‘The Shards’ and ‘Sterling Point’ Offer Class Struggle as Teen Drama
The New York Times • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Teen dramas have long explored themes of wealth and social hierarchy, often with more class-consciousness than adult series, as seen in shows like “Beverly Hills, 90210” and “Euphoria.”
- FX’s new series “The Shards,” premiering on Wednesday on FX and Hulu, is set in 1980s Los Angeles and combines teen drama with a serial killer plot, highlighting the dark side of affluent youth.
- Created by Bret Easton Ellis and Ryan Murphy, “The Shards” blends Ellis’s interest in status and excess with Murphy’s expertise in teen emotions and horror, promising a raw and sharp narrative distinct from nostalgic 1980s portrayals.
- The show features a young Bret Easton Ellis as the narrator and protagonist, offering a cold, stylized perspective on the era with a New Wave soundtrack and themes of absentee parenting and social ambition.
