How Does Feud Stack Up Against Other Ryan Murphy Shows?

It seems like every season, FX has another series that takes hold of the hearts of both fans and critics. Recently, shows like Atlanta, American Crime Story, and Legion have been the talk of the TV town.

The cable network continues to have success after success, and many of those great shows have one name attached to them – Ryan Murphy. After creating Glee – which became a cultural phenomenon within its first season – the writer/producer went on to become an anthology expert. American Horror Story set the entire anthology trend in motion, and Murphy followed it up with the award-winning American Crime Story: The People v OJ Simpson.

Now, Murphy has gone in a whole new direction with another anthology saga, Feud: Bette and Joan. The show tells the tragic story of the bitter rivalry between two Hollywood stars – Bette Davis and Joan Crawford.

The new series has a vastly different feel than some of Murphy’s other entries, so fans have wondered if it’s worth looking into. Does the series stand up to the other shows in Ryan Murphy’s catalogue?

In short, it absolutely does. Feud is an incredible piece of art, from start to finish.

It all starts with the writing, where Murphy made brought to light a haunting tale, that many would’ve written off as a bickering between rich women. Taking the horror and suspense of AHS, and mixing in the perfect elements of historical retelling that worked so well in American Crime Story, Murphy was able to make this story chilling and accessible.

Like his other shows, Feud also benefits from having an all-star cast. Jessica Lange and Susan Sarandon are better than they’ve ever been, and their performances are just another example of how well Murphy can create female roles. Alfred Molina and Stanley Tucci were also perfectly cast, and they both bring a lot of talent to the table.

While these two aspects are on par with the rest of Murphy’s shows, the beauty of the series tops the rest. Feud has captured the essence of classic Hollywood, giving fans the opportunity to travel through time a bit. The sets in every scene have been nearly flawless to this point. Honestly, the recreation of that Oscar’s ceremony may have been one of Murphy’s crowing achievement.

It’s clear that Ryan Murphy is a wonderfully creative mind, but his biggest talent is what has brought him success over all these years. The man knows how to put the right people into the right positions. Everyone in these casts and crews are the best at what they do, and it shows in the final product.

If you haven’t been watching Feud, it’s time to start. It stands right up next to the American Stories, and it will constantly exceed your expectations.