The Take
Ryan Murphy's The Shards recycles the same 80s Los Angeles prep school serial killer formula with Bret Easton Ellis source material getting the signature glossy treatment. Erotic framing turns gruesome murders into another layer of teen identity exploration without any real bite or consequence.
The Verdict
The Shards delivers the expected Murphy excess with celebrity offspring casting and familiar 80s LA excess but never escapes its own surface-level framing. Ongoing nine-episode season already shows the pattern of style drowning any potential substance.
Skip it.
Common Questions
What is The Shards about?
Privileged LA prep school seniors navigate sex, jealousy and a serial killer called the Trawler in 1981.
Is The Shards based on a true story?
No. It adapts Bret Easton Ellis's semi-autobiographical novel, not literal events.
How many episodes are in The Shards season 1?
Nine episodes total, releasing in batches through early September 2026.
