Graham Campbell has discussed filming the emotionally charged break-up scene between his character Thom and Kaia Gerber's Susan in FX's The Shards, revealing how his co-star helped him navigate the moment. In the penultimate episode of season one, Thom, who is secretly part of the show's sinister cult, proposes a joint suicide pact to Susan, only for her to reject him and end their relationship. Campbell said he worried the audience would turn against his character during the scene, but Gerber reassured him that the desperate, extreme dialogue reflected genuine love and fear of loss, helping him find the emotional truth in the moment.

Campbell, who originally auditioned for other roles including Bret (the character based on author Bret Easton Ellis) before landing the part of Thom, described the scene as "devastating, violent, vulnerable and scary" and likened the couple's turbulent dynamic to Romeo and Juliet. He credited the show's creator Ryan Murphy with fostering close cast bonds through dinners and personal storytelling sessions, which he said informed the ensemble's on-screen chemistry. Campbell also touched on his current work on American Horror Story season 13 and hinted at the possibility of a second season of The Shards.