Bruce's Run on American Horror Story: 1984 May Be More Complex Than We Thought

Season nine of American Horror Story has proven that even in the absence of fan favourites Evan Peters and Sarah Paulson, the show's popularity only continues to grow. Episode seven left some fans confused and upset, however, after Dylan McDermontt's appearance as an unnamed serial killer. He appears as Bruce, a friendly face, offering Brooke and Donna assistance with their car after they decline his request for a ride. After successfully fixing the car (or just reversing whatever he did to mess it up in the first place), they agree to take him along. On the road, he reveals his true nature and claims to be a killer who attempts to force Brooke to kill Donna or die herself.

Reddit user haggynaggytwit even went as far as to claim his role didn't add to the plot and they felt that "they threw him in there for fan service and filler. They needed a way to take up time." One reply to this comment brought up an interesting theory, however. Another user, davey_mann, brought forth the idea that McDermontt's character might actually serve more of a purpose than just more bloodshed in an already bloody season. AHS: 1984 definitely follows the path of a high kill count slasher with plenty of supernatural elements that the show has become famous for woven in, so there is no need to pointlessly add another serial killer, right?

Well, McDermontt's appearance may not be as transparent as that. According to the theory, Bruce may be the brother of "real Rita." Earlier in the series, we see Donna subdue Nurse Rita at Camp Redwood and take her place to observe her experiment as Mr. Jingles returns to the camp under her persuasion. She doesn't kill Rita herself, but Rita does lose her life in the events that follow Mr. Jingles arrival. If McDermontt's character has a relationship of any kind with Nurse Rita, then it would make sense that he would target Donna. After all, she is the reason that Rita ultimately dies, even if not by her own hand.

The theory continues on to say that his self-proclamation of being a serial killer is just a cover up for wanting to get close to Donna so he can take her out. That explains why he chooses to tie Donna to the back of the car and force Brooke to drag her body by driving off rather than the other way around. He even offers to let Brooke keep her life if she kills Donna, but if he's a serial killer aiming for a high number of kills, why would he let anyone go? His entire focus seems to be on Donna and if this theory is correct, his motive is his sister's death.