"The Shards": A Thriller That Quickly Becomes Tedious

The new Disney+ series "The Shards," adapted from Bret Easton Ellis's novel of the same name, is facing criticism for its inability to hold viewer attention, despite initial high expectations.

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He awakened something primal in me that I had never felt before. I wanted him!

While the 750-page novel immerses readers in its world, the series reportedly causes viewers to lose patience rapidly. The adaptation attempts to evoke the 1980s nostalgia and atmosphere of the book, featuring elements like vintage cars, sun-drenched Los Angeles locales, and stylish villas with large pools. It captures the music, look, and general vibe of the era, with young people enjoying their summer.

However, critics argue that the series misses the deeper thematic elements present in Ellis's novel. The book, like Ellis's earlier work "Less Than Zero," explores themes of moral decay among wealthy, privileged youth who possess everything but a sense of ethics. The series, according to reviews, fails to convey this underlying commentary effectively.

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It's not like the book at all.

Even for viewers unfamiliar with the book's resolution, the series struggles to maintain engagement beyond the first episode. This contrasts sharply with the novel, which readers describe as both leisurely and breathlessly paced. The adaptation's failure to translate the book's narrative drive and thematic depth leaves it feeling less compelling than its source material.

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It's not like the book at all, although Ryan Murphy ('American Horror Story', 'Dahmer') has clearly tried to capture some of the nostalgia and threatened lightness of the book.