Will ‘The Shards’ Return? FX Show Tests Ryan Murphy’s Sway In Disney Empire
Ryan Murphy's new FX drama The Shards has ended its first season on a cliffhanger, but remains without a renewal decision from Disney-owned FX three weeks after the finale aired. The uncertainty raises questions about whether Murphy's historically powerful position in the entertainment industry and his major overall deal with Disney's 20th Television guarantee pickup success, particularly for a show designed to continue with the same characters over multiple seasons.
The Shards drew small linear ratings of 237,000 viewers on initial airings, which is typical for scripted cable dramas today, and the majority audience comes via streaming. However, the show has not appeared in Nielsen's streaming top 10 charts and FX has not released its own viewership data, which is standard practice for the outlet. The situation is further complicated by the fact that The Beauty, another Murphy-produced FX show, also ended on a cliffhanger earlier this year without yet being renewed, suggesting that even Murphy's leverage may have limits at Disney despite his long working relationship with both 20th Television and FX.
- The Shards awaits renewal after its cliffhanger finale three weeks later.
- Linear ratings of 237,000 viewers are typical for scripted cable dramas.
- Even Ryan Murphy's Disney clout may not guarantee season two.
New here? Start with this
Ryan Murphy is one of the most powerful producers in television, with a major deal with Disney to create shows. His previous successes have made him one of the most influential figures in the industry. The Shards, his new drama, airs on FX, a Disney-owned television channel.
The Shards ended its first season with a cliffhanger designed to continue with the same characters in a second season, but three weeks after the finale aired, FX had not yet decided whether to renew it. The show drew 237,000 viewers on initial airings, which is modest by current standards, though most viewers watched through streaming services instead.
The delayed renewal decision and lack of viewership data raise questions about whether Murphy's considerable influence guarantees that his shows will be picked up for further seasons. The situation is more striking because another Murphy-produced FX show, The Beauty, also ended on a cliffhanger earlier this year without yet being renewed, suggesting that even his historically powerful position may have limits at the studio.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Ryan Murphy is among television's most consistently successful producers, with a proven track record across multiple hit franchises and a significant strategic partnership with Disney. Streaming viewership data is rarely released publicly, so its absence hardly indicates poor performance—many successful shows start with modest numbers and build audiences over time. His comprehensive overall deal with Disney reflects the studio's confidence in his creative abilities, and prematurely cancelling his work would risk damaging relationships with one of the industry's most bankable talents, who could take future projects to competitors.
The case against
Despite Murphy's historical success, The Shards' measurable performance has been disappointing: 237,000 linear viewers is genuinely low, and the show's failure to appear in any streaming top 10 rankings suggests modest viewership there as well. FX's unusual decision not to release its own viewership data, paired with The Beauty facing identical renewal uncertainty, suggests the actual numbers may be weak enough that Disney sees no need to publicise them. Studios have legitimate fiduciary responsibilities to shareholders, and Murphy's overall deal guarantees development opportunities for his projects, not automatic renewal of underperforming individual series.