Based on 2 seasons, 16 episodes · through March 13, 2024
Feud is a drama show that looks at famous arguments in history, with the first season focused on Bette Davis and Joan Crawford, two older movie stars in the 1960s trying to save their failing careers. They sign up for a horror movie and get into a bitter fight driven by greedy studio bosses. The second season is about writer Truman Capote, who betrays his close group of rich female friends, the Swans, by publishing a story that reveals their deepest secrets. The show has a very strong, obvious woke focus that frames both stories around modern identity struggles. The first season acts as a direct lecture on sexism, ageism, and how the patriarchy turns women against each other. The second season focuses heavily on queer themes, highlighting the struggles of being gay in a straight world. Viewers will also notice a fully fictional episode where black writer James Baldwin shows up to lecture Truman about race and privilege.
Breakdown
These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for FEUD.
Woke representation / casting
The show casts prominent older actresses to combat ageism in Hollywood. It also deliberately casts openly gay actors in key queer roles. The casting is highly intentional and is framed around representation and identity priorities.
65%
Woke political dialogue
The characters frequently use modern-sounding phrases to lecture the audience about social issues. They talk at length about sexism, ageism, homophobia, and systemic bias. The dialogue in both seasons often feels like a modern academic lecture rather than natural conversation from the mid-20th century.
68%
Identity-driven story themes
Both seasons are built entirely around identity struggles. Season one is a story about how women are oppressed and manipulated by patriarchal systems. Season two is highly queer-centric, focusing on the pain and isolation of being a gay man in a straight-dominated society.
82%
Western institutional / cultural critique
The show heavily critiques traditional Western social structures. It paints the classic Hollywood studio system as a toxic boys' club that abuses women. It also deconstructs high-society marriage, framing wealthy husbands as toxic and painting traditional family units as cold and oppressive.
75%
Woke character or canon changes
The show makes major changes to real-life figures and events to push modern social views. It invents a completely fictional meeting where James Baldwin lectures Truman Capote on race and his white privilege. It also reframes the Bette and Joan rivalry as a tragedy caused by male power systems.
68%
Anti-woke backlash and complaints
Viewers on forums and social media complained about the show's preachy tone. Some called the fictional James Baldwin episode a lazy, politically motivated lecture. However, the backlash was localized to disappointed fans rather than a massive, coordinated boycott.
42%
Creator track record context
The key creators and producers have a very strong history of progressive and queer-centric work. Ryan Murphy, Jaffe Cohen, and Michael Zam are known for centering LGBTQ+ themes. High-profile producers like Naomi Watts and Susan Sarandon are also vocal activists.
78%
Production
