The Beauty: Ryan Murphy’s The Substance—Just Not as Smart

This show basically feels like Ryan Murphy’s take on The Substance—just without the same level of sophistication or sharp storytelling.

One of the biggest problems is the show’s inconsistent tone. At times, it takes itself far too seriously, leaning heavily into its themes and social commentary, while at other moments it feels oddly unserious and almost campy. Instead of blending those tones interestingly, the series often feels unsure of what it wants to be.

The early episodes are actually pretty intriguing. They do a solid job setting up the characters and the strange events unfolding around them, creating a sense of mystery that pulls you in. The show is at its best when it leans into the body horror and its sci-fi premise. Those moments are genuinely unsettling and visually compelling, and they hint at a much stronger show that could have been.

Unfortunately, the series completely loses momentum about halfway through the season. The characters become less interesting, the dialogue starts to feel clumsy, and the writing grows noticeably lazier as the story progresses. Plot holes begin piling up, and several storylines that initially seemed important are simply abandoned without resolution.

The social commentary, which the show clearly wants to emphasize, ends up being one of its weakest elements. Instead of delivering its message in a thoughtful or impactful way, it feels heavy-handed and poorly developed, ultimately failing to land by the end of the season.

That said, the show isn’t a total loss. The set design and overall aesthetic are strong enough to keep it visually engaging, and there are flashes of creativity that make parts of it watchable. But by the time the season wraps up, it feels like the show has completely lost its direction, leaving behind a premise that had far more potential than what we ultimately get.