More than three weeks after concluding its inaugural run on a unresolved cliffhanger, the FX drama series "The Shards" remains without a formal renewal decision. The period thriller, adapted from author Bret Easton Ellis's semi-autobiographical novel by executive producer Ryan Murphy, concluded its season amid quiet television ratings, leaving questions regarding whether its high-profile creative pedigree will secure a sophomore installment.
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| Image via The Hollywood Reporter |
A Lingering Renewal Decision at FX
Despite Ryan Murphy and Bret Easton Ellis openly discussing visions for the serialized drama to run across multiple seasons, network executives have not confirmed a return. The debut season arrived on FX in early August, but several weeks after the finale, official word on a renewal has yet to emerge.
Such a timeline is not necessarily abnormal for the Disney-owned cable network. FX has a recorded history of deliberately pacing its series renewals rather than issuing quick pickups. Recent critically praised series, such as "Adults" and "The Lowdown," both experienced delays spanning multiple months after their respective initial season finales before the network granted official renewals.
Linear Ratings and Streaming Ambiguity
Questions surrounding the show's viability largely stem from its modest viewership footprint. Initial linear airings of "The Shards" on FX drew an average of 237,000 viewers. While that figure reflects modern industry realities for linear basic cable programming, digital indicators offer limited public clarity.
Like many contemporary television offerings, the majority of the audience is expected to stream the show on Hulu. However, "The Shards" did not crack Nielsen's top 10 streaming charts during its release window. Furthermore, FX has chosen not to publish internal streaming metrics for the title, adhering to the network's typical protocol of rarely disclosing viewership PR figures for streaming performance.
Murphy's Deep Ties to Disney and Ongoing Series Models
Unlike Murphy's extensive anthology portfolio—such as "American Horror Story," which returned on September 24 after a gap of more than two years, or "Feud," which experienced a nearly seven-year interval between its first two outings—"The Shards" is crafted as a continuous, serialized narrative. Murphy has previously noted an intense personal connection to the 1981-set source material, recalling that turning 16 that year matched pivotal milestones from his youth that mirrored the prep school characters.
The drama is also not the sole Murphy property awaiting answers at the network. Another Murphy-produced FX title, "The Beauty," ended its first run with lingering questions in March, and the cast was later released from their contracts in July. An additional title, "Love Story," was cited as a ratings victory by FX but also awaits an official next move under the anthology format.
Studio Relationships vs. Breakout Metrics
Murphy maintains a significant overall contract with Disney's 20th Television, continuing a productive working relationship that endured even throughout his multi-year residency at Netflix. Historically, FX has demonstrated a consistent willingness to grant Murphy production backing whenever he develops a specific narrative path.
Should FX ultimately approve a second season for "The Shards," industry observers note that the decision would likely underscore the strength of Murphy's collaborative relationship with Disney and the network, serving as a vote of confidence in the showrunner's institutional capital rather than a reflection of conventional breakout ratings.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
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