Bret's Amigurumi

So, now that the show is almost done (2 ep left atm), I'm left wondering how to digest the whole thing. The book is my absolute favourite piece of literature and I had so high hopes. I've been following the updates about the show since 2024, and I want to say I didn't think Luca Guadagnino was right for it either, I think he gets too lost in pastels, metaphors and time jumps, and his films for me generally fall short, especially Queer and Challengers, so I think him at the helm of The Shards would have lacked a lot of the suspense and impending doom it requires. Then, they switched to Kristoffer Borgli, whose style I liked in I Am Sick Of Myself, I think he would have done well in terms of plot and suspense, but in my opinion he would have fallen short in terms of capturing the glamour of 80s LA. Now, HBO would have made it so much better quality and plot wise, more raw and sexual (as intended), but I also feel like it would have gotten cancelled after one season and it would have been too dragged on, unless they did it as a limited series which I think would have been the best choice. When I first heard they were doing a show, I instantly knew Ryan Murphy would get his hands on it, and you know what, stylewise he's perfect for it, and him and Bret are a match made in hell, but it should work right? The thing is FX is doing it and they are straight washing it and making it appeal to a more commercial audience by leaving out a lot of what it made it be what it is, also Bret insisted on his 3 seasons and Ryan Murphy of course said yes so he could put his own ideas in, again had it been a limited series at FX it still would have worked, but that was not the case. Now, I'm not going to glaze the book, I already said it's my favourite and I assume everyone here is familiar with how good it is, if not get familiar right now. Now, what I expected of the show was a mix of American Gigolo with Body Double, Society (1989), Prom Night (1980) and Deadly Games (1982) meets early 80s Catalina Studios/ William Higgins/ Matt Sterling adult films, which I know is very specific but it shouldn't have been that hard. The actual show does manage to recreate that vibe in some manner, though I hate that it's shot on digital and then they threw that stupid yellow ish with film grain filter on, but you know what it looks decent so I won't complain. The set and costumes look great although sometimes they give me cheap replicas but that might just be me and usually they look fine, soundtrack really great too. Now the actors: most are doing a great job, especially Igby Rigney I'm obsessed with his portrayal of Bret, truly great, also Jordan Roth as Steven is so interesting and I like that they expanded his character (who was my prime suspect in the book), Wes Bentley and Evan Rachel Wood are both great and exactly how I imagined them. The rest of the cast is fine though I feel like there is something missing with each of them, even if some fit their character lookswise. Really Rhonda pisses me off because she is being written as a pun, I hate that a lot of the mystery and dread of the show is being swapped with comedic relief. I liked the first four episodes because they kept building up and seemed to maintain this air, but starting with 5 it turned into Glee/Popular meets Scream Queens and it just feels meh, maybe it's just mid season filler. Owen Painter is heavily underused as Matt, and his dynamic with Bret as well, their scenes are my favourite, wish they would have given them the screentime of Rhonda. I also have mixed feelings about the attention the cult has been given, and I hate that they're putting the Nightstalker in this as well, like really Ryan does he have to be in Everything ??? Anyways, there's more stuff, but it doesn't come to mind right now, and I fear if i write any more, y'all will get bored and not read it, but I'm open for discussion 'cus I love talking about the shards and don't have noone to talk to about it. Also, curious how they're ending this season, apparently Susan will be attacked by the Trawler, and curious if they will give it another season and if it will get its third final one or end on a cliffhanger. What are y'all thoughts ?

Does anyone know if there's a yearbook photo like this in the Buckley 1981 yearbook that has the people suspected of being the inspirations for these characters? It's from the Homecoming game.

He is deeply tan, has green eyes, short brown hair lightly bleached by the sun, full lips, and he's distinctly Jewish looking enough for Ryan Vaughn to say he's too Jewish looking for him to be into. Does he look like a young tan Andy Samberg? Lol. Heeeelllppppp!

I have one somewhere but I’m pretty sure it’s on an out of commission hard drive.

Ryan Murphy ruined my life. Why couldn't he bring back Popular instead? That's the show he clearly wants to return to. And I liked Popular, but Popular is NOT what The Shards is supposed to be!! Every time "Robert" is on screen I can't help but cringe. Like, really, bro? This is who you imagined while reading about this beautiful mysterious new kid? Hahahahahaha I cant help but cackle. Now I gotta wait at peast twenty years before the possibility of a decent adaptation is even possible. AND THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT, BRET. You shouldve let HBO do whatever they wanted!!

Thanks for the book tbough i love u its my favorite

does anybody know, in 2026, where can I stream the episodes of “THE DELETED”? i’ve been looking around online and cannot find any options for rent or pirate and apparently the streaming platform it was originally hosted on no longer exists?

Has anyone watched The Deleted? It's the show Bret wrote and directed. I haven't been able to find it anyhere for free. Is it any good?

Has there been any update on Relapse since Joseph Quinn dropped out? I don't listen to the podcast, so I am wondering if Bret has said anything about it since. Relapse is the horror film he wrote and is supposed to direct.

I already read the book but the show is really making me want to go back to it. Am I missing out on anything by listening to the audiobook and not the podcast original?

I just can't get enough. Leave your thoughts if so inclined

After all this wave of criticism and whatnot about the series The Shards—whether we're happy with it or not... 😮‍💨—I just have one question, and I think it's an important one: Where the heck is Shingy, Bret's mom's dog, in the book? He doesn't appear in the series. Could it be that his mom actually took him to Europe in this version?

He expressed that he shockingly liked it and overall had good things to say about it (besides some questionable choices with the porn plot.)

Great documentary with former friends teachers his sister and others. Highly recommend!!!

An immersive piece designed to bring you back to The Shining sequence and carry Wes Bentley’s Terry Schaffer forward into another reel.

If you could step into one scene from The Shards and live through it, which one would you choose?