Ryan Murphy's new FX horror-thriller *The Shards* has become a streaming success, ranking within the top ten most-watched shows on Disney's platforms after four weeks of new episodes. The 1980s-set series, based on Bret Easton Ellis' novel of the same name, follows a group of teenagers whose lives are upended by a mysterious new student, blending the anthology horror style of Murphy's *American Horror Story* with the dark, stylish teen-drama sensibility of *Euphoria*. Its streaming performance marks a notable early win for FX, even as critical and audience reception remains mixed.

The show currently ranks third globally on Disney+ and fifth on Hulu, according to FlixPatrol, having slipped from the number one spot it held at launch as other titles, such as *Furious*, have overtaken it. Reviews have been polarised: the first season holds a 56% critic score and a 44% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, with some critics, including those at Collider and ScreenRant, calling the adaptation surprisingly restrained or "sanitised" compared with the shocking source material, while others, such as CBR, have praised it as masterful. New episodes air on FX on Wednesdays at 9pm, streaming on Hulu in the US and Disney+ internationally, with the season finale scheduled for 9 September.