The Shards – Review | Hulu Series

THE SHARDS on Hulu is a new FX series about a serial killer and is set in 1980s Los Angeles. It comes from Ryan Murphy & Bret Easton Ellis, which obviously shows. If you’re not a fan of Ryan Murphy shows, do not expect to like this one either. And vice versa, of course. Read our The Shards series review here!

THE SHARDS is a new FX series on Hulu. This is yet another Ryan Murphy production, and it should go without saying, but of course, this also means it has all the trademarks of his shows. Everyone is gorgeous, many are selfish or even narcissistic, and yes, there will be blood.

For this new FX series, we also have Bret Easton Ellis involved. Yes, the American Psycho author is a co-creator, as this series is based on one of his more autobiographical (well, inspired and then fictionalized) books. It is off to a somewhat slow start. Sure, it looks great, but it isn’t until episode 4 that things really start moving forward.

Continue reading our The Shards series review below. Start watching on Hulu on August 5, 2026, where the first two episodes (out of 10) are released.

Inspired by the Serial Killers of 1980s Los Angeles

The Shards is very much inspired by Bret Easton Ellis’s memories of growing up in Los Angeles in the 1980s. This was an era full of serial killers that often seemed to be in or around Los Angeles at some point. Obviously, the man who wrote “American Psycho” couldn’t create a story without including this.

For The Shards, Bret Easton Ellis has created several fictitious elements, from the actual serial killer of the plot to a cult. Sure, it’s inspired by others (which are named in this series), but the actual characters or cults named in this story are not real.

Having a story set against the vivid backdrop of 1980s Los Angeles is perfect for a Ryan Murphy show. The main characters are very privileged teenagers about to begin their senior year of high school. They have everything right at their fingertips; No responsibilities, and parents footing the bill for anything they want.

The parents just want their freedom, so they give their kids what they want to enjoy theirs. Ahh yes, the 1980s… did anyone know where their kids were?!

Form over substance, but with a solid cast

As already mentioned, The Shards is off to a slow start. Sure, it looks great, but I am very much over the lead character, Bret (Igby Rigney), early on. He is not very likable, nor is he supposed to be. Personally, I need a likable character to get involved with a story.

Fortunately, this does change as we get to know the characters more. We need to get underneath all the pretty masks and facades to understand what makes them tick.

For me, this didn’t really happen until episode 4, which is a long time to wait.

Too long.

Fortunately for FX’s The Shards, there is a truly solid cast to keep you intrigued.

Alongside Igby Rigney (The Fall of the House of Usher), we have Kaia Gerber (American Horror Stories), Homer Gere (Euphoria), Hayes Warner, Graham Campbell, Wes Bentley (American Beauty, American Horror Story), Jordan Roth, and Evan Rachel Wood (Westworld, True Blood).

And yes, many of the characters are inspired by (or “loosely” based on) real people. Sometimes a hybrid of several people, which is a fun detail for anyone familiar with 1980s “movers and shakers” in the entertainment industry.

Start watching The Shards on Hulu

The Shards is an FX production on Hulu, which – according to the press material – is “a seductive drama series based on the acclaimed bestselling novel of the same name”. Well, the novel it’s based on comes from Bret Easton Ellis, and the plot features a serial killer, so calling it simply a “seductive drama” seems… well, off!

Anyway, this is very much a series by Ryan Murphy and Bret Easton Ellis. From the style to the storyline and characters, this screams both of them. If this sounds like your sort of thing, then definitely check it out. If you don’t usually care for Ryan Murphy’s genre productions, then set your expectations accordingly.

For me, The Shards began as intriguing, became downright dull, and then picked up and became interesting again. Could it have been shorter than 10 episodes? Oh yes. Is it often about looking good rather than being good? Absolutely!

But is it also a fun genre watch that plays with stereotypes, tropes, and pop culture references? Hell yeah! Just not all the time, so expect to sit through some slower moments and a few lulls before it picks up again. And it will pick up again.

FX’s The Shards premieres with the first two episodes on Hulu on August 5, 2026.

Details

Creator: Ryan Murphy
Director: Ryan Murphy, Crystle Roberson Dorsey, Michael Uppendahl, Max Minghella
Writers: Bret Easton Ellis, Bret Easton Ellis, Connor Hines, Juli Weiner, Charles Rogers, Lenore Zion
Cast: Igby Rigney, Kaia Gerber, Homer Gere, Hayes Warner, Graham Campbell, Evan Rachel Wood, Wes Bentley, Jordan Roth