Gabe Lapalombella
As a creative talent, Ryan Murphy’s shows have been difficult for me to connect with. Shows like American Horror Story simply never made an impression and, admittedly, felt overly graphic. Whereas his limited series, like American Crime Story, offered a refreshing (albeit melodramatic) retelling of real-world events. All of this to say that his latest series, The Beauty, left me scratching my head before I viewed it. It is a show that attempts to blend every theme and idea Murphy loves to convey in his content.
In his latest Hulu series, Murphy attempts to blend a cacophony of his best ideas into one package. Before divulging further, it’s best to describe the premise of this body-horror series. When an STD known as “The Beauty” begins appearing worldwide, it promises glowing rewards. That is, until dangerous side effects begin to appear, leaving damage in its wake. This leads FBI agents Cooper Madsen (Evan Peters) and Jordan Bennett (Rebecca Hall) to investigate the strange events. What follows to a case of dangerous assassins and corporate espionage being played in an attempt to shut down the chaos.
As a lukewarm Murphy fan, one thing can be said about the series. There is a real sense of fun on display. With every episode written by Murphy and Matt Hodgson (9-1-1 and Eat Pray Love), the show knows how to balance tone. It’s an equally funny and unsettling take on beauty in the world today. Such a balance requires the show to push the envelope in various ways. Pushing the envelope is what The Beauty does best. Where the series struggles is in the message it wants to convey to audiences.
“What does it mean to have beauty?” is a great idea for a television show. It’s a question that many have asked, and will ask until the end of time. Over eleven episodes, The Beauty undoubtedly explores the idea. The problem is that it does so in a very simplistic way. Granted, some may be ok without the show divulging into that deeper ideology. That said, it never feels as if such ideas and themes aren’t properly explored. That makes the series’s ideas as a whole feel underdeveloped. Thankfully, it is not a complete disaster in the slightest, thanks to one detail.
The performances deliver a brevity and humor that give the series a massive bright spot. Starting with Murphy regular Evan Peters, he knows how to clearly convey Murphy and Hodgson’s dialogue. Which, in this case, includes references to other popular filmmakers’ works, delivering some of the series best moments. Giving the series an investigative edge pays tribute to a variety of sci-fi classics. To say what those are would be to spoil the fun of the series as a whole. It’s arguably a more self-serious side of things compared to some other performances.
On the flipside, actors like Ashton Kutcher and Anthony Ramos deliver more scenery-chewing turns. It’s a fun balance that gives the show a propulsive energy. Especially as the dialogue becomes more over-the-top. Kutcher and Ramos particularly deliver some (oftentimes) hilarious turns. Such a shift could deliver make-or-break moments for viewers. If you’re willing to go along with those swings, then the results can be bountiful. If not, The Beauty definitely won’t be for you.
One detail is hard to deny while watching the series. I was immediately on board from episode one. There is such a strong sense of tone and zaniness that is absolutely hard to ignore. This includes very fun standout performances (that won’t be mentioned here) and exciting twists. Being delivered in this week-to-week format, such things will be more than enough to keep people guessing and engaged. Which in today’s television landscape, that can be enough for most viewers.
The Beauty aims to be a thought-provoking body-horror sci-fi series. Such ambitions shine bright, but are undoubtedly the weakest component. Instead, it’s the shows’ knowing campy energy that feels infectious. It doesn’t all work, but the cast’s commitment certainly leaves a strong impression. That is particularly true as the stakes build over the series. It certainly hasn’t converted me to a full-time Ryan Murphy fan, but a perfect gateway into why he’s a hit in the television space.
SCORE: ★★★
Comments
Loading…