Okay, so Euphoria… it had a rough ending, let’s be honest. But it looks like FX is trying to capture some of that same edgy teen drama vibe with a new show, though this one’s got a dark twist – a serial killer! Euphoria, created by Sam Levinson, definitely made waves when it first came out on HBO back in 2019. It was pretty controversial, mostly because of how graphic it was with sex and nudity involving teenagers. And the wait between seasons was brutal – Season 2 finally dropped in 2022, and we’re not getting the final season until 2026!
Despite off-screen drama, the actors in Euphoria delivered outstanding performances, launching many of them – like Zendaya, Sydney Sweeney, and Jacob Elordi – into stardom. Though it faced criticism, the show was widely recognized for its powerful acting and realistic portrayal of addiction. Zendaya won two Emmy Awards for playing Rue Bennett, a teenager struggling with drug use, and Colman Domingo received an Emmy for his role as Ali, Rue’s sponsor.
Known for its raw and honest depiction of teenage life, Euphoria redefined the teen drama and became a major cultural talking point. Now, Ryan Murphy’s new series The Shards, coming to FX and Hulu, has the potential to be just as impactful. You can watch the premiere of The Shards on August 5, 2026.
The Shards Is A Ryan Murphy Campfest Version Of Euphoria With A Serial Killer
Because Sam Levinson had complete creative control over Euphoria – writing, directing, and creating it all himself – some felt the show would have benefitted from more diverse perspectives. However, the new series The Shards will be different. It’s based on Bret Easton Ellis’s popular 2023 novel American Psycho, and Ellis is co-creating the show alongside Murphy, ensuring a broader range of input.
Okay, so I just heard about this new show, The Shards, and it sounds really interesting! It’s set in 1980s Los Angeles, which is cool – a totally different vibe than something like Euphoria since that’s more modern suburbia. Apparently, it’s based on Bret Easton Ellis’s own high school experiences, and the main character even shares his name, played by Igby Rigney. It sounds pretty personal and I’m definitely adding it to my watchlist.
The story begins when Robert Mallory, a new student played by Homer Gere, arrives at Buckley School. He’s charming and enigmatic, but also a little unnerving, and quickly becomes close to Bret. Meanwhile, a serial killer known as “The Trawler” is targeting young people in Los Angeles.
Ryan Murphy’s TV shows are known for their over-the-top style, but they can become chaotic without direction. Hopefully, having a collaborator like Ian Ellis will keep Murphy’s creative vision focused on The Shards. The premise – a thrilling serial killer mystery mixed with the scandalous private lives of boarding school students – sounds incredibly promising and deserves a strong, cohesive execution.
The Shards Is Almost Guaranteed To Be Better Than Euphoria Season 3
There’s a good chance The Shards could help revive Murphy’s career after a string of less successful TV shows. Even if it isn’t as good as the first two seasons of Euphoria, it would still be a significant improvement over the widely criticized third season of that HBO series.
Season three of Euphoria was widely considered a failure. It struggled with issues like underutilized popular characters—Nate Jacobs and Jules Vaughn were notably sidelined—unnecessary explicit content featuring Cassie, and a jarring shift in tone towards a strange and ultimately uninteresting crime story. The season culminated in an overly long and unsatisfying finale. In contrast, the upcoming The Shards is based on well-regarded material, which suggests it may sidestep the pitfalls that plagued Euphoria‘s third season.
Okay, so here’s the deal: I’m really excited about The Shards, and I think it could fill the void Euphoria season 3 is leaving. However, as a long-time viewer of everything the creator has done, I’m a little worried about the long haul. This isn’t a miniseries, which is a bit concerning since the source material is a single, self-contained novel, and we all know how these shows can lose steam after the first season or two. But honestly, let’s not cross that bridge yet. For now, on August 5th, I’m hoping The Shards delivers and gives us that same addictive feeling we’re craving.
2026-07-23 22:18