No Joke, American Horror Story: Apocalypse Fans Can't Tell if Kathy Bates Is a Robot, an Alien or an Ice Cream Machine

American Horror Story has done a lot of crazy, unpredictable things over the years, but Wednesday's cliffhanger probably has them all beat.

First, to catch you up if you didn't watch Apocalypse's second episode: The world has been destroyed by a nuclear apocalypse. A small group of survivors are living in a shelter under the rule of the sadistic Ms. Venable (Sarah Paulson) and her right-hand woman Ms. Mead (Kathy Bates). The Antichrist (Cody Fern) has shown up and will interview everyone to determine who will be granted access to a new sanctuary. But when two residents are caught breaking Venable's no sex rule, Mead is sent to kill them. However, before she can do the deed, the young man shoots Mead and she runs away only to reveal.... She's a robot? Or maybe an alien? Or possibly an ice cream machine?

I'm not joking. These are actual conversations happening right now because the end of the episode was SO UNCLEAR. All we know is that:

1. There were wires.
2. She appeared to be bleeding milk and/or melted ice cream.

Understandably, the fandom is extremely confused -- which is no easy feat. American Horror Story viewers are used to expecting the unexpected and building theories around even the most convoluted, far-out ideas. But this -- this has some people genuinely stumped. Because in a universe built around the supernatural, it seems so off-putting to suddenly introduce what appears to be a robot. Aliens at least have some of the mythical quality as demons and ghosts. But robots? They're the opposite of inexplicable and mysterious. By their very nature, robots are rational and logic-based beings who originate from human hands. They just seem so... clinical, at least when compared to the Antichrist and a sexed-up specter in a latex rubber suit.

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Of course, maybe Mead will turn out to be some alien-robo hybrid, or even the head of her Coven character attached to a robot body. Or, hell, maybe she really is just an ice cream machine. Everything is possible right now, so let's just ride this amazing Twitter wave of reactions and theories for as long as it lasts.

Kathy Bates is so talented. She's actually playing the last working McDonald's ice cream machine this season. #AHSApocalypse pic.twitter.com/Sfs47dtfJC

— Ridiculous Nicholas (@bibble8gubbles) September 20, 2018

So is Kathy Bates...like an ice cream machine? #AHSApocalypse pic.twitter.com/3K72cnOdKB

— Sorry Bout It (@JRodEsShady) September 20, 2018

kathy bates suh.. is you a damn....... candle?

— bri .🦋 (@theBrianaJ) September 20, 2018

So is fUCKING KATHY BATES JUST THE IMMORTAL HEAD FROM COVEN ATTACHED TO A FUCKING ROBOT BODY. I AM FUCKING KFKSSHXHDJALAJ #AHSApocalypse pic.twitter.com/e21zc9Kjig

— soy boy scout (@soyboyscout) September 20, 2018

when Kathy Bates starting bleeding.... milk? icecream? mucus? tumor juice???? #AHSApocalypse pic.twitter.com/MgZAA1kC1s

— meg!!!! (@MaeganP) September 20, 2018

so like Kathy Bates is the sister of Ash from Alien?? #AHSApcalypse pic.twitter.com/2jppTHbT9U

— william hatsfield (@skinneyqueen) September 20, 2018

The rubber suit is a ploy to make everyone kill each other, Emily and the other guy may be dead, but probable not, Kathy Bates is made of chicken pot pie and iPhone parts, and Joan Collins is ancient history. Wow. That's a lot

— Jody Anders (@anders_jody) September 20, 2018

idk what's more unbelievable. the fact that kathy bates is some kind of milk filled cyborg or that evan peters is a power bottom#AHSApocalypse

— meg | 💋 SILVANA and ISALINE DAY 💋 (@yoonmins_witch) September 20, 2018

Kathy bates was the WiFi router the whole time. i figured it out #AHSApocalypse

— Katie C (@littlecrunk) September 20, 2018

American Horror Story: Apocalypse airs Wednesdays at 10/9c on FX.