Ryan Murphy’s new thriller The Shards takes place in 1981 - but it’s about the present
Ryan Murphy's new thriller series, The Shards, adapts Bret Easton Ellis's 2023 novel into a psychological drama set in 1981 Los Angeles. The show explores themes of paranoia and coming-of-age through the lens of a wealthy prep school student during a series of mysterious disappearances.
Why it matters
It highlights the ongoing cultural trend of 1980s nostalgia in television and the continued influence of high-profile creators like Ryan Murphy on streaming platforms.
Disney+ Ryan Murphy’s new thriller The Shards takes place in 1981 – but it’s about the present Published: August 5, 2026 9:14pm EDT https://theconversation.com/ryan-murphys-new-thriller-the-shards-takes-place-in-1981-but-its-about-the-present-287958 https://theconversation.com/ryan-murphys-new-thriller-the-shards-takes-place-in-1981-but-its-about-the-present-287958 Link copied Share article Share article
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The Shards follows a fictionalised version of novelist Bret Easton Ellis during his final year of high school. Based on Ellis’ 2023 book of the same name , it’s September 1981, and the elite world of a wealthy prep school unravels as a serial killer known as “the Trawler” starts targeting students.
Between trying to maintain his active social life and writing his debut novel, Bret (Igby Rigney) becomes convinced the new boy at school, Robert (Homer Gere), is linked to the various disappearances and ritualistic killings happening around a glamorous Los Angeles.
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