THE SHARDS: SEASON ONE
Starring: Igby Rigney, Kaia Gerber, Homer Gere, Hayes Warner, Graham Campbell, Evan Rachel Wood, and Wes Bentley
Creators: Ryan Murphy and Bret Easton Ellis
QUENTIN
Despite terrific 80s vibes and a banging soundtrack, The Shards (based on Bret Easton Ellis’ semi-autobiographical novel) feels like an effort to one-up the Euphoria generation. It reeks of, “you think modern high school is debaucherous!? Sit down, youngin’…” In addition to that, for better or worse, prolific showrunner Ryan Murphy goes full Murphy, complete with stylish camp, unabashed queerness, cheesy dialogue, over-the-top sexiness, and an unrestrained lean-in to his “more is more” aesthetic. Between Ellis’ near-gatekeeping and the Murphiness of it all, this mix of American Horror Story and Rules of Attraction is as shallow as the nepo babies at the story’s center.
PAIGE
Although The Shards has a killer soundtrack and a cool 80s aesthetic, this murder mystery becomes less and less compelling as it goes on. Don’t get me wrong, it starts off very intriguing, but the thing that kills it is the fact that it’s all buildup with no payoff. It’s very much style over substance, with an overstuffed plot that lacks originality and feels superficial. Plus, the characters are shallow and unlikeable, which makes it difficult to become invested in their stories. In the end, the series just ends up being one note, leaving viewers with more questions than answers.
