REVIEW: ‘The Shards’ Is A Stylish And Brutal Mystery Still Finding Its Emotional Core

Ryan Murphy truly knows how to make a show that snatches the audience’s attention. Whether it is through beautiful sets and wardrobe design, shocking violence, or complex characters. The Shards Episodes 1-2, the adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis’s autofiction horror novel of the same name, seems to start similarly in its two-episode premiere. The first and second episodes deliver an unsettling mystery within a complex coming-of-age story that will keep audiences curious to know where the series ends. 

Adapted for television by Ryan Murphy and FX, The Shards stars Igby Rigney as Bret, Homer Gere as Robert Mallory, Kaia Gerber as Susan, Hayes Warner as Debbie, Graham Campbell as Thom, Wes Bentley as Terry, and Evan Rachel Wood as Liz. Murphy directs the opening episodes and brings his signature visual style to the psychological coming-of-age thriller, blending glossy ’80s nostalgia with developing paranoia and gruesome horror.

The Shards Episodes 1-2’s set, costumes, and even the cinematography transport viewers into the 1980s.

Set in the rich and privileged world of 1980s Beverly Hills, the series follows Bret, a high school senior, and his popular group of friends as his carefully curated life begins to unravel after a new transfer student, Robert Mallory, arrives in town. Meanwhile, a string of home invasions and missing pets quickly escalates to a brutal serial killer terrorizing the young people of Los Angeles. As the incidents grow and more young people go missing, an uneasy atmosphere prevails, and no one feels safe. 

The Shards Episodes 1-2’s set, costumes, and even the cinematography transport viewers into the 1980s. Murphy and his team do a great job of leaning into the classic 1980s aesthetic. From hairstyles and fashion to production design, the show recreates the decade in great detail to help the audience engage with the series’ timeframe and Bret’s highly affluent world. 

The Shards, in addition to being an adaptation of Ellis’ series, draws suspense and tension from the real-life fears of cults, home invasions, serial killers, and the Satanic Panic of the late 70s and 80s. Pulling from real-world fears contributes to the show’s looming tension for the characters: as more young people in their community go missing, the jokes and rumors stop being fun gossip and instead become them wondering who could be next. 

Bret’s insecurities amount to a nicely nuanced character in The Shards Episodes 1-2.

The identity of the killer is not revealed in The Shards Episodes 1-2. Although it is not clear what the killer’s intentions are, or if they are copycats, part of a cult, or performing these murders as part of some dark rituals. Pacing-wise, Episode 1 takes a bit to get the story going. Still, by the end of Episode 2, audiences will be on the edge of their seats, wanting to know more about the killer and their true intentions, which helps to set the intrigue and dark tone for the series overarching mystery. 

Unfortunately, the story’s more emotional side does not feel as well-developed as the mystery. The series presents itself as a coming-of-age drama, draped in a murder mystery. But after the first two episodes, the coming-of-age themes have not fully landed just yet. While the tension and mystery of the killings continue to build, Bret’s personal journey does not feel as compelling.

As the main character and narrator of the story, Bret reflects on these events, the people in his life, and himself with confidence that borders pretentiousness and the self-awareness of someone who already knows who he is and what he wants. 

Homer Gere as Robert Mallory leaves a striking impression in The Shards Episodes 1-2.

In contrast, Bret does have some insecurities about being completely himself. Bret works hard to keep his bisexuality a secret from his closest friends and peers, even though he doesn’t seem to have internal conflicts about his sexual attraction and identity. His struggles center more on protecting his carefully curated version of himself versus being who he truly is. Bret’s conflict becomes more apparent through his relationship with his girlfriend Debbie and her father, a successful movie producer. 

Bret sees Debbie’s father as someone he should emulate and aim to become one day. Bret wants to be a successful writer and to turn his work into a film by any means. This suggests that Bret is dating Debbie because it gives him access to future opportunities in his writing career. Instead of truly loving Debbie, his feelings and relationship with her just become another layer of the facade he has crafted. In that way, Bret’s coming-of-age journey in The Shards Episodes 1-2 is not about finding himself; instead, it is about deciding whether he can continue to live behind the facade.

In his portrayal of Bret, Igby Rigney performs an interesting balancing act. As the narrator, he creates emotional distance from the story. But today, Bret Rigney does a great job of portraying the cracks in Bret’s carefully constructed life and confidence, revealing the fear that lies beneath the surface. Other performances, such as Homer Gere’s as Robert Mallory, leave a striking impression in The Shards Episodes 1-2. Gere’s performance as Robert captures the manipulative, cunning, and mysterious nature of the character that makes every scene with him, especially between him and Bret, so visceral and enchanting. 

The Shards is a graphic, alluring puzzle missing a few pieces.

As a Ryan Murphy production, most longtime viewers and fans of his work may not be shocked by the level of graphic content The Shards will present. Granted, violence and gore do not dominate every moment of the first two episodes, but there are some rather gruesome scenes that may be triggering for certain viewers. The Shards Episodes 1-2’s most graphic moments depict dismemberment, torture, and brief instances of animal cruelty, which may be difficult to watch. While the most horrific moments are brief and not on the screen for long, the scenes do leave a lasting impression on how depraved the serial killer may be. 

The Shards Episodes 1-2 do a great job of building up the main mystery of the series with genuine momentum. But in only two episodes, the show is trying to balance what kind of story it wants to be. The production values, design, and main mystery are enough to keep audiences engaged, but the emotional investment needs a little more work. With more episodes to come, there is time and opportunity to improve that area of the show.

As it is right now, The Shards is a graphic, alluring puzzle missing a few pieces; whether that is by design or an execution flaw will only be revealed as the series goes on. 

The Shards airs new episodes on Wednesdays at 9:00 PM ET on FX and Hulu.