or is a different suit? The suit that Rubber Man wears (and coincidentally Tate wears when he scares Violet in the basement) is a very simple latex suit.

What do you think? Is there a possibility that there are two suits? What difference could this make in the story line?

Now onto my real theory...

Tate is Rubber Man.

Why do I think this? Well for a number of reasons (in no particular order)...

Tate appears in the Rubber Man suit in the basement to Violet -- she says "I thought my parents threw that away." and Tate replies with something to effect of "Finders, Keepers." Going against the above double suit theory, this could be a reference that Rubber Man was 'born' when Tate stole/found the suit in the attic after Chad bought it. This brings me to another side note -- I've read on FB/IMDB suggestions that perhaps Tate is actually the blonde Chad's significant other is cheating on him with -- thus Tate kills him as Rubber Man? Interesting thought... Back to Tate appearing as Rubber Man to Violet -- why? Why did he think it was a good idea to scare the girl he's been pining over in a black latex suit in a creepy basement on Halloween? Would you think that's a good way to get on a girl's good side? Personally, it doesn't work for me.

Tate wouldn't have sex with Violet on the beach. Tate didn't offer Violet a really plausible reason (granted it was a plausible reason for the situation -- 'Maybe it's the medication you're Dad's got me on' -- Remember, Violet didn't know Tate was dead yet.) -- so what was the reason? Could the reason be that Tate had already had relations (if you can even call it that...) with her mother and was uncomfortable doing it with mother and daughter?

Rubber Man hasn't killed anyone since the Harmon's moved into the house. In the last episode, Tate says to Violet "This is the better place now that you're here." Could Tate be pulling away from his evil ways because he's finally found love in Violet? This is going to lead me into my second theory about Rubber Man/Tate so stick with me here...

Tate as the blonde, normal - looking teenager is the good version of himself. Tate as Rubber Man is the evil version of himself, perhaps even controlled by Infatata. Tate knows alot about the history of the house, especially the original owners -- we know this because he gives Violet the run down of the story, I believe in one of the Halloween episodes. Though it still boggles my mind why a ghost would be interested in using a Ouija board, I digress... Tate also finds the photo's, mason jars and other junk in the attic and shows it to Violet -- how did he know where this stuff was? Why is he so interested in the history of the house and sharing it with Violet? I also find it interesting that we've seen hints (the dead rodents, slashed throats of the twin victims, "Charles, it's not milk that he wants!' - Nora Montgomery, etc) that the infatata needs blood to survive -- is it just coincidental then, that in the last episode Tate licks the blood off Violets wounds?

Also, let's think back to the first time we saw Tate's horrible acts in the high school -- he is disguised, face painted like a skeleton, almost completely covered and unrecognizable and dressed all in black. Could this be a clue that he wasn't himself? He was perhaps, being controlled by something else? Such as the Infatata? This gives us a reason as to why Tate did these horrible things -- maybe Tate is a good person (like Violet asks the teacher in the library) but something, like the infatata, is getting in the way of it. I could be wrong here, but I also seem to remember Tate's face being painted when Violet brings the bully to the house and brings her down to the basement -- another sign?

It's really hard for me to believe that Dr. Montgomery didn't have to sell his soul or the soul of Thaddeus the baby to bring the it back to life. There is ample evidence from the previous episodes that the Infatata is indeed some form of the devil, but I will leave that for another post. Let's just assume the Infatata is some form of the devil and is thus using/controlling Tate, dressed as the Rubber Man to do it's dirty work.

Getting back proving that Tate is indeed the Rubber Man -- think back to what Addie said to Constance through the medium -- "I'm glad I'm not in the house -- I'm scared of Tate now that I know the truth about him." This suggests there's obviously something we don't know about Tate yet -- very well could be that he's the Rubber Man or a number of other things given this show's incredible plot twists.

Let's jump back a few episodes again to the first Halloween episode -- Larry is knocking at the door, Violet calls her Dad super freaked out and Rubber Man appears behind her -- stares, and leaves. He had the perfect opportunity to kill her, but just walks away -- we don't see Rubber Man appear for no purpose in any other scene except this one. (Please correct me here if I'm wrong!) Could this be another reason that Tate is indeed Rubber Man? Regardless of the suit and the powers controlling him, he couldn't hurt Violet.

Another clue that Tate is the Rubber Man -- at the end of the promo, if you still the end scene where Rubber Man is taking off his mask, you see pieces of blonde hair appear under the mask.

Lastly, I read one of the original interviews with Ryan Murphy (source to come shortly) and he's asked about the identity of the Rubber Man -- his answers is obviously very vague, but he mentions that he thinks its so obvious and he's surprised that no one has figured it out yet. Would the obvious choice be Tate?

So what do you think? Do you think the Rubber Man is Tate, controlled by the Infatata perhaps? Or is the Rubber Man just another form of the Infatata?

Last question I leave you with: Do you think Violet is still living or did she die in the episode she overdoses in? Was Tate too late in saving her?

Happy watching!!