Warning: SPOILERS ahead for the American Horror Story: 1984 episode "Rest in Pieces".
American Horror Story: 1984 is nearing its end, which means the show's creator, Ryan Murphy, has undoubtedly shifted his focus to season 10. The milestone tenth season of the horror anthology is expected to debut in the fall of 2020, but it's never too early to look ahead. Based on the clues featured in season 9's penultimate episode, we have reason to believe that next season's theme will focus on aliens.
After developing a season that served as a love letter to '80s slashers, Murphy is getting ready to switch gears. The creative master will keep loyal fans on the edge of their seats as he withholds next season's theme as long as possible. Thankfully, during the celebration for American Horror Story's 100th episode, Murphy revealed that a season 10 clue would be present in episode 8, "Rest in Pieces," during American Horror Story: 1984.
It's not uncommon for Murphy to insert references to future seasons. All of the seasons in American Horror Story are connected and it's become a hobby among viewers to pick out connecting details and references. A clue for an entire season's theme, however, carries a lot more weight. After closely reviewing the most recent episode of American Horror Story: 1984, we have a theory that cryptids will be a major factor for season 10 - more specifically, aliens.
Episode 8 Contained Multiple References To Aliens
At the beginning of "Rest in Pieces," a journalist named Stacey approached Donna and Brooke at the diner. She assumed the pair were heading to Camp Redwood's concert event and claimed that she wrote books about serial killers. At one point, Stacey referenced the '70s and said that all anyone cared about in that decade "was Bigfoot, aliens, the Loch Ness Monster, all of that Leonard Nimoy 'In Search of...' sh*t."
The TV series In Search of..., hosted by Nimoy in the late '70s, conducted investigations into the paranormal as well as UFOs. The series ran until 1982 before it was revived in 2002 with Mitch Pileggi as the host, and again in 2018 with Zachary Quinto. Coincidentally enough, both Pileggi and Quinto have appeared in American Horror Story. It's also important to note that Brooke mentioned going to Australia and In Search of... had a heavily following in that country under the title, "Great Mysteries of the World."
Later in the episode, Jonas, the ghost of the counselor who worked at Camp Redwood in the '70s, mentioned that dying over and over felt like drifting in space. Some viewers have theorized that American Horror Story will eventually have a season set in space but it's possible that the space reference could be in connection with aliens. American Horror Story has yet to focus on a season set entirely in the '70s, and it would make sense to focus on some of the biggest phenomena of that decade.
American Horror Story: 1984 Already Made A Connection To Asylum
American Horror Story season 2, Asylum, has previously confirmed the existence of aliens in the AHS universe, as a number of characters were abducted by aliens during the season. The sadistic Nazi doctor working at the asylum, Arthur Arden, experimented on Kit Walker, one of the patients who had encounters with the aliens. Dr. Arden found a microchip embedded in Kit and became obsessed with finding more alien technology. The doctor later had an encounter of his own later in the season, and they were not the kind of cryptids that come in peace. The season only scratched the surface when it came to UFOs and many have wondered if and when the creatures would make their return.
Interestingly enough, American Horror Story: 1984's biggest connection to a previous came with a name drop to Asylum's primary setting, Briarcliff Manor. This could be an indicator that the reference to season 2 was much more important than first thought. Murphy has shared his interest in reintroducing aliens to his popular series and all signs are pointing at 2020.