American Horror Story: New image for Season 10 washes ashore

Ryan Murphy continues to tease coastal images for the forthcoming season of American Horror Story. But could its primary setting be elsewhere?

Ryan Murphy has put us through a bit of a whirlwind in regard to the upcoming season of American Horror Story.

First, he gave us a shoreline-at-dusk tease of the cast for the forthcoming season.

Then, he offered cryptic words on the fate of the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Then, he revealed news of a bombshell coupling, while still maintaining vague notions of the over-arcing concept.

I have to give the guy credit: maybe American Horror Story has retained such great popularity because he’s a master of the perpetual tease.

After all, these kernels of stories will eventually amount to a full-season’s worth of popcorn, to which I hope we can all enjoy while the latest plot unfolds.

But what could Murphy’s latest Instagram tease mean?

Deadline offered this bit of speculation:

"“While Murphy and co-creator Brad Falchuk have traditionally paid homage to U.S. horror pics like Friday the 13th, Halloween and more, the hasty generalization to make here is that Season 10 will have some tones from Creature of the Black Lagoon or Jaws.”"

But the first teaser image – of a hand gripping a rock while the ocean looms ominously in the background – and this new one may be harbingers of something else.

What if these are indicative not of the initial setting, but the characters’ salvation? Perhaps the ocean itself will drive Season 10. After all, since the COVID-19 outbreak, a high volume of cruise employees have been stranded at sea.

The notion of taking a tour by sea is less distinctly American than international, but one could imagine, with all the nooks and crannies of a cruise ship, a tale of cabin fever, sinister stowaways, and the ever-present concern of sinking to the bottom of the ocean being ripe with horror potential.

And while American Horror Story‘s overt attempts at sensationalism and exploitation tend to turn me off, it’s hard to deny how much this would key Season 10 in to current events, and perhaps offer some catharsis for the real-world horror and uncertainty we’re currently experiencing.

What do you think the plot of American Horror Story will be in Season 10? Let us know in the comments.